Jeff Stitzel's Story

Jeff Stitzel  is a seasoned DP with over two decades of experience. 

While in high school Jeff enrolled in the Broadcasting Arts program at Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio. It was here where he directed a 60 minute live variety show five days a week and was nominated for a Regional Emmy award in Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 17. It was then he knew he had to follow his passion and enrolled in Full Sail Center For The Recording Arts. He graduated with a degree in Film and Video Production. After graduation, Jeff quickly started his professional career as a grip/electric, mainly working on commercials, feature films and corporate style programming. He moved to Orlando, Florida and started working on episodic and game shows for Nickelodeon Studios in the camera department. He found his way into the unscripted/reality world as a technical supervisor. Jeff's collaborative, skillful work stood out to his supervisors and he was promoted to camera operator. A line producer noticed that Jeff could light a scene and shoot so he gave him a shot as a DP. Jeff has accumulated thousands of hours of network quality programming as a DP as well as an underwater cinematographer. Jeff has also made the leap and has directed a few multi-cam competition reality shows.

Jeff takes pride in the fact that he worked his way up through the ranks from the grip/electric departments to directing Food Network shows. his extensive multidisciplinary experience expanded his knowledge base. He's just as skilled at separating a power load on a generator, to rigging a camera on a wire cam, coming up with a lighting diagram for a set and interview, figuring out a dive plan for underwater filming, plotting a drone shot list for aerials or sitting behind a wall of monitors directing a scene. Every bit of it is extremely fun to Jeff. His knowledge base makes for an efficient production.

Jeff is a PADI open water certified deep sea diver.

He is also a 107 part C Licensed drone owner/operator and has flown many hours for multiple shows delivering cinematically stunning visuals.

Working and collaborating with producers and the crew  is the most important part of any production. It is paramount to take an idea and work together to get a great product. Jeff is a true believer that a hard working fun set behind the lens, will in fact create a better product in front of the lens. Jeff has a calm and fun approach with his crew. He has gained respect from everyone on set and is loyal to all who work with him. The success of a show can only be achieved if everyone is working together.