Andy Compton is an Asian American writer and director from the heart of the Midwest—St. Louis, Missouri. Once a hard-partying high school dropout from a dysfunctional home, Andy found sobriety in his late-20s, turned his life around, and went on to graduate Cum Laude from Webster University with a BA in Scriptwriting and a Minor in Film and Television Production. In addition, Andy also graduated from The Improv Shop’s Training Center and played on a number of sketch and improv teams, writing and performing in dozens of live shows from 2017 to 2020. Much like his own story, Andy’s characters often navigate small-town worlds in search of their own larger-than-life triumphs, through which Andy balances his comedic sensibility with dramatic storytelling—shining a light on topics such as class struggle, addiction, and other dark aspects of life in the working-class Midwest. During his time in film school, he wrote his comedy feature, BELLYACHE, currently optioned with an Emmy-nominated producer and Emmy-winning star attached. In addition, his 2023 short film, CAPTCHA, which he wrote, produced, directed, and edited, was a winner of Best Screenplay, Best Comedy, and received the Essy Award for Best Narrative Film at the 2023 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Andy’s writing is often amusing, at times—heartbreaking, but always feels undeniably human.