Andrew Shapter

Wikimedia commons photo
Wikimedia commonsAndrew Shapter.

Andrew Shapter (born 30 December 1966) is an American film director, writer and photographer.[1] Shapter completed cancer treatment in October 2014. [2]Shapter is known for his films: Before the Music Dies (2006),[3]Happiness Is (2009), [4][5] and The Teller and the Truth (2015) [6] Shapter is a partner at creative production company, Roadwings Entertainment, which has offices in Austin, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. [1]

Feature Films

Shapter's third feature film, a narrative drama, titled, The Teller and The Truth, (2015) explores the story of Francis Wetherbee, a beautiful, young bank teller who's been missing since a 1974 bank robbery in Smithville, TX.[7] The Teller and the Truth was shot over a period of five years and edited with the help of Nevie Owens and Sandra Adair, members of Richard Linklater's editing team, in part, while Shapter underwent radiation and chemotherapy. [8] The Teller and the Truth stars actress Leilani Galvan and Russell Gustave Ochoa. [9]


The 2006 documentary, Before the Music Dies, was directed and co-written by Andrew Shapter, and produced and co-written by Joel Rasmussen.[3] Before the Music Dies examines the rise of homogenization within the contemporary music industry. [1] The documentary was an homage to Shapter's brother, John, who had died shortly before the idea for the film was conceived.[10][11] The cast includes many noteworthy musicians including Erykah Badu, Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, Branford Marsalis and Questlove.[3] Before the Music Dies premiered at the 2006 South by Southwest Film Festival. [12]


Shapter's follow up film, Happiness Is, was released in 2009, and examines the American "pursuit of happiness".[13] Happiness is examines the effect of upward and downward social comparisons. Shapter gives the parting shot to Alan Graham, Founder of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a Homeless Outreach Program in Austin, Texas. The film concludes with the sentiment, "Recognize what you have; appreciate what you have. Don't get caught up in envy for things you don't need." [14]

Video Projects

Shapter filmed and directed a music video for Willie Nelson titled A Horse Called Music in 2013.[15] This video marks the beginning of Shapter and Nelson's creative relationship, which has now turned into more than 100 hours of footage that they both hope to someday make into a documentary, peering into the artist's private and captivating life.[16]

In 2010, Shapter created a music video for the Roots single, "Now or Never" from their album How I Got Over.[15] In an open letter to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences published by the Huffington Post, Shapter includes his musical short film alongside his assertion that the Roots album How I Got Over should be considered the best album of 2010.[17]

In response to the 2011 wildfires in Bastrop, Texas, Andrew Shapter and Paul Galvan released a short film entitled Art from the Ashes to raise awareness of the devastation suffered by those affected and to promote charitable donations to aid recovery efforts. [15]

Shapter has also completed video projects for HBO and National Geographic Television. [1]

Photography

Shapter's interest in photography began when he was 12 years old when he was gifted a Canon AE-1 as he accompanied his father and stepmother on their honeymoon. [14]In 1998, Shapter began to establish himself as specialist in fashion photography, garnering work in major markets including Barcelona, London, New York and Los Angeles.[3]Shapter was twice voted "Best Photographer" by the readers of the Austin Chronicle. According to the Austin Chronicle, Shapter's work "...has brought international attention to our style scene and accolades for his moody, stylish creations." [18]

Writing

In 2009, Shapter was invited to write bi-monthly for The Huffington Post.[19]

Early Biography

Andrew Shapter was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and he majored from Texas State University in Political Science. In 1992 Shapter graduated from college, and he then went on to work as a professional photographer for 15 years before turning his attention to filmmaking.[13]/[4]

Personal life

Shapter lives in his adopted home town Austin, Texas with his wife Christina, daughter Faron West, and son William Ford.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Andrew Shapter Writer and Director". Roadwings Entertainment. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  2. ↑ O'Connell, Joe. "Pause/Play: Filmmaker Andrew Shapter's battle to make art and beat cancer". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved Jan 20. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Plot Summary for Before the Music Dies". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Andrew Shapter". Huffingtonpost. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Episode #1 – Andrew Shapter – film maker". Themysteryisthetruth - podcast. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  6. ↑ O'Connell, Joe. "Pause/Play: Filmmaker Andrew Shapter's battle to make art and beat cancer". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved Dec 1. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ↑ "The Teller and The Truth". www.roadwingsentertainment.com. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  8. ↑ O'Connell, Joe. "Pause/Play: Filmmaker Andrew Shapter's battle to make art and beat cancer". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved Dec 1. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ↑ "The Teller and the Truth". IMDB. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Andrew Shapter/ Filmmaker - 15 Minute Interview by Russell Gustave Ochoa". www.eg15m.com. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  11. ↑ "Puremusic review of Before the Music Dies". www.puremusic.com. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  12. ↑ Kay, Jeremy. "Bside takes on documentary Before The Music Dies". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Andrew Shapter: Bio". www.andrewshapter.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 O'Connell, Joe. "Pause/Play". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Shapter, Andrew. "Andrew Shapter's Videos". Vimeo. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Ryan, Caitlyn. "A Day Spent with Willie Nelson in Luck". Lucchese: The Last Word. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Shapter, Andrew. "Roots Fans Send a Message to the Grammys". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Best Photographer- Andrew Shapter". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Shapter, Andrew. "Why The Roots Might Have the Best Album Of 2010". www.huffingtonpost.com/. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.

External links