William C. Foster (December 28, 1880 – January 18, 1923) was a pioneer of

cinematography Cinematography (from ancient Greek κίνημα, ''kìnema'' "movement" and γράφειν, ''gràphein'' "to write") is the art of motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography. Cinematographers use a lens to foc ...

Biography

He was born in

Bushnell, Illinois Bushnell is a city in McDonough County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,970 at the 2020 census. Geography Bushnell is located at (40.551667, -90.507921). According to the 2010 census, Bushnell has a total area of , of which (or ...

, on December 28, 1880, and went to work for the Chicago-based Selig Polyscope Company in 1901, at a time when Selig was turning out 50' and 100' actualities and trick films. Foster left Selig in May 1911 to join

Carl Laemmle Carl Laemmle (; born Karl Lämmle; January 17, 1867 – September 24, 1939) was a film producer and the co-founder and, until 1934, owner of Universal Pictures. He produced or worked on over 400 films. Regarded as one of the most important o ...

’s Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP). In 1915, he signed with the Equitable Motion Picture Corporation, working in New York and Florida. Foster was lead cinematographer on the first five two-reelers Charlie Chaplin made for Mutual Film Corporation in 1916: ''The Floorwalker'', ''The Fireman'', ''One A.M.'', ''The Count'', and ''The Vagabond''. He later shot a number of pictures for director

Frank Lloyd Frank William George Lloyd (2 February 1886 – 10 August 1960) was a British-born American film director, actor, scriptwriter, and producer. He was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was its preside ...

, including ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (Fox, 1917) and ''The Silver Horde'' (Goldwyn, 1920), and also worked with director

Lois Weber Florence Lois Weber (June 13, 1879 – November 13, 1939) was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, producer and director. She is identified in some historical references as among "the most important and prolific film directors in the e ...

. Foster died on January 18, 1923, from complications related to syphilis, a disease euphemistically described as the “general paralysis of the insane.”

Partial filmography

* ''The Vampire'' (1910) * ''Shon the Piper'' (1913) * ''The Career of Waterloo Peterson'' (1914) (as William Foster) * '' The Floorwalker'' (1916) * '' The Fireman'' (1916) (as W.C. Foster) * '' The Vagabond'' (1916) * ''Sins of Her Parent'' (1916) * ''The Price of Silence'' (1917) (as Billy Foster) * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' (1917) (as Billy Foster) * ''American Methods'' (1917) (as Billy Foster) * ''

When a Man Sees Red ''When a Man Sees Red'' is a 1917 American silent drama film produced and distributed by the Fox Film Corporation and directed by Frank Lloyd. William Farnum stars in this now lost film. It was remade in 1934 as ''Pursued''. This was the debut ...

'' (1917) (as Billy Foster) * ''

Les misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its origin ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Heart of a Lion ''The Heart of a Lion'' is a lost 1917 silent film drama directed by Frank Lloyd and starring William Farnum. Fox Film Corporation produced and distributed the movie. It is based on a novel by Ralph Connor. Cast *William Farnum – Barney Kemper * ...

'' (1917) (as Billy Foster) * ''The Blindness of Divorce'' (1918) (as Billy Foster) * ''True Blue'' (1918) * '' The Rainbow Trail'' (1918) (*as Billy Foster;''per AFI'') * ''For Freedom'' (1918) (as Billy Foster) * ''

The Man Hunter ''The Man Hunter'' is a 1930 American pre-Code all-talking adventure drama that stars Rin Tin Tin. The film was released by Warner Brothers, and was adapted by James A. Starr (who wrote the screenplay and dialogue) from a story by Lillie Haywar ...

'' (1919) (as Billy Foster) * ''The Man Who Turned White'' (1919) * ''

The Pagan God ''The Pagan God'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Park Frame and starring H.B. Warner, Carmen Phillips and Edward Peil Sr.Connelly p.393 Cast * H.B. Warner as Bruce Winthrop * Carmen Phillips as Tai Chen * Edward Peil Sr. ...

'' (1919) * ''

A Woman of Pleasure ''A Woman of Pleasure'' is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Wallace Worsley and starring Blanche Sweet. It was distributed by Pathé Exchange in the United States. Cast * Blanche Sweet as Alice Dane * Wheeler Oakman as Bobby R ...

'' (1919) * '' When Dawn Came'' (1920) * '' The Silver Horde'' (1920) * ''

What's Worth While? ''What's Worth While?'' is a 1921 American silent drama film written and directed by Lois Weber and starring Claire Windsor, Arthur Stuart Hull, Mona Lisa, Louis Calhern, and Edwin Stevens. The film was released on February 27, 1921, by Paramo ...

'' (1921) * ''

Oliver Twist, Jr. ''Oliver Twist, Jr.'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Millard Webb and starring Harold Goodwin (American actor), Harold Goodwin, Lillian Hall, George Nichols (actor), George Nichols, Harold Esboldt, Scott McKee, Clarence Wilson ( ...

'' (1921) * '' Too Wise Wives'' (1921) (as Wm. C. Foster) * ''Charlie Chaplin Cavalcade'' (1938)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, William C. American cinematographers 1880 births 1923 deaths People from Bushnell, Illinois