John Block (filmmaker)
John Simeon Block is an American documentary filmmaker. Career. John Block, a native of Chicago, is a 1972 graduate from Northwestern University. In 1977 he obtained a Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking from the New York University. From 1980 until 1983 he worked for WCBS and then came to NBC in 1983. Initially he was a "Special Segment" producer for the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. In 1990 he became a producer/writer for Real Life with Jane Pauley and in 1991 a producer/writer for the "Brokaw Reports". From 1992 until 2009 Block was  a producer/writer for Dateline NBC. Since 2010, Block has been an independent producer and filmmaker. Block's subjects cover a wide spectrum of social issues and problems including poverty, homelessness, medical issues, broken families, drugs, crime, and education. He has also made videos for educational and medical support programs. Personal life. Block resides in Montclair, New Jersey with his wife Maria. They have three children.