Jodie Foster Recalls Directing De Niro on Taxi Driver Set
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- Jodie Foster recalled arriving on the 'Taxi Driver' set and finding Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro unable to stop giggling while trying to explain how she should unzip De Niro’s pants for a scene, ultimately taking initiative to demonstrate the动作 herself.
- Martin Scorsese remembered Foster’s composure during their first meeting, when she confidently declared she could handle the role despite being only 11 years old and still in her school uniform.
- Robert De Niro attempted to give Foster direction during the provocative scene but kept breaking into laughter, unable to deliver notes due to discomfort over her young age.
- Paul Schrader was gently called out by Foster during the reunion for answering a question without using his microphone — a moment Scorsese joked about when noticing Schrader was likely sitting on it.
- Jodie Foster said watching De Niro’s entrance in 'Mean Streets' inspired her passion for cinema, prompting her to pursue any role offered by Scorsese, even attempting to be an extra in 'New York, New York' as a minor.
Why it matters: Foster’s recollection underscores how a child actor with unusual command influenced one of cinema’s most intense collaborations, revealing dynamics that shaped 'Taxi Driver’—a film that redefined American filmmaking. Her agency at 12 challenges assumptions about youth and power on set.
