Jeff Springer was born in an abandoned town in the California desert, raised in Hawaii, and educated at USC Film School. After living for a winter in Russia, he returned to Los Angeles and directed some music videos and shorts, as well as editing for Fox, the WB, UPN, Lucasfilm, Capitol, and Geffen Records. Burned out and hungover on WWF and bad R&B, he fled to San Francisco to start work on the feature documentary PLAGUES & PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA with co-director Chris Metzler. After weeks in the desert and a couple of burnt cameras, the film went on to win 37 awards for Best Documentary and premiered on the Sundance Channel.

Currently, he is finishing shooting and editing EVERYDAY SUNSHINE, a feature documentary on the legendary rock-ska-funk band Fishbone. He frequently directs, shoots and edits short documentaries on off-beat and unexpected subjects for HDNet's World Report. It has also been rumored that he experiments with video projections for live performance and theatre, having mixed live imagery for bands such as Friends of Dean Martinez at the Getty Center or for performers at the Crucible's 2009 Fire Arts Festival.


I have directed

BEHIND THE MASK: LUCHA LIBRE USA - A short doc for HDNet about two everyday guys who, on the weekends, turn into masked lucha libre wrestlers. From the sport's roots in Mexico, to the backyards of America, lucha libre wrestling is a Latin American tradition alive and evolving in the United States. (14 min.)


 

PLAGUES & PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA - A feature documentary about the weird and wonderful people around a forgotten desert lake. The film is narrated by JOHN WATERS, stars SONNY BONO, and features an original score by desert alt-rockers FRIENDS OF DEAN MARTINEZ. After premiering at Slamdance, it went on to win 37 Awards for Best Documentary, premiered on the Sundance Channel, and was released nationally on DVD by Docurama. Find out more at: www.plaguesandpleasures.com (3 min. trailer)



LEONARD & THE MOUNTAIN

A short documentary on mountain artist Leonard Knight. It was 1 of 10 featured doc shorts in the INDEPENDENT LENS ONLINE SHORTS FESTIVAL, as well as a pick on Channel 4's FOUR DOCS in the UK. Another version of the film has also been broadcasted nationally on CURRENT TV. (short version - 6 min.)


 

CONSUMING FIRE

A music video for the band Third Day. It is the winner of a BILLBOARD MAGAZINE MUSIC VIDEO AWARD. It was broadcast nationally for years. (1 min. excerpt)

 


And much, much more....

If you want a resume, a reel or want to try and win a free DVD, you can drop me a line.

I like to cut video

LUCASFILM LTD. Behind-the-scenes documentaries for "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" for broadcast and the DVD.

NBC-UNIVERSAL TELEVISION Commercials for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, as well numerous other network promos and presentations.

GEFFEN RECORDS Pieces for the bands Hole, Aerosmith, and The Bloodhound Gang (winner of an award from Avid), as well as various soundtrack spots.

other jobs

EVERYDAY SUNSHINE - Feature documentary on the band Fishbone. The film will be screening in festivals sometime next year.

UNTITLED CHRIS FIKE PROJECT - Documentary feature on transgender priest Chris Fike.


If you are looking for an editor and interested in checking out my full resume, just drop me a line. I also work as a consulting editor on various documentary projects, such as the upcoming documentary feature BEARD CLUB.

other stuff

“AMERICAN DREAMERS” – An 11 part documentary web series from Sony Pictures Television that features portraits of visionary and often eccentric Americans. CLICK HERE to watch the entire series. Some of my other favorite episodes include: Derby Woman, The Flower Man, Bishop's Castle, and The Fire Freak. (DV)


SUNLESS SATURDAY - Live Fishbone music video included as a special feature on the new album "Still Stuck in Your Throat." I am currently serving as director of photography on the upcoming Fishbone feature documentary EVERYDAY SUNSHINE. (HD)



As well as photographing numerous other projects....

“POP TECH!” – Interviews with John Legend, photographer Chris Jordan and others at the world changing Pop Tech! conference in Camden, Maine. Funded by Fast Company Magazine and Lexus. (HD)

“LONG DIVISION: THE NEXT BIG THREAT TO DEMOCRACY” – A documentary short on voting which was part of the PBS program “Voting in America." (DV, 8mm)

“INSHA ALLAH”- 35mm fiction short film set during the 1st Gulf War in Iraq. Includes sequences with underwater shooting and lighting. (35mm)

“FINE LINE,” ”CATWALK” and ”AS WE GO ALONG” - Three music videos for Radney Foster and Lee Roy Parnell. Produced for Arista Records. Shot on Location in Austin, Texas. (16mm)

I have also shot many other short documentaries, fiction short films, and music videos in 35mm, 16mm, 8mm, mini DV, HD, and even Fisher Price Pixelvision. If you are looking for a cinematographer, just get in touch and I can send you a full resume, a reel, and maybe a free prize.