Jon Else

Professor and North Gate Chair in Journalism
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Jon Else produced and directed the documentaries “The Day After Trinity: J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb,” “Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven,” “A Job at Ford’s” part of the PBS series “The Great Depression,” “Cadillac Desert: Water and the Transformation of Nature,” “Sing Faster: The Stagehands’ Ring Cycle,” and “Open Outcry.” He was series producer and cinematographer for “Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years.” Else served as cinematographer on documentaries for PBS, BBC, ABC, MTV and HBO, including the BBC/PBS “History of Rock and Roll,” the Paramount/MTV feature documentary “Tupac: Resurrection” and “Afghanistan: Hell of a Nation,” and numerous commercials and music videos. His feature documentary, "Wonders Are Many: The Making of Doctor Atomic" premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Else was a MacArthur Fellow and has won four National Emmys, several Alfred I. DuPont and Peabody awards, the Prix Italia, the Sundance Special Jury Prize and Sundance Filmmaker's Trophy, as well as several Academy Award Nominations. Else received his bachelor's degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley and his master's degree in communication from Stanford University.

Published Stories:

The Museum of Attempted Suicide

The San Francisco Chronicle

For The San Francisco Chronicle, Professor Jon Else considers the legacy of atomic testing ruins at the Nevada Test Site.

Around Kabul by Submarine

The San Francisco Chronicle

For The San Francisco Chronicle, Professor Jon Else covers a visit to Kabul in which he worked on a documentary about Afghanistan's new constitution.

Tupac: Resurrection

New York Times Movies

For New York Times Movies, Professor Jon Else covers a documentary on which he served as director of photoraphy.

The Man Who Gave Us the Bomb

San Francisco Chronicle

In an article that originally was published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Professor Jon Else writes on the man who invented the atomic bomb.

Other Works:

The San Francisco Chronicle's piece on John Else  Read more...

PBS's piece on John Else  Read more...

The Independent Television Service on John Else  Read more...

Courses Taught by Jon Else:

Spring 2012: Documentary Production

Spring 2012: History of Documentary

Fall 2010: Documentary Production

Fall 2010: Videography

Fall 2010: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2010: History of Documentary

Spring 2010: Documentary Production

Spring 2010: Master's Project Seminar

Fall 2009: Videography

Fall 2009: Documentary Production

Fall 2009: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2009: Documentary Production-Thesis Lab

Spring 2009: History of Documentary

Spring 2009: Master's Project Seminar

Fall 2008: Videography

Fall 2008: Master's Project Seminar

Fall 2008: Picture and Sound

Fall 2008: Documentary Production

Spring 2008: Videography

Spring 2008: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2008: Documentary Production-Thesis Lab

Spring 2008: History of Documentary

Fall 2007: Documentary Production

Fall 2007: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2007: Documentary Production

Spring 2007: History of Documentary

Spring 2007: Master's Project Seminar

Fall 2006: Documentary Production

Fall 2006: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2006: History of Documentary

Spring 2006: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2006: Documentary Production

Fall 2005: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2005: History of Documentary

Spring 2005: Documentary Production

Spring 2005: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2002: History of Documentary

Spring 2002: Documentary Production

Fall 2001: Master's Project Tutorial

Fall 2001: Documentary Production

Spring 2001: Master's Project Tutorial

Spring 2001: History of Documentary

Spring 2001: Documentary Production

Fall 2000: Master's Project Tutorial

Fall 2000: Documentary Production

Spring 2000: Master's Project Tutorial

Spring 2000: History of Documentary Film

Spring 2000: Documentary Production

Fall 1999: Documentary Production

Spring 1999: History of Documentary Film

Spring 1999: Advanced Documentary

Fall 2004: Documentary Production

Fall 2004: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2004: Documentary Production

Spring 2004: History of Documentary

Spring 2004: Master's Project Seminar

Fall 2003: Documentary Production

Fall 2003: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2003: Master's Project Seminar

Spring 2003: History of Documentary

Spring 2003: Documentary Production

Fall 2002: Master's Project Tutorial

Fall 2002: Documentary Production