After a lifetime of visual storytelling, Jason Lehel launched Sauvage to create a shared, independent space that champions raw, unpolished human expression. This ethos stems directly from Jason’s own fine art photography practice, Unfiltered by JL.

 

His approach to the still image—stripping away motion and crew to capture authentic human emotion—is the distillation of decades spent navigating massive film sets, mastering complex camera systems, and directing actors.

 

This cinematic expertise expanded significantly after Jason relocated to Los Angeles in 2007 to work as a director, producer, writer, and cinematographer. Setting up his own production company, his feature directorial debut, Gaia—which he also wrote, produced, and photographed—premiered at the prestigious 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was critically acclaimed, winning numerous honors including the Grand Jury Award at BIFF.

 

Alongside independent features, Jason also established a strong foothold producing and servicing high-end commercials.

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Jason’s foundation, however, was built at the highest levels of the international film industry. Commencing his journey in the UK cutting rooms, he transitioned to the camera department and worked his way up on over twenty feature films. His early credits include sweeping cinematic epics like Cry Freedom and Gorillas in the Mist, where he earned his first break as a director of photography shooting additional material for director Michael Apted.

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His cinematography quickly garnered international acclaim, elevating short films to the industry's highest honors. Projects he photographed include the Academy Award-nominated The Child Eater and the BAFTA-winning The Harmfulness of Tobacco.