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Andrew Shapter
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Andrew Shapter is a filmmaker, photographer and screenwriter.

Andrew has been involved in the arts since began to collect cameras and experiment with lighting at the age of 12. After graduating from college in 1992, Shapter quickly began career as a professional photographer specializing in music and fashion photography.

After working non-stop for nearly 15 years in the photography market, Shapter turned 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, touring the U.S. in 2010.

Shapter lives in Austin with his wife Christina, daughter Faron, and three "unemployed" dogs. He is currently working on two new film projects. One is
a new documentary about the power of mentoring called Over My Shoulder and the other is a narraitve film about a lgendary Texas bank robbery called The Teller and The Truth.

When he's not making movies, he enjoys staying busy with commercials and music video projects

Visit Andrew's official site - AndrewShapter.Com

Blog Entries by Andrew Shapter

Mike Myers Visits Occupy Wall Street

(3) Comments | Posted October 12, 2011 | 12:45 PM

Every morning, as I cruise through my usual social media stops, I've seen polarizing takes on Occupy Wall Street (I'm from Texas after all). Visit YouTube and you'll see contrasting versions depending on whom the videographer decides to speak with.

This morning, I discovered one of the...

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Oscar Season Is Here: So We Ask "Does Gender Matter?"

(0) Comments | Posted September 29, 2011 | 2:52 PM

It's true there's no business like show business. Yet film and television productions embody cultural art forms and also represent a team sport. Storytelling in motion takes inspiration and drive along with a strong group effort. And there are multiple leaders within the different layers on set, but clearly directors...

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Aftermath Images Surface as Wildfires Still Burn

(1) Comments | Posted September 7, 2011 | 7:52 PM

It's day four in what is already being call the worst fire in Texas history. At this moment, only 30% of the fire has been contained. As you can see from the images below, thousands of Texas families need your help.

Here's how you can help -

...
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Images and Video of Texas Wildfire Devastation

(34) Comments | Posted September 6, 2011 | 1:58 PM

According to local officials in Bastrop County Texas, the fire is swallowing "One home every four minutes". The fight has only begun. As of now, "zero percent" is contained. Words cannot describe how devastating these fires are to Austin and the surrounding areas. I'll simply let the images speak for...

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Singer Mates with Wild Ape in Controversial Video

(1) Comments | Posted August 1, 2011 | 5:19 PM

According to the script from the new movie, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," scientists have accidentally boosted apes' intelligence, testosterone and pheromone levels, rendering them irresistible to beautiful women.

Is this really possible? Yes, it is.

I saw it in a video called "

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10 Free Must-See's at SXSW 2011

(2) Comments | Posted March 16, 2011 | 3:04 PM

While there were more cool things at SXSW than I can even think to count, some things stand out more than others, and not all of them happen on stage. Here are my 10 must-see's at the the 25th Anniversary SXSW Fest.

1. A killer free concert.

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The Most Interesting Photographers on Flickr (Vol. 1)

(2) Comments | Posted February 16, 2011 | 10:34 AM

As a veteran photographer of two decades, I've seen the industry go through some dramatic changes. But nothing more dramatic than the birth of digital photography.

We're now a decade deep into the Digital Age of photography, and it's never been more interesting. Gone are the days when photographers...

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Need Inspiration to Give? Read Stories, Not Statistics

(1) Comments | Posted December 6, 2010 | 1:11 PM

The holidays are about sharing, but we need to remember that when we donate to charity, we're giving to people not data. At least one nonprofit in Austin gets that, and that's why they publish this remarkable new magazine.

When we listen to stories, we allow ourselves to be...

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Roots Fans Send a Message to the Grammys (VIDEO)

(5) Comments | Posted November 10, 2010 | 10:03 AM

The following post is an open letter to members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

I'm not a musician, music expert, or member of any music label. I'm just a music fan who has joined with other fans to send you...

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Where Is Francis? Dedicated To Missing Persons Cases

(2) Comments | Posted September 22, 2010 | 1:50 PM

People disappear for many reasons. Some choose to disappear, alone. Many of these soon return. Then again, for those who disappear on their own, there are a host of possible reasons. Maybe they want to avoid domestic abuse, or avoid legal papers being served, or out of control debt.

...
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Why The Roots Might Have the Best Album Of 2010

(17) Comments | Posted July 30, 2010 | 12:53 PM

"Hip hop is Dead." -Nas

I know how he feels.

Generally speaking, with the exception of some truly stellar standouts, popular hip hop has become pretty homogenized over the past decade. The contrast of Public Enemy's "Fear Of A Black Planet" with virtually anything on the charts today is...

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Stay-At-Home Dad Never Fails To Offend Everyone (WATCH)

(7) Comments | Posted July 15, 2010 | 1:19 PM

Stay-at-home dads are becoming more and more common in the Great Recession and this guy gives them a bad name. Meet Brandon, a 37 year old that just lost his job at the Commodities Exchange to a computer. He's a Stay-At-Home Dad who can't seem to censor himself....

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How To Become A Pop Star

(2) Comments | Posted June 8, 2010 | 11:04 AM

Does it take talent to become a pop-star? No, really. This is a serious question. Does it?

I asked that question in my first film Before the Music Dies and I got a wide variety of answers. At that time (2006), there was still a lot of confusion...

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WATCH Homeless Man Living on 'I Am Here' Billboard Raises Enough Money to Find a Home

(0) Comments | Posted May 10, 2010 | 5:36 PM

To bring the public's attention to the plight of an often overlooked population, Austin, Texas nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) used a unique approach: a billboard along a major freeway. The I Am Here campaign aimed to literally "raise the visibility" of the local homeless community.

I'm...

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99 Definitions Of Happiness

(0) Comments | Posted April 5, 2010 | 5:24 PM

According to Websters Online Dictionary, the word happiness is -

hap·pi·ness
Pronunciation: \ˈha-pē-nəs\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 : good fortune : prosperity
2a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy
2b : a pleasurable or satisfying...

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Glenn Beck And Jon Stewart To Debate For Charity?

(39) Comments | Posted March 23, 2010 | 6:44 PM

This is an open invitation for Glenn Beck and Jon Stewart to come together on a neutral stage
in New York City to debate about the future of America and it's politics.

Imagine: A live debate between two of the most well-known political commentators on television today....

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Despite Economy, Not-Only-For-Profit Business Is Thriving

(0) Comments | Posted March 5, 2010 | 10:30 AM

Any way you slice it, to say that the past two years has been economically "unkind" to businesses both large and small would be an understatement. From giant corporations dealing with cutbacks and layoffs, to local Mom & Pop's shutting their doors for good, the American dream has collectively taken...

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Colorado Citizens Finding Happiness Through Giving

(0) Comments | Posted February 23, 2010 | 11:09 AM

The pursuit of happiness. The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence famously put that idea on paper and called it one of our "inalienable" rights.

And do we ever pursue it. In fact, Americans spend great amounts of our time, money and energy chasing it....

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WATCH : Damn Good Short Films You Should See

(1) Comments | Posted February 4, 2010 | 3:00 PM

Seen any good short films lately?

These days, because of the affordability and ease of the "shoot and share" nature of digital filmmaking, there is an abundance of films online from which to choose, and more on the way everyday.

In the past, you would have been required to attend...

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The Fall and Rise of Independent Film

(1) Comments | Posted January 13, 2010 | 6:08 PM

Historically, the month of January takes its name from the Roman god Janus, the "god of the doorway," and every year, for a whole new crop of independent films and filmmakers looking for an opening, this couldn't ring more true. It marks an opportunity for these artists to vie for...

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