Shawn Christensen

In 2013, he won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his short film Curfew.

• Name — Shawn Christensen • Birthplace — Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. • Education — Pratt Institute • Years Active — 2000–present • Occupation — * Screenwriter • film director • singer-songwriter • actor • podcaster • painter • Notable Works — * Curfew • Before I Disappear • The Vanishing of Sidney Hall

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. He enrolled at Pratt Institute, where he pursued a degree in graphic design and illustration. During weekend acting classes, he befriended sixteen-year-old Paul Wesley. Christensen was the lead vocalist and lead guitar in a college band called Ghistor, composed of himself, bassist Amanda Tannen and drummer Arthur Kremer. After Christensen graduated from Pratt with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, they disbanded. He produced and sold abstract-realistic paintings generally themed around prominent rock music figures.

• Illustration — Christensen performing in Mexico City, Mexico in April 2008

Alongside Tannen, Kremer and the new addition of Michael Jurin - who took up the lead guitar position - Christensen formed the indie rock band Stellastarr, (stylized as "stellastarr*), in March 2000. In July, the band had their debut performance with Christensen's original compositions at Luna Lounge on Manhattan's Lower East Side. In May 2003, Stellastarr signed with RCA Records, allowing for them to focus on their musical careers. Under the RCA label, Stellastarr released an eponymous album in September 2003, featuring the standout singles "Jenny" and "My Coco". Stellastarr released Harmonies for the Haunted, their second album under RCA, on September 13, 2005. Christensen's progression as a singer was praised, with his tone being noted for having matured and become more consistent beyond his shifting between falsetto and baritone vocal registers. Stellastarr released their final album, Civilized, through their personal imprint label Bloated Wife Records, in July 2009. Christensen was complimented for his range being able to deliver deep bellows and high falsettos. Following the release of Civilized, Stellastarr unofficially went on hiatus.

Christensen expanded his direction efforts to fiction podcasts with Blackout, the first series produced by QCode that was released in March 2019, starring Rami Malek. The first season directed by Christensen was popular, having been downloaded over twelve million times by the time its second season was ordered. Christensen directed the narrative thriller Hunted, the first podcast produced by Wolf Entertainment's Endeavor Audio division, starring Parker Posey, released in November 2019. Alongside Gabriel Mason, Christensen founded an entertainment label called Criminal Content in 2020. Christensen directed, executive produced and acted in the company's debut podcast, American Hostage, an eight-part dramatization of the 1977 Indianapolis hostage crisis perpetrated by Tony Kiritsis. Starring Jon Hamm, American Hostage was released in February 2022. Criminal Content's sophomore historical-fiction series about the Fox sisters and starring Carey Mulligan, The Foxes of Hydesville, was announced in April 2023, with a spring release date.

• Year — Title — Director — Producer — Writer — Editor — Actor — Role — Notes • 2006 — Walter King — Teddy — Short film • 2006 — Overthrow the Totems — Aaron — Short film • 2006 — Missing Girl — Chad — Short film • 2007 — Black on Black — Short film • 2011 — Brink — Short film, cinematographer • 2011 — Abduction • 2011 — Enter Nowhere — Performer ("My Coco") • 2012 — Curfew — Richie — Short film, performer ("Sophia So Far") • 2013 — The Bicycle — Owner — Short film • 2013 — Grandma's Not a Toaster — Arnie — Short film • 2014 — Before I Disappear — Richie — Performer ("Sophia So Far") • 2014 — Mad as Hell • 2016 — Cul-de-Sac — Dad — Short film • 2017 — The Vanishing of Sidney Hall — Yes • 2019 — The Helping Hand — Short film • 2024 — Abel — Short film • 2025 — Drink & Be Merry — David Culhain

• Year — Title — Director — Producer — Writer — Editor — Actor — Role — Notes • 2019 — Blackout — Pilot (2 episodes) — 8 episodes • 2019 — Hunted — 8 episodes • 2022 — American Hostage — Mark (2 episodes), News Anchor (1 episode) — 8 episodes • 2023 — The Foxes of Hydesville — 9 episodes

Shawn Christensen is recorded as actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer and film editor.