Meet Andrew Stier | Writer, Actor, Comedian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Stier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, what do you want your legacy to be?
I’m a writer, actor, and over-all video/film creator. It’s hard to pin down my answer to any one thing, because there’s so much that hasn’t been done yet in the TV and film industry, and I want to play a part in all of it!

Currently one of my biggest focuses is art about gay men. As a gay man myself, I am well equipped to help in this regard, and I know personally the impact that never seeing openly gay men represented on screen had on me. There are, thankfully, a ton of pieces of gay media coming out every year now, but there’s still so much missing. For example, I think my dream would be to help write and star in a superhero movie where the main character is an openly gay, bad-ass, man. I look up to superheroes, they were always the epitome of strength, courage, and moral integrity, and I think it would have been powerful for my closeted teenage self to see that an openly gay man could embody those traits.

There are other surprisingly big holes though, too, especially with women in film. I think learning about the Bechdel test was a real wake-up call. It’s a symptom of a much larger issue and I would love to write scripts which fill that gap. One example my friend Sid Desai brought up – there are almost no examples of female characters that are looked up to by male protagonists unless that woman is a teacher or a mother. Let’s change that!

I would also love to see more opportunities and respect for comedy improvisers. I’ve done comedy improv for 12 years, and I have been privy to so many incredible improv shows, and this form of entertainment seems so underutilized and unknown. Sometimes it’s seen as only a stepping stone to creating other art. I would love to help create and be a part of more shows like Middleditch and Schwarz, a Netflix show which showcased live longform improv, the way that stand-up is often showcased. I know many people who specialize exclusively in improv, and I want to see them get their spot on the screen.

And I’m sure we’ll continue to discover needs and holes and continue to make art that fills those gaps! I want to one day be known as- hey! That’s that hot cute funny smart guy that brought light into our life and helped shape the film industry!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I pursued art and comedy as a casual side-hobby for years, thinking that the limelight was too out of reach. Then a couple things happened- some of my friends and acquaintances I made through those hobbies who were taking their art careers more seriously started to achieve actual success. Internet fame, Netflix shows, even SNL. And then I started to go viral on TikTok. That’s when it really clicked like- oh, people like me, and like my art. If I put my mind to this, I could actually go somewhere.

Simultaneously I realized how much I enjoyed it. During the quarantine I made my first film sketches with my “quaranteam”, and between that and improv I realized “wow, I am never happier than when I am creating art with people”.

I’m still pretty early on in this, but I just reached 10k followers on TikTok, I’ve started getting booked and paid for stand-up comedy shows, I’ve been featured on Betches and in Cut videos, and through my podcast Rainbow Room I’ve been able to sit down and talk with famous or up and coming artists I really respect- Dylan Adler, Kyle Prue, and Ryan O’Connell, to name a few!

The early stages of any career are really tough. So much of my artistic background is in the form of improv, which is difficult if not impossible to build a portfolio with, so in many ways I’ve been starting from square 0. I’m not part of any dedicated team yet so I don’t have a budget for a personal video editor, film crew, etc. I don’t have any avenues paved for me, or ways to streamline my content into the right hands. I just barely have enough footage of myself to make a reel. Right now it’s all hustle, baby!

I wish I had started seeing myself as a serious contender for the screen earlier. I think the biggest takeaway from my story is you might have more potential than you realize, so give it a try before you count yourself out prematurely!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For Austin, you have to check out Zilker Park/Barton Springs, the greenbelt (search twin falls/sculpture falls parking), and South Congress.

For nightlife, sixth street is the classic Austin college town experience and it’s lit. You can go to west sixth or Rainey st. for a more young professional vibe. The gay bars are on 4th street, be sure to visit Rain and Highland. With the exception of highland, most bars close at 2 and none can serve alcohol after 2. Barbarellas is also great for straight and gay people, and if you’re gay check it out on a Tuesday for Tuezgays! Unfortunately no real lesbian bars, but Cheer Up Charlies I think is popular with that crowd.

For food, get some breakfast tacos! Also try a food truck. Some other Austin staples include Trudy’s, Taco Joint, and Chuy’s. I also like Madam Ma’am’s.

For comedy, check out Hideout Theatre, Coldtowne, Fallout Theatre, Buzzkill at the Buzzmill, and Creek and the Cave, to name a few.

Also try paddleboarding from the Rowing Dock! Or canoeing or kayaking.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to the Hideout Theatre! They are a comedy improv theatre in Austin TX doing absolutely incredible work. The improv scene in Austin is STRONG, and the top improvisers there are INCREDIBLE. I have learned so much from their classes and their directors, and some of the lessons I’ve learned about improv have translated into my writing- story structure, creating a likeable protagonist, etc.

The culture there is so healthy, and everyone is just there to have a good time, support each other, and improve their artform. Hideout puts a lot of effort into being equitable, and the space has always felt very inclusive to me.

Hideout is known for excelling at narrative longform improv, which is like doing a full play, but everything is made up on the spot. Their short-form shows knock it out of the park as well. They house some of the best comedians I have ever met, and I urge you to see a show there sometime!

Website: direct.me/stireonfire

Instagram: instagram.com/andrewstieronfire

Twitter: twitter.com/andrewstieronfire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082649080548

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaKl4McOdYoq5y2tZrPg8A