Christopher Stephen Peter “Bash” Bashinelli is an American actor, producer, explorer, and television host.[1] He is best known as the executive producer and host of the television series, Bridge the Gap, which currently airs on PBS [2] and the National Geographic channel.[3] Bashinelli is also known for being one of the youngest people [4] to ever moderate an event at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.[5]
Early life edit
Christopher Bashinelli was born on November 10, 1986, to Stephen and Florence Bashinelli, who are, respectively, of Italian and Lebanese descent.[6] Chris was born and raised in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York [7] and attended Xaverian High School. He attended Marymount Manhattan College and graduated in 2008 with a BA in Theatre Arts.[8]
Acting career edit
Bashinelli has appeared on television (The Sopranos, 2007) and in several films: How to Grow a Fig Tree (2007), Knock Knock (2007), Last Day of Summer (2009), Good Shot Bash (2009), Take Off (2009), and All Screwed Up (2009).[9]
United Nations edit
In 2010 Bashinelli moderated the Launch of the International Year of Youth in the United Nations General Assembly Hall with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.[10] In 2011, at 24 years old, Bashinelli became the youngest male[11] to moderate the United Nations International Day of Peace.[5]
Bridge the Gap edit
In 2007, at age 20 Bashinelli went to Tanzania as a part of a study abroad program. When he returned he developed the documentary short, Bridge the Gap: Tanzania (2009), in an attempt to show a positive view of Tanzania and its people.[6] This film premiered at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania in 2009.[12]
Following the completion of Bridge the Gap: Tanzania, Bashinelli launched the production company Bridge the Gap TV. Bridge the Gap TV focuses on telling the stories of everyday life in a positive way from areas around the world that often receive negative media attention.[13]
Bridge the Gap TV has produced four episodes of the Bridge the Gap series in addition to Tanzania that are currently airing on PBS[2] and the National Geographic Channel (3). Episodes include Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Haiti, Uganda and Mongolia.[3]
National Geographic Young Explorer edit
In 2012 Bashinelli was named a National Geographic Young Explorer,[1] which awards grants to help fund projects “supporting new generations of archaeologists, anthropologists, astronomers, conservationists, ecologists, geographers, geologists, marine scientists, adventurers, storytellers, and pioneers.[14]” Bashinelli used his grant to help fund Bridge the Gap to Mongolia, where he lived as a nomad.[4]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Break the Addiction: An Inconvenient Truth | Himself | TV documentary |
| 2007 | Knock Knock | Tommy | Movie |
| 2007 | How to Grow a Fig Tree | Michael | Short Movie |
| 2007 | The Sopranos | Kevin | Episode: "Kennedy and Heidi" |
| 2009 | Last Day of Summer | Skateboarder | Movie |
| 2009 | Take Off (2009 short film) | Ernie | Short Movie |
| 2009 | Bridge the Gap: Tanzania (Pilot) | Himself | Executive producer, TV Documentary |
| 2011 | Bridge the Gap to Uganda | Himself | Executive producer, TV Documentary |
| 2012 | Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge | Himself | Executive producer, TV Documentary |
References edit
- ^ a b "Chris Bashinelli, Storyteller/Cross-Cultural Explorer/TV Host Information, Facts, News, Photos". National Geographic. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ a b "Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge". PBS. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ a b "Bridge The Gap - National Geographic Channel". Natgeotv.com.au. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ a b "American Way :: May 2013 — Ink eMagazines". Ink-live.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ a b "United Nations Webcast - International Day of Peace: Student observance "Peace and democracy: Make your voice heard"". Unmultimedia.org. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ a b "Interview with Chris Bashinelli | The Global Citizens' Initiative". Theglobalcitizensinitiative.org. 2014-08-27. Archived from the original on 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Tune in as an Eagle Scout expands his worldview". Scouting magazine. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Marymount Manhattan College : Seventy-First Street : Alumni Magazine" (PDF). Mmm.edu. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Chris Bashinelli". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "International Year of Youth to Be Launched Today at Headquarters, on theme of 'Dialogue and Mutual Understanding' | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". Un.org. 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge Premiers on PBS July 19th". Tulalip News. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Murmure - Zanzibar International Film Festival 2009 : le palmarès". Africultures. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "PRX". Beta.prx.org. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Young Explorers Grants, Funding Information". National Geographic. Retrieved 2015-09-26.