Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Weir.
Hi Andrew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was 16 the first time I stayed awake for nearly two days straight, racing to finish a short film for a 48-hour challenge. Somewhere in the middle of that chaos, it hit me: “I can really do this for a job?” In that moment, everything else faded—the homework, the stress, even the chemistry class I dreaded. For the first time, I felt completely invested in something, and I knew film was what I wanted to build my career around.
At Detroit Country Day, I was fortunate to have a strong film program and incredible teachers and peers who pushed me. I learned the craft from every angle—writing, editing, sound, and of course, cinematography. Over the course of two years, I was fully immersed. By senior year, I had DP’d a feature, co-wrote and directed another, and at one point was enrolled in three film classes during the same semester. Most days I’d eat in the film room, study in the film room, and spend time there with friends.
Those years gave me space to try, fail, and try again—lessons that shaped me more than any single success. I thought I knew exactly how my path would play out from there… but life had other plans.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. During my senior year of high school, I had my heart set on Dodge College at Chapman University. I toured, fell in love with the campus, and felt certain I belonged with the kind of talented, hardworking filmmakers who studied there. On December 17th, my Early Decision letter arrived: rejected. In one instant, everything I thought I had been building toward felt like it collapsed. That rejection stripped away my confidence and forced me to ask if I was really cut out for this life.
The months that followed were messy. I reapplied to my fifth, sixth, and seventh choices, convinced I was salvaging the remains of my career. Looking back, it’s almost funny—I thought it was all over, when in reality, my path hadn’t even begun. That’s when I discovered SCAD. It wasn’t high on THR’s rankings, and it wasn’t high on mine either. But when I toured in February, I saw something different: a backlot, XR stages, and an environment that felt like a diamond in the rough. Choosing SCAD gave me the sense that I wasn’t just following a beaten path. I was carving my own.
By spring, things were starting to feel better. I had committed to SCAD and was finally regaining a sense of confidence in who I was. In April, I gave a senior speech titled “5 Tips to Succeed – and Be Happy While Doing It.” Writing and delivering it helped me articulate values like resilience, gratitude, patience, and discipline—principles I wanted to build my life on. For the first time in months, I felt like myself again.
And then, just days before graduation, disaster struck. My mom’s house burned down in the middle of the night. It was a total loss—nothing could be saved. That tragedy tested every word I had spoken in that speech. Suddenly, practicing gratitude, focusing on what I could control, and choosing my mindset weren’t just ideas — they were survival. Those principles carried me through that season, and they’ve stayed with me ever since.
Now, when challenges arise, I’ve learned to separate what I can control from what I can’t. Gratitude keeps me grounded in people, but resilience comes from choosing where to put my energy. There will be circumstances I can’t control, but I’ve learned that I always have control of my patience, my preparation, and my perspective. That choice—to focus on what I can do instead of what I can’t—is what gives me balance in life and clarity as a cinematographer.
( Hyperlink to the Senior Speech if you would like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t10qQJ3CNoQ )
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Savannah-based cinematographer studying at SCAD and running Weir Films. I specialize in an enhanced-realism approach, leaning toward grounded, human images with intentional polish. I’m also known for meticulous prep and calm, decisive leadership on set. Before the shoot, I run page turns with the director, build practical shot lists, and identify friction points with my gaffer, key grip, and first AC so there are no surprises. I care deeply about crew culture: clear communication, protecting people and gear, and making the day without burning out the team. I’m deliberate about glass, filtration, and format—choices that serve the story rather than call attention to themselves. I’m most proud of the crews I work with; on my sets, people feel respected, prepared, and empowered to do their best work. Collaborators value that I bring both taste and logistics: budgets, gear lists, and schedules that map directly to the image we’re chasing. What sets me apart is the blend of taste and systems: a clear visual point of view paired with the planning and problem-solving to deliver it reliably for directors and producers.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are fall trips to the apple orchard with my parents and brother. There was always a slight breeze on the overcast afternoons there. It carried the crisp smell of leaves turning orange, and every step along the dirt road or through the leaf piles gave a satisfying crunch. We’d wander the corn maze, race to the exit, and break off small bits of husk along the way. Out in the rows, we’d stretch for the best fruit, sneak a bite straight off the branch, then continue down the dirt path with bags of apples knocking against our legs. The corn shed was a highlight, sinking into kernels, loading toy dump trucks, laughing until we were out of breath. We always finished with warm cider and cinnamon sugar doughnuts, sticky hands and big smiles. Looking back, I think that’s where my artistic expression and style comes from. Trying to replicate that feeling of true nostalgia. Warmth. Innocence. Trying to create human images that feel as honest as those afternoons.
(Included a picture of myself, my brother, and my mom here)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weirfilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weir.films/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeirFilms
