Jonathan Grupper

reference Jonathan Grupper’s got this knack for pulling stories out of thin air and turning them into something you actually want to watch. Seriously, the guy’s fingerprints are all over some of the most addictive stuff on TV—think CNN, Nat Geo, Discovery, even PBS. Doesn’t matter if it’s a high-drama docuseries or a museum installation, he’s knee-deep in it, running the show as Executive Producer or Showrunner, sometimes both. The resume? Stacked. He’s directed, written, produced—basically worn every hat possible, probably at the same time. You’ll find his stuff in unexpected places, too. The permanent Ellis Island Museum exhibit? That’s him. Audio installations for the New York Historical Society? Also him. He even cranked out six books for National Geographic’s kids’ line, and if you’ve sat through a planetarium show, odds are he wrote that script you half-remember. National Geographic Explorer, NOVA, Nature—he’s penned episodes for all of them. It’s not just about volume; the man’s got the hardware to prove it. We’re talking Gold Special Jury at World Fest-Houston, a Cine Golden Eagle, a Telly, the kind of awards that crowd your mantel. His shows have racked up ten Emmy nominations, three with his own name on the ticket. And somehow, he finds time to teach dramatic screenwriting at NYU, handing down the playbook to the next wave of storytellers. Guy’s a total force in the world of true-life drama and cinematic storytelling—no wonder everyone wants him on their team.