Jeff Springer was born in an abandoned town in the California desert, a place where the harsh desert landscape would later influence his creative endeavors. He was raised in the tropical paradise of Hawaii, where the vibrant culture and beautiful scenery would shape his artistic perspective. Springer's educational foundation was laid at the prestigious USC Film School, where he honed his skills and developed a passion for the craft of filmmaking.
After completing his studies, Springer embarked on a journey that would take him to the other side of the world. He worked at a dilapidated film studio in Russia, an experience that would later inspire his unique storytelling style. His work in Russia led to opportunities to edit for major studios, including NBC, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Capitol Records. Springer's talent and versatility soon caught the attention of Lucasfilm, and he found himself working on the Skywalker Ranch, editing behind-the-scenes documentaries for a science fiction prequel that, although not well-received, showcased his technical skills.
Craving the unexpected, Springer turned his attention to documentary filmmaking. He directed the offbeat feature documentary Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (2004),a film that was narrated by the iconic John Waters and went on to screen at 200 film festivals worldwide. The documentary won 37 awards for Best Documentary and was broadcast on the Sundance Channel, cementing Springer's reputation as a talented and innovative filmmaker.
Springer's next move was to Europe, where he lived in London and Berlin, immersing himself in the local cultures and developing his photography skills. He went on to photograph several feature documentaries, including Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone (2010) for PBS, which was narrated by Laurence Fishburne. Springer's experiences in Europe also led to his involvement in the documentary With This Breath I Fly (2021),about women imprisoned for supposed "moral crimes," which he edited while living in Afghanistan.
In addition to his feature documentaries, Springer has also directed and photographed several short docs and an Emmy-nominated special for the show Artbound (2012) for KCET in Los Angeles. His latest project, Rodents of Unusual Size (2017),was funded by ITVS and tells the story of giant invasive swamp rats threatening coastal Louisiana.
