Chris Moukarbel is an American film director, writer, producer, and contemporary artist,[ "Introducing Chris Moukarbel"
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/ref> His first feature documentary Me at the Zoo (Me @ The Zoo) premiered in competition at Sundance Film Festival in 2012[Peter Knegt, "HBO Buys Sundance Doc 'Me @the Zoo'" Indiewire, January 17, 2012] The film charts the rise of YouTube and tells the story of an early viral Internet celebrity, Chris Crocker of “Leave Britney Alone!” fame. Moukarbel was approached by Sheila Nevins to direct[ "Interview: "Banksy Does New York" Director Chris Moukarbel Talks Creating a Crowd-Sourced Film and the Allure of the Infamous Street Artist" Complex.com}] the Emmy nominated documentary Banksy Does New York for HBO.
He is also the creator and director of the HBO series Sex On // which takes a look at sex and relationships in the Information age. It was conceived as a reboot of the classic show Real Sex.[ "HBO Sex Now Gets inside the World of Cam Girls" Vice Magazine][ "The Scintillating Details Behind HBO's New Docuseries 'SEX // NOW,' Debuting January 2014" Indiewire][ "Interactive Gets a New Meaning"] His work often explores technology and identity.[ "About: Chris Moukarbel" ]
Moukarbel directed and produced the award winning film .[ Toronto Film Review in "Variety"][ Film Review in "Vanity Fair"] It premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix. His documentary Wig explores the New York City drag queen scene and the drag festival Wigstock. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on May 4, 2019, and premiered on June 18 on HBO.
Art
Moukarbel made art videos and contemporary art while living in New York.[ "Paramount sues over 9/11 Internet film" USA Today]
In a New York Times article about the art project Moukarbel said in the interview "My film was offered free on the Internet… It cost $1,000 to produce. We're at a place now where technology allows the democratization of storytelling. Through their access and budget they're able to affect a lot of people's ideas about an event and also affect policy. I was deliberately using their script and pre-empting their release to make a statement about power."[ "An Artist Releases a New Film After Paramount Blocks His First" New York Times] After Paramount blocked the distribution of the video it continued to be shown at Witte de With Institute of Contemporary art who refused to comply with the court order.
His artwork has shown at Marianne Boesky Gallery,[ Marianne Boesky Gallery, October 26 – November 25, 2006.] Air de Paris, Witte de with[ "Witte de With : Event : Don Quixote"] and Wallspace gallery among others.
Music videos
Moukarbel co-directed the REM music video Everyday is Yours to Win,[ "R.E.M. Recruits James Franco, Albert Maysles to Helm 'Collapse Into Now' Videos" Billboard.com] The Drums, I Felt Stupid[ "The Drums on Athletics, Their New Video" Interview Magazine] and Joan as Police Woman's Start of my Heart.[ "Interrogation: Joan as Police Woman" Interview Magazine]
Accolades
Personal life
Moukarbel was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Lebanese people parents and lives between Los Angeles and New York.[ "Introducing Chris Moukarbel" Interview Magazine]
Chris Moukarbel was in a relationship with Jake Shears, the frontman of the band Scissor Sisters from 2004-2015.
External links
