Making an impact is one of the greatest rewards in life. I feel that helping people with what you can, going the extra mile for someone who might be struggling, and being a light for someone else, in a small or big way, is just the right thing to do.
As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Brian Weaver.
Brian Weaver, the visionary founder of Weaver Films in central Arkansas, brings a unique background as a musician who has performed at over 300 shows and opened for renowned acts like The Plain White T’s to his celebrated career in wedding videography and purpose-driven filmmaking. While building a remarkable portfolio of over 100 weddings, Weaver has simultaneously carved out a powerful niche in civic engagement storytelling through collaborations with organizations like Pathway to Freedom and The Confess Project, where he transforms complex social issues into compelling visual narratives that inspire action. His masterful ability to weave hope into both personal celebrations and challenging social narratives has established him as a multifaceted filmmaker whose work not only preserves life’s precious moments but creates lasting community empowerment through projects with organizations like Easterseals and the ALS In Wonderland Foundation.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?
Throughout my childhood, I always enjoyed tinkering with a video camera and creating my own movies. However, I did not immediately realize the strength of my passion for wedding cinematography and freelance videography. After getting married, I understood the importance of capturing our wonderful day. With my music production background, I began perfecting my storytelling craft by capturing my friends’ wedding days. In 2018, I started KB Studios where I turned my passion into a profession. I have since rebranded to Weaver Films expanding my offerings and the rest is history.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I am still learning lessons. I tripped and fell during a fancy wedding ceremony recently. I quickly got up and thankfully everything was okay, but I was quite shaken and my body was hurting. The lesson I learned from this experience is to slow down, especially since there was an unexpected massive rock in the middle of the ceremony space. My tripods were rolling on my main camera at the time…I captured the fall on video (lol).
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
I had the opportunity to film Dalton Wagner’s wedding a couple of years ago. He is an NFL player for the Las Vegas Raiders. It was actually funny because filming him, I had to raise my hands up in the air since he was so tall. It was a really cool experience. He’s a super nice guy.
Who inspires you the most? Why?
I’ve always been a really big fan of Tom Delonge. I think that the resilience he’s shown to get to where he’s at today is just incredible. I feel like I have that same fire in me as well. You know, to just go for what you want in life, no matter how hard it gets.
Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?
I’m using my success to bring goodness to the world in various ways. I have been working with a nonprofit called Hope Movement Coalition for the past couple of years, which is heavily focused on the fentanyl crisis. Working with them has enabled me to contribute some of my footage to the new documentary “Fentanyl: Death Incorporated.” that they are currently submitting to all streaming services. Overall, this experience has been both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?
My dream has always been to play music and impact others through music. I have always been a creative person who wants to make a difference in people’s lives, bringing joy and helping them through life’s struggles. Although I realized that I am not the best musician in the world, getting married and having a baby on the way made me realize that I need to find a new path with a purpose. I didn’t know what that something was until I picked up a camera and learned how to be creative with it, which truly changed my life.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Over the past six years as a wedding and freelance videographer, I’ve had the privilege of making a difference by capturing impactful testimonials for various nonprofits, bringing light to their stories and seeing the joy in their faces as they watch their narratives unfold on screen during fundraisers. Witnessing the audience’s standing ovation for the transformed individuals in the videos has been truly beautiful.
Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?
I’m not sure if there’s anything you can do to support me, but I would appreciate your support for the nonprofit that I’ve been working with for the past two years. You can support the Hope Movement Coalition and stand together to fight the fentanyl crisis in America. Please visit their website at www.hopemovementcoalition.com.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
Making an impact is one of the greatest rewards in life. I feel that helping people with what you can, going the extra mile for someone who might be struggling, and being a light for someone else, in a small or big way, is just the right thing to do.
We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
I would love to collaborate with Parker Walbeck, Landon Bytheway, and Jake Weisler one day on a short film or something along those lines. They really changed my life by creating the Full-Time Filmmaker course, and with their knowledge, I don’t think I could’ve made it. Huge shout-out to them; those guys are awesome!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Dad would always say, “Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!” When I was little, that advice stuck with me. It inspired me to be persistent and proactive in pursuing my goals.
How can our readers follow you online?
You can follow me on Instagram @weaverfilms
Headshot used with permission by Ashley Milam Photography.
This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!
Brian Weaver Of Weaver Films: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.