Andrew Shapter (born William Andrew Shapter - Fort Worth, Texas) is an American filmmaker, writer and photographer.
As
a boy, Andrew "Andy" Shapter dreamed that he would one day grow up to
be a filmmaker, a dream that would take some time to reach. At 12 years old,
his father invited him on a business trip to London
and encouraged Andrew to learn how to use a still camera. From that day
on, Shapter worked hard to become an accomplished self-taught
photographer.
After moving
to Austin, Texas in 1986 and enrolling in college at Texas State
University in San Marcos, Texas, he majored in Political Science and eventually
found work in the U.S. Senate and the National Wildlife Federation in
Washington, D.C. Despite the excitement of working in the nation's
capitol, Shapter was still drawn to the arts. After realizing that his
true talents had nothing to do with what he learned in college, Shapter
began to collect cameras and experiment with lighting. After graduating
from college in 1992, Shapter quickly began career as a professional
photographer specializing in music and fashion photography.
As Shapter began to garner
recognition from magazine editors and ad agencies in New York and
abroad, his career gained momentum that lead to work in other markets
including Barcelona, London and Los Angeles.
After
working non-stop for nearly 15 years in the photography market, Shapter
felt it was time to turn his attention to his very first passion,
filmmaking. His first effort, the critically acclaimed 2006 documentary
"Before the Music Dies" (featuring Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, Erykah
Badu, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Questlove and many other prominent
musicians) was a hit with music fans worldwide. His follow-up film
"Happiness Is" is an exploration of the truths and myths of "the
pursuit of happiness" in America, opening across the U.S. in 2009.
Shapter lives in Austin with
his wife Christina, daughter Faron, and three dogs. He enjoys staying
busy, and is currently developing two new film projects, a music series
for cable TV, and directing TV commercials while still taking on
photography assignments.
Andrew Shapter's Bio