Shawn Christensen

Shawn Christensen is an American musician, filmmaker, podcaster 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 short film Curfew. Early life 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. Career Stellastarr 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".