Jodie Foster & Rosemarie DeWitt Talk 'Black Mirror' Episode 'Arkangel'

Netflix anthology series “Black Mirror” has challenged audiences to take a new look at the world around them, and the intriguing Jodie Foster-directed season four episode “Arkangel” is no different. Foster and episode star Rosemarie DeWitt appeared as part of the TimesTalks series to discuss the show and much more.

Neither DeWitt or Foster were familiar with”Black Mirror” before signing on to work on the project, but Foster specifically pointed to her affinity for the short story form. After having met with an executive at Netflix and “bemoaning the state of the industry,” they began to discuss “Black Mirror,” which was perfectly in line with the type of storytelling Foster was interested in doing. “When I got the script, it was almost strange how apt it was for me,” Foster recalled.

Enter Rosemarie DeWitt, who was courted by Foster to play the title role in “Arkangel.” “I have a two and a four-year-old so ‘Black Mirror’ isn’t exactly what I’m watching these days,” DeWitt admitted. “She sent it to me and it was this perfect piece of writing, and it was Jodie [Foster], so it was a no brainer! I couldn’t believe my good fortune.” DeWitt started watching the show after reading the script, “then I had to stop because I started getting intimidated…the episodes are all so good!” The subject matter revolving around a mother and her daughter deeply resonated for DeWitt who said, “our episode is about parenting and technology, questions I navigate every single day.”

“There is a device you can use to make sure your children are safe,” Foster said as she described the episode, “and in the future a mom takes on this device and as time goes on … things happen.” Frank Bruni, a journalist for the New York Times and the moderator for the event suggested, “The theme is: ‘Is the key to good parenting control and what is too much control?’ ”

“Well fear… we live in an age of fear. It’s like low level anxiety — how do we keep our children safe against the outside world and from technology? My character has an opportunity to use technology in this way, for safety but what are the boundaries?” DeWitt added.

Foster followed, saying they loved most about “Black Mirror” is that the technology itself is benign. “It didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just attempting to give you what you asked for. It’s a mirror and a reflection of our own messed up psychology — that what we desire from our technology is something twisted and can be psychologically damaging. I just don’t think we have adjusted ethically to the monster we created,” she explained.

Foster noted that directing child actors can be somewhat challenging but she tries to approach it in the same manner she approaches adult actors, “with respect.” When asked if this episode of “Black Mirror” would be different if centered on a male child, Foster replied, “absolutely.” Her first feature film as director, “Little Man Tate” was centered around a single mother and her son, and “that relationship was very strong, but different.”

The conversation shifted to politics and raising children in the Trump era. “[Trump’s election] was unsettling,” Foster said, “but they are interested in fighting back, they are really committed and want to fight for what they know is right. This is really encouraging to me that these millennials coming of age right now are at an interesting time for engagement.” DeWitt and Foster talked about what they called an “amazing” experience at the Women’s March.

“There were lots of young men at the march and so many young people are so engaged and empowered,” DeWitt said, adding, “everyone needs to become an activist. It’s hard not to feel helpless, but [our children] need to see us move it forward.”

“It would be so great, if everyone could have these moments [of community] all the time, every day and just do one thing that commits you to positivity and making things better,” Foster said, noting, “I still do the [Pledge of Allegiance] and I have little [pamphlets] of the Constitution and I hand them out to people…know your rights!”

From politics to sexual misconduct, Frank Bruni asked the question hot on everyone’s lips, “As these stories are being told, do these portray the Hollywood you’ve been working in all these years?” Foster paused for a moment then replied, “I’ve been in the business for 52 years and I’ve never seen anything like that. No, not at all. Not remotely. I know these stories exist because I believe the women, but I also know it is not just the film industry, it’s everywhere. Every woman in this room can say #metoo, but I’m looking forward to the next step, a truth and reconciliation. It isn’t just finally getting it out or trying to see justice through Twitter but to really have repair and healing. We can’t effectively put every single man over 30 in jail.”

DeWitt echoed the some of the same sentiments, saying, “it’s always felt like the world we’ve always been living in — women who are vulnerable get taken advantage of. For me its a lot about educating our young men about equality, humanism and people.” Having worked with Harvey Weinstein herself she said, “he had no interest in me as an actress or as a woman, he just yelled at someone and kept right on going.”

“I can’t count how many times an actor would put me on their lap like I was a toddler,” she continued.” I mean all we are really asking for is for it to stop. Can we just go to work and have it be cool?”

Looking at professional opportunities, Foster noted that while lots of exciting things are happening like Patty Jenkins‘ super successful “Wonder Woman,” many mainstream Hollywood films are still not directed by women. “I don’t think it’s a plot. I don’t think it was a bunch of men in a room saying ‘keep the women out,’ ” she said with a laugh, “but I think it was subconscious to begin with. I think psychologically when you are about to give $150 million dollars to someone, getting ready to take this massive risk, you give it to the person you trust will think the way you think and that’s what gets you into trouble.”

Check out the full talk, and tune in to season four of “Black Mirror” when it premieres on December 20th.