51ÉçÇø Student Explores Transgender Identity in BFA Thesis Film

Campus Communications Staff / Jun 11, 2026

Photo of three people talking around coffee tableDirector Colson Foster (center) talks with actors Marquise Vilsón (left) and Matthew Amador (right) on the set of the film “A Space for Beau.â€
51ÉçÇø filmmaker Colson Foster wanted his BFA thesis film to tell a deeply personal transgender story — and professional actor Marquise Vilsón said the project’s authenticity made it impossible to turn down.

For Colson Foster, "A Space for Beau" was never meant to be just another student film. 

A rising senior in 51ÉçÇø’s School of Film and Television, the transgender filmmaker knew early on that his BFA thesis project would explore transgender identity through an emotional, character-driven lens — one centered on healing and self-discovery rather than political debate. 

“I wanted this to be my most authentic work,” Foster says. “I wanted to tell a story — a family drama — and I wanted it to be from the lens of a transgender protagonist.”  

The resulting film, "A Space for Beau," follows a transgender man navigating identity and trauma through inner-child hypnotherapy. Foster is the writer, director, and producer of the film.  

To bring that story to life, Foster searched beyond Chicago and pursued professional transgender actors with established industry careers. 

Using IMDb Pro, he contacted the agent for Marquise Vilsón, whose acting television credits include the shows “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “A League of Their Own,” and “The Blacklist.” Before acting, Vilsón had also been featured in the documentary “The Aggressives,” which followed masculine queer people of color.  

Foster heard from Vilsón’s agent after reading the script.  

“Marquise doesn’t usually do work like this, but he was actually very interested,” Foster says.  

For Vilsón, the decision to join the project came down to authenticity. 

“I immediately felt very connected to the story,” Vilsón says. “It absolutely resonated.”  

Supporting Queer and Trans Storytellers 

Though Vilsón has worked across television and film for years, he believes supporting emerging queer and trans storytellers remains deeply important — especially at a time when trans voices are increasingly politicized. 

“I believe first and foremost in supporting the work of trans and queer artists, regardless of where they’re at in their careers,” Vilsón says.  

He viewed the collaboration as meaningful because Foster is still a college student learning to direct while simultaneously telling a story rooted in trans experience. 

“Thinking about this current political climate that we’re in and the rhetoric around trans people, specifically trans youth, it feels really important and imperative for me to be part of this project,” Vilsón says.  

Producing Professional-Level Films 

The production itself reflects how 51ÉçÇø students are increasingly creating professional-level films while they are still undergraduates. While 51ÉçÇø supports film students with their thesis projects through a small stipend to help pay for production costs including location rental and permitting, Foster and his crew also crowdfunded the project through Seed&Spark. There, the campaign attracted support from acclaimed filmmaker Jason Reitman, director of “Juno,” “Young Adult,” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”  

According to Professor Tom Fraterrigo, who coordinates 51ÉçÇø’s directing program, projects like Foster’s demonstrate the level of ambition students bring to the BFA thesis process. 

“If you can get the right actors in here, it’s going to just elevate your entire film,” Fraterrigo says. He noted that Foster handled outreach himself while collaborating with casting professionals connected to 51ÉçÇø alumni.  

What’s Next 

Filming for "A Space for Beau" wrapped as Foster and his crew completed principal photography during 51ÉçÇø’s intensive BFA thesis production cycle. The team will now move through editing, sound design, and color correction before premiering the film next year. The goal: to submit the finished project to film festivals. 
For Foster, the project represents more than a milestone as a young director. It is also proof that deeply personal stories can be told at a high professional level — even before graduation. 

“Believe in yourself,” Foster says. “I think people can do a lot more than they give themselves credit for.” 

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