DIRECTING

kabir akhtar has directed a variety of projects: from commercials to television shows, documentaries to short films, kabir has been making his mark.

kabir was approached to direct a new edition of the classic show "Unsolved Mysteries", and created many elements of the new look for the series. after seeing the pilot, Spike ordered a 175-episode run; kabir directed all of the new footage for each episode.

kabir went to bombay to direct episodes of "Mumbai Calling", a scripted half-hour comedy series for ITV1, one of the biggest networks in england. once producers saw him at work, he was offered an extra episode, which he gladly accepted. the series has aired on HBO Asia and in Australia, and is currently airing in the UK.

recently, kabir directed a few shorts for a CBS adaptation of the hit NPR show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", and also directed the "TV Diaries" project for Fox, managing to shoot 24 pages in one day.

kabir has directed many projects for Comedy Central, from "The Daily Show" to specials, creating scripted and improv material starring such talent as David Spade, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, George Lopez, Kate Beckinsale, David Arquette, and the cast of "Reno 911!"

a few years ago, kabir directed a music video parody at the Lucasfilm Ranch, starring Star Wars characters in real-world settings. it was the first time those characters had been seen doing everyday things like playing football, arm-wrestling, and having a picnic. and kabir got to see a yoda topiary.

his many other projects have included the hit MTV show "8th & Ocean", an A&E show starring Vince Neil (Motley Crue), a commercial campaign for CMT, MTV's "Viva la Bam" (and the show's acclaimed music-video style title sequence), and a VH1 show starring Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, The Sopranos) and featuring Ted Danson (Cheers).

kabir has been listed by the NBC Diversity Initiative as one of the industry's "People to Watch." he hopes you are not watching him right now, though. that would just be creepy.

 

kabir is based in los angeles, but seems to always be flying somewhere for work.

a Philadelphia native, kabir holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.F.A. in Motion Picture Production from the University of Miami.