Shawn Christensen (born 1979/1980) is a musician, filmmaker, and
artist. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute, where he earned a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration and graphic design. Christensen
was the frontman of the indie rock band Stellastarr. In 2013, he won
the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his 2012 short
film Curfew.Shawn Christensen was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New
York, United States. Christensen's father was an engineer and his
mother was a librarian, with him being their only child. Christensen's
first experience and inspiration with film occurred when he watched
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) with his father, after which he
began developing flip books. His favorite pictures were from the
1970s, including Chinatown (1974), Nashville (1975), Taxi Driver
(1976), Network (1976) and Manhattan (1979). However, Christensen
professed The Seventh Seal (1957) to be the most influential film that
would inspire his eventual career in filmmaking.After graduating from
high school, Christensen enrolled at Pratt Institute, where he pursued
a degree in graphic design and illustration. While at Pratt,
Christensen filled his weekends with acting classes, where he
befriended the younger Paul Wesley, who was sixteen at the time.
Throughout his time studying, Christensen was the lead vocalist and
lead guitar in a hobbyist band called Ghistor, composed of himself,
bassist Amanda Tannen and drummer Arthur Kremer. After Christensen
graduated from Pratt with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration and
graphic design, the band disbanded. As his first venture in his
post-college career, Christensen produced and sold abstract-realistic
paintings generally themed around prominent rock music figures. He was
commissioned for clients including the journals New York Metropolis
and The Village Voice.
artist. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute, where he earned a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration and graphic design. Christensen
was the frontman of the indie rock band Stellastarr. In 2013, he won
the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his 2012 short
film Curfew.Shawn Christensen was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New
York, United States. Christensen's father was an engineer and his
mother was a librarian, with him being their only child. Christensen's
first experience and inspiration with film occurred when he watched
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) with his father, after which he
began developing flip books. His favorite pictures were from the
1970s, including Chinatown (1974), Nashville (1975), Taxi Driver
(1976), Network (1976) and Manhattan (1979). However, Christensen
professed The Seventh Seal (1957) to be the most influential film that
would inspire his eventual career in filmmaking.After graduating from
high school, Christensen enrolled at Pratt Institute, where he pursued
a degree in graphic design and illustration. While at Pratt,
Christensen filled his weekends with acting classes, where he
befriended the younger Paul Wesley, who was sixteen at the time.
Throughout his time studying, Christensen was the lead vocalist and
lead guitar in a hobbyist band called Ghistor, composed of himself,
bassist Amanda Tannen and drummer Arthur Kremer. After Christensen
graduated from Pratt with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration and
graphic design, the band disbanded. As his first venture in his
post-college career, Christensen produced and sold abstract-realistic
paintings generally themed around prominent rock music figures. He was
commissioned for clients including the journals New York Metropolis
and The Village Voice.
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