JOE McMASTER
150 Trenton St. • Melrose, MA 02176 • 617-529-2612
joemcmaster1@gmail.com • www.linkedin.com/in/mcmasterjoe/
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER & SCIENCE JOURNALIST
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More than 20 years experience producing, directing, writing and managing
award-winning television productions filmed and broadcast worldwide
Specialist in non-fiction video/film production and story-telling - short, long,
vérité and scripted formats
Skilled at bringing difficult and abstract scientific ideas to life in creative,
active scenes
Extensive experience writing for, directing and working with world-class oncamera hosts, experts and academics
Expert at blending complex production techniques, innovative live action,
groundbreaking CGI, and visual effects to tell stories and convey complex
ideas
Created some of the highest rated, most critically acclaimed, signature
programs in the history of the PBS series NOVA
PRODUCTION & JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR & WRITER
2012-present
Allotrope Productions LLC
Owner of independent production company writing, producing, directing projects
for national broadcast, web and print
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & WRITER
2008-2012
NOVA, WGBH-TV, Boston, MA
Headed up all aspects of production and editorial direction of four-hour PBS miniseries NOVA: The Fabric of the Cosmos
KNIGHT SCIENCE JOURNALISM FELLOW
2005-2006
Knight Science Journalism Program, MIT
Studied science and journalism in year-long fellowship at MIT and Harvard
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER
1995-2008
NOVA, WGBH-TV, Boston, MA
Created numerous award-winning television programs for the PBS flagship
science series NOVA and the magazine series ScienceNOW at WGBH-TV,
including:
NOVA:
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
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2 hour special about evolution, creationism and the landmark federal court case that sank the
“intelligent design” movement.
Newton’s Dark Secrets
A fresh look at the great physicist Isaac Newton and his lesser-known obsessions with
religion and alchemy.
Wave that Shook the World
A scientific examination of the Indonesian tsunami, its causes, and efforts to predict future
tsunamis.
Origins: Earth is Born
The story of the origin of planet Earth. Part of a four-hour mini-series hosted by
astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Origins: How Life Began
The story of the origins of life on Earth. Part of a four-hour mini-series hosted by
astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
The Elegant Universe (also served as SERIES PRODUCER)
Einstein’s Dream
String’s the Thing
Welcome to the 11th Dimension
Groundbreaking three-part mini-series about string theory and modern physics hosted by
physicist Brian Greene.
Building Big: Skyscrapers
Globetrotting program examining the science and technology of tall buildings from medieval
times to the present. Part of a five-hour mini-series hosted by acclaimed author/illustrator
David Macaulay.
Animal Hospital
Vérité program about cutting-edge veterinary medicine following a handful of students
through vet school.
Time Travel
A light-hearted examination of the physics of time travel.
Terror in Space
A documentary about the mishap-filled mission of a U.S. astronaut aboard the Russian space
station Mir.
Return of the Iceman
A film unraveling the mystery of the 5000 year-old body found perfectly preserved in the Alps.
The Brain Eaters
Early exploration of the causes of the mad cow disease epidemic and the possibility it will
strike the U.S.
Cracking the Ice Age
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A look at a controversial theory that the geological process that created the Tibetan plateau
also caused the Ice Age.
Venus Unveiled
A surprising portrait of Earth’s “twin” based on the most recent NASA space probes.
NOVA ScienceNOW:
Space Storms
The mystery of the northern lights and the “space storms” that create these dazzling displays.
Hosted by astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Phoenix Mars Lander
Story of the NASA robot searching Mars for evidence of water and signs the Red Planet
could have supported life. Hosted by astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Space Elevator
Segment following efforts to create a 22,000 mile elevator to space, including a NASA
competition among back-yard inventors. Hosted by astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Profile: Cynthia Breazeal
An intimate profile of MIT designer of “social robots.”
New Orleans Hurricane
Airing 6 months before Hurricane Katrina, a segment with on-camera host examining what
would happen to the city if struck by a large hurricane.
SELECTED AWARDS & HONORS
Peabody Award
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
The Elegant Universe
Building Big: Skyscrapers
AAAS Science Journalism Award
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
Wave that Shook the World
Emmy Award
The Fabric of the Cosmos – Nominee, Outstanding Science and Technology
Programming
Wave that Shook the World – Nominee, Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a
News Story - Long Form
The Elegant Universe – Nominee, Best Documentary
The Elegant Universe – Nominee, Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature
Programming
Writers Guild of America Award
The Fabric of the Cosmos: The Illusion of Time – Winner, Best
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Documentary Script
The Fabric of the Cosmos: What is Space? - Nominee, Best
Documentary Script
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial – Nominee, Best
Documentary Script - Current Events
The Elegant Universe: String’s the Thing – Nominee Best
Documentary Script
The Elegant Universe: Welcome to the 11th Dimension – Nominee, Best
Documentary Script
DuPont-Columbia Award
The Brain Eaters
American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
Cine Golden Eagle Award
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
Wave that Shook the World
National Academies Communication Award
Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial – finalist
The Elegant Universe - finalist
New York Festivals
The Elegant Universe – Gold Medal
Beijing Film Festival
The Elegant Universe – Silver Dragon
Prix Jules Verne
The Elegant Universe
Jackson Hole Science Media Awards
The Fabric of the Cosmos – Best Writing and Best Physical Sciences program
ParisScience International Science Film Festival
The Fabric of the Cosmos – Grand Prix (best film of the competition)
Grierson Award
The Fabric of the Cosmos - nominee
The Elegant Universe – nominee
EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS
Yale University, BA, English
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MIT, Knight Science Journalism Fellow
Writers Guild of America
National Association of Science Writers
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LINKS TO SELECTED WORKS
HOUR-LONG PROGRAMS & MULTIPLE-HOUR MINI-SERIES
Video and scripts can be found at these web sites
“The Fabric of the Cosmos” (four hour NOVA/PBS mini-series)
Episode 1: “What is Space?”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html#fabric-space
Episode 2: “The Illusion of Time”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html#fabric-time
Episode 3: “Quantum Leap”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html#fabricquantum
Episode 4: “Universe of Multiverse?”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html#fabricmultiverse
NOVA “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial” (2 hours)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/intelligent-design-trial.html
“The Elegant Universe” (three hour NOVA/PBS mini-series)
Episode 1: “Einstein’s Dream”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/elegant-universe.html#elegantuniverse-einstein
Episode 2: :String’s the Thing”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/elegant-universe.html#elegantuniverse-string
Episode 3: “Welcome to the 11th Dimension”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/elegant-universe.html#elegantuniverse-dimensions
SHORTER PROGRAMS (MAGAZINE FORMAT 8-12 minutes)
NOVA ScienceNOW “Space Storms”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/space-storms.html
NOVA ScienceNOW “Hurricanes”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/hurricanes.html
NOVA ScienceNOW “Profile: Cynthia Breazeal”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/cynthia-breazeal.html
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NOVA ScienceNOW “Space Elevator”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/space-elevator.html
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