Today we’d like to introduce you to Preston Weaver.
Hi Preston, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally from Colorado, I started making short films as a kid. I loved making movies and knew that’s what I wanted to do when I grew up. So, I decided to attend film school. I graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Digital Cinema Production. However, I didn’t stay in Utah for the full four years. I left school a semester early to pursue online learning because I had some opportunities to work in film out here in LA. My pregnant wife and I picked up our bags and left for LA. Unfortunately, those opportunities went to a halt when the industry went on strike. However, it didn’t stop me. I started my own production company, Weaver Media. Working on video advertising kept my little family and me alive. I was later introduced to David M. Parks (Mitch), the owner of Rad Cine. He put me on some feature films as a camera assistant, and later, I became his Director of Photography when he directed films. Fast forward, and I have met a wide variety of people, including Ovsanna Yepramyan from Ohseek Productions, LeeAnne Bauer from Vista Film Sales, and many more. Together, we have worked on over 10 feature films over the past year and a half. Most recently, I wrapped production on my upcoming movie, “Dark Mode,” in both the Producer and Director Roles. We are currently entering post-production, starting pre-production, and production on multiple projects.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road however I have found that when you continue to work and put yourself out there more opportunities tend to present themselves.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in creating movies and innovative advertising and marketing. Though I have only recently directed a feature film, I have been the Director of Photography for many films. I know how to create a stunning frame that helps the story progress forward. In addition to that, I see almost everything I do in a series of pictures that help me structure my stories. When directing Dark Mode, I created small sketches or wrote detailed notes on how I wanted to film certain scenes.
I am most proud of “Dark Mode” and being able to go from idea to reality in a relatively quick timeframe, which was only possible because one of my best friends, Donovan Henning (an extremely talented writer), was able to take that idea and write the story the way I envisioned it. Making a movie is not easy. And so it is incredibly satisfying to be able to say I did something that most people only talk about doing. That is what sets them apart from most. When someone says chase your dreams, I say “bet.” When they say, “Go make a movie,” I say, “Bet.” And then I go out and chase or do that thing.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is going on a trip to Alaska with my dad. I feel like that trip brought me closer to my dad but also taught me many life lessons that I still carry with me today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weavermedia.io
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weavermedia__?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-weaver-46b2a5222
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Prestonionw
