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John Beck-Hofmann

[ Director | DP | Composer ]
Email: johnbeckhofmann@mac.com | LinkedIn: john-beck-hofmann | Website/Reel: www.johnbeckhofmann.com

 

Professional Summary

Award-winning filmmaker, composer, and storyteller with over 30 years of experience across dramatic features, documentaries, and corporate productions. A trusted creative force behind iconic projects for NASA, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and IMAX films, blending expertise in producing, writing, directing, editing, and composing. Highly experienced in crafting powerful narratives with engaging performances in both scripted and non-scripted settings using improvisation. Proficient in leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering impactful results across platforms, with a passion for pushing creative boundaries in storytelling.

 

Key Accomplishments

  • Directed Maidan Massacre, a feature documentary that won the “People’s Choice” Award at the Terra di Siena Film Festival and the “Audience Award” at Eurasia.doc Film Festival.

  • Created and directed viral NASA videos Seven Minutes of Terror (Curiosity Rover) and Jupiter: Into the Unknown (Juno Mission), viewed by millions.

  • Composed orchestral scores for multiple Disney, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel documentaries, two Oliver Stone films, and an animated feature.

  • Produced, wrote, directed, and starred in Tyranny, a feature film adapted into a 19-episode web series, coordinating production across multiple countries with a 24-member cast.

  • Led creative direction for high-profile campaigns and productions, achieving critical acclaim and establishing new standards for immersive storytelling.

 

Professional Experience

Senior Videographer/Editor
Buildertrend | Omaha, NE | 2020–Present

  • Directed and edited the multi-award-winning podcast The Building Code, surpassing 250 episodes and celebrated for its industry insights and long-term impact.

  • Produced, directed, shot, and edited the award-winning Behind the Business web series, lauded for its creative storytelling and ability to highlight compelling brand narratives.

  • Created visually compelling commercials praised for their creativity and narrative strength.

  • Developed original online content that has been honored with multiple awards over the past two years, including AMA’s “Best Video” and PRSA’s “Best Podcast.”

  • Delivered content that significantly increased social engagement, strengthened brand recognition, and improved audience retention.

 

Founder & Creative Director
Weatherman Films | Hollywood, CA | 1999–Present

  • Built and managed a Hollywood-based production studio (2003–2022), collaborating with elite talent.

  • Produced and directed documentaries, music videos, and commercial content

  • Created and led multiple actor/director workshops, training actors to be proficient on camera for their own low-budget productions.

  • Designed and built multiple film sets used in many productions

 

NASA/JPL TV Director/DP/Videographer/Editor
Contractor | 1995–2020​

  • Documented nearly every Mars mission over 25 years, capturing iconic visuals of rover construction, testing, launches, landings, and surface operations, inspiring millions worldwide.

  • Directed dozens of live multi-camera productions for NASA TV, delivering high-quality coverage of key events.

  • Created and directed several documentary series featured on NASA TV and online, bringing groundbreaking missions to a global audience.

  • Regularly interviewed key personalities for documentaries, including politicians, astronauts, Nobel laureates, scientists, engineers, and NASA directors.

  • Contributed to NASA’s public outreach strategy by showcasing missions through collaborations with IMAX, National Geographic, and digital platforms.

 

Composer
Freelance | 1993–Present

  • Scored music for NASA, Disney, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, two Oliver Stone films, PBS, a 6 episode documentary series, and more.

  • Specialized in orchestrations and compositions that elevate narrative impact.

 

Director/Producer/Actor/Writer
Tyranny Web Series | 2010–2011

  • Directed and produced a feature-length film adapted into a successful web series.

  • Coordinated production across 12 countries with a 22-member cast.

 

Awards & Recognitions

  • Two Emmy Awards for NASA mission projects (Five Years on Mars 2009, Cassini’s Grand Finale 2018)

  • NASA Exceptional Service Medal - 2013

  • NASA Videographer of the Year (4-time recipient) 2004 - 2012

  • People’s Choice Award for Maidan Massacre, Terra Di Sienna Int'l Film Festival, Italy - 2014

  • Audience Award for Maidan Massacre, Eurasia.Doc Film Festival, Russia - 2016

  • Gold Plaque Award - Chicago Film Festival for The Pathfinders 1998

  • Gold Telly Award for The Pathfinders 1998

 

Education & Training​

  • Azusa Pacific University - BA Communications 1992

  • Acting/directing/script analysis with Judith Weston | Hollywood, CA | 1999–2015

  • Screenwriting University | Hollywood, CA | 2013–2014

  • John Truby | Screenwriting 2011 - 2013

  • Pilot Institute – Drone Training | Omaha, NE | 2024

 

Skills

  • Film & Video Production: Producing, directing, editing, cinematography, lighting, drone piloting

  • Music Composition: Scoring for film and television with orchestral experience

  • Storytelling & Writing: Screenplays, teleplays, novels, non-fiction

  • Public Speaking: Storytelling techniques, audience engagement, NASA engineering

  • Tools: Davinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, Logic

 

Public Speaking Engagements

  • SXSW, MIT, BITS-Pilani India, UNO, ISU, Creighton Prep, Populus, International Space University, Omaha Quad Club, Buildertrend, Dundee Presbyterian, Film Streams

 

Projects in Progress

  • Editing first novel (75k words) and writing a non-fiction book on storytelling

  • In development: new screenplay, and paid commercial scripts

  • Will begin training with Unreal Engine in 2025

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