Biography
Director Jesse Vaughan – 35-Time Emmy Award Winner (33 Regional & 2 National)
Before directing his debut feature film, Juwanna Mann, for Warner Bros./Morgan Creek—starring Vivica A. Fox, Miguel Nunez, and Tommy Davidson—American film director and producer Jesse Vaughan began his career at WTVR-TV6 in Richmond, Virginia. There, at just 19 years old, he directed local news and produced his first television show. He later produced nine nationally syndicated educational documentaries titled "Fourth R: Rights," which aired on PBS stations across the United States. Recognizing his early achievements, NBC hired him at age 22. Over more than a decade at NBC, Vaughan directed The Jesse Jackson Show for Quincy Jones Entertainment and America's Black Forum with Julian Bond. His credits also include work on Meet The Press, President Reagan's Inauguration, Reagan's State of the Union Addresses, major White House Press Conferences, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, The Charlie Rose Show, The McLaughlin Group, and Headlines on Trial with Arthur Miller. Vaughan also led WRC-TV News Center 4's 5pm News to its first number one ranking in over ten years.
Following his ten years at NBC, Vaughan directed the fifth season of the sketch comedy series In Living Color, featuring Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson, and David Alan Grier. He then directed numerous music documentaries for MTV Networks, including specials on Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Paula Abdul, Melissa Etheridge, and Steve Winwood. His music video direction credits include 'N Sync (featuring Justin Timberlake), Eric Benet, Master P, Mya, Raphael Saadiq, and SWV featuring Missy Elliott. Vaughan earned two national Emmy Awards for his work on the NBC Sports Barcelona Olympics and The World Track and Field Games in Tokyo, which showcased talents such as Elton John, Tina Turner, Will Smith, Anita Baker, Rod Stewart, En Vogue, Tevin Campbell, Keith Sweat, and many others.
Additionally, Vaughan was commissioned to write The Bob Marley Story for Warner Bros./Island World, based on Timothy White’s book Catch a Fire. Over the course of his career, he has been nominated for 66 Emmy Awards—64 Regional and 2 National—and has won 35.
