Chris Cooley (artist)

Chris Cooley (born Christopher Lloyd Cooley; December 12, 1983, also known as Akira Mishima, Kuen, and Mefisto) is a U.S. film director, music composer, and film editor. He has written, edited, and directed seven narrative short films, as well as a myriad of experimental/musical non-narrative films. He also works as an editor and composer for other director's film work.
Chris has released five albums under the name Kuen, consisting of a wide range of dark and experimental industrial/electro/trip hop. He has released four albums under the name Mefisto (formerly Mephisto) consisting of live instrumentation, all performed by Chris. Mefisto's subject matter varies from songs of love and longing to esoteric and occult subject matter. He has worked with an analogue synth group called The Disclosure Project and is the musical half of the creative drive behind .
In 2009, Chris was in preparations to begin pre-production on his first feature film entitled The Loners, before getting into a serious motorcycle accident from which he is still recovering. Though his film projects are temporarily on hold, he has been working closely with his various music groups through the rehabilitation process.
Neptune Films
Chris is the owner/founder of Neptune Films through which he distributes his short subject film work. Though they rarely take part in film festivals, they are known to have screenings on occasion in Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and Berlin. Chris is known for his visceral style of filmmaking, often containing dark or uncomfortable subject matter. He is an adamant proponent of celluloid use (often 16 mm filme or Super8) as opposed to video cinematography. In 2007 he was a recipient of a Regional Arts & Culture Council project grant for the short film "What Invariably Goes Left Unsaid".
Filmography
* What Invariably Goes Left Unsaid (2007)
* Days Like This (2007)
* Identity (2005)
* Noise (2004)
* The Chinaman (2003)
* Dream's Eye (2002)
* Totoro's Great Escape (2002)
Hyper Fire Records
Chris is also owner/founder of Hyper Fire Records based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1998, it has since been a vehicle to release records by "Kuen", "Mephisto", "The Disclosure Project", and "DeathTriP". Pressings are often found in independent record stores or at Neptune Films screenings, but as of October 31, 2010, all Hyper Fire Records releases are also available for download on the hyper fire website. Chris composes original music for Neptune Films projects as well as for other filmmakers on occasion.

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