Chris Bashinelli

Christopher Bashinelli was born on November 10, 1986, to Stephen and Florence Bashinelli, who are, respectively, of Italian and Lebanese descent.{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.theglobalcitizensinitiative.org/interview-with-chris-bashinelli-3/ |title=Interview with Chris Bashinelli | The Global Citizens' Initiative |publisher=Theglobalcitizensinitiative.org |date=2014-08-27 |accessdate=2015-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927143659/http://www.theglobalcitizensinitiative.org/interview-with-chris-bashinelli-3/ |archive-date=2015-09-27 |url-status=dead }} Chris was born and raised in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York {{cite web|author= |url=http://scoutingmagazine.org/2012/10/tune-in-as-an-eagle-scout-expands-his-worldview/ |title=Tune in as an Eagle Scout expands his worldview |publisher=Scouting magazine |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}} and attended Xaverian High School. He attended Marymount Manhattan College and graduated in 2008 with a BA in Theatre Arts.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmm.edu/alumni/images/publications/MMC_71st_Fall08-09.pdf |title=Marymount Manhattan College : Seventy-First Street : Alumni Magazine |volume=16 |publisher=Mmm.edu |accessdate=2015-09-26}}

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).{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2139779/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1|title=Chris Bashinelli|publisher=IMDb.com|accessdate=2015-09-26}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2010/obv901.doc.htm |title=International Year of Youth to Be Launched Today at Headquarters, on theme of 'Dialogue and Mutual Understanding' | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases |publisher=Un.org |date=2010-08-12 |accessdate=2015-09-26}} In 2011, at 24 years old, Bashinelli became the youngest male{{cite web |url=http://www.tulalipnews.com/wp/2013/05/15/bridge-the-gap-to-pine-ridge-premiers-on-pbs-july-19th/ |title=Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge Premiers on PBS July 19th |publisher=Tulalip News |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925112204/http://www.tulalipnews.com/wp/2013/05/15/bridge-the-gap-to-pine-ridge-premiers-on-pbs-july-19th/ |archive-date=2015-09-25 |url-status=dead }} to moderate the United Nations International Day of Peace.

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. This film premiered at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.africultures.com/php/?nav=murmure&no=5047 |title=Murmure - Zanzibar International Film Festival 2009 : le palmarès |publisher=Africultures |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://beta.prx.org/stories/70303 |title=PRX |publisher=Beta.prx.org |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}}

Bridge the Gap TV has produced four episodes of the Bridge the Gap series in addition to Tanzania that are currently airing on PBS and the National Geographic Channel (3). Episodes include Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Haiti, Uganda and Mongolia.

In 2012 Bashinelli was named a National Geographic Young Explorer, which awards grants to help fund projects “supporting new generations of archaeologists, anthropologists, astronomers, conservationists, ecologists, geographers, geologists, marine scientists, adventurers, storytellers, and pioneers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/grants-and-investments/ |title=Young Explorers Grants, Funding Information |publisher=National Geographic |date= |accessdate=2015-09-26}}” Bashinelli used his grant to help fund Bridge the Gap to Mongolia, where he lived as a nomad.

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Category:American television producers

Category:Living people

Category:American people of Italian descent

Category:American male actors

Category:American people of Lebanese descent

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)