Editing Patrick Spohrer


'''Patrick Spohrer''' is a paintball filmmaker, producer, cinematographer and former tournament player. He is best known for co-producing ''[[Push (paintball film)|Push]]'' (2000) with [[Bryon Benini]] and directing subsequent paintball documentaries including ''[[Sunday Drivers]]'', ''[[Cereal Killerz]]'' and ''[[Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story]]''.[1][2]

Spohrer co-founded [[Monkey With a Gun Productions]], which produced professional paintball documentaries and later provided live tournament broadcasting for [[Paintball Sports Promotions]] (PSP).[3]

== Early involvement in paintball ==

Spohrer worked as a filmmaker specialising in surfing and skiing before becoming involved in tournament paintball during the late 1990s.

He offered production of a team documentary as a prize at a local paintball tournament. The winning team, The Family, subsequently invited him to play alongside its members.

Spohrer joined the team and competed at tournaments across the United States alongside Frank, Susan, Keely and Ryan Watson.[1]

His experience filming action sports influenced his approach to documenting paintball, combining conventional video with motion picture film, music and footage of players away from competition.[1]

== Film career ==

=== Push ===

Spohrer collaborated with professional Ironmen player Bryon Benini to produce ''Push'', a documentary following leading professional tournament teams.

Filming began during practice sessions preceding the [[1999 Paintball World Cup]] and continued through the 2000 season.

The production featured teams including the [[Ironmen (Southern California)|Southern California Ironmen]], [[Avalanche]], [[Chicago Aftershock]] and [[Image (paintball team)|Image]].

An unfinished version was screened at the 2000 NPPL Chicago Open in June. Contemporary WARPIG reporting described the screening as well attended, with spectators responding positively to the documentary's combination of tournament action and player interviews.[4]

The completed film premiered during the [[2000 Paintball World Cup]] in Kissimmee, Florida.

''Push'' was produced through Division One Productions, the company established by Spohrer and Benini.[2]

=== Sunday Drivers ===

Spohrer and Benini subsequently produced ''Sunday Drivers'', their second paintball documentary.

The film premiered during the 2002 Paintball World Cup, with a screening organised at the Sun On The Beach entertainment venue in Kissimmee.

According to contemporary WARPIG reporting, Spohrer explained that the production incorporated audience feedback from ''Push'', placing greater emphasis on tournament action and reducing the amount of interview material.[5]

''Sunday Drivers'' subsequently became available on DVD and through digital streaming services.

=== Monkey With a Gun Productions ===

Following his work with Division One Productions, Spohrer established Monkey With a Gun Productions with his wife Bonnie.

The company specialised in paintball films, combining Spohrer's cinematography and production experience with Bonnie's background in sales and marketing.[3]

Its first major release was ''Cereal Killerz'', a documentary examining the lives and competitive careers of prominent professional paintball players.

The film premiered during the 2004 NPPL Commander's Cup in San Diego, California.

The screening took place at the La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas and attracted an audience of more than 400 people.

WARPIG's contemporary tournament report identified Spohrer as the filmmaker behind the project and documented his use of motion picture film alongside video footage.[6]

=== Heroes for a Day ===

In 2007, Spohrer released ''Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story'', a documentary following the professional team [[XSV]].

The film documented the team's development following its establishment by former Ironmen and other professional players.

Production took approximately three years and followed the team through practices, tournaments and events away from competition.

Featured players included [[Rich Telford]], [[Nicky Cuba]], [[Matty Marshall]], [[Micah McGlocklin]], [[Davey Williamson]] and [[Thomas Taylor]].

The screenplay was co-written by Matty Marshall.

WARPIG's contemporary review described the documentary's combination of tournament action, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, including the team's efforts to win a major professional championship.[1]

=== Cereal Killerz 2 ===

Spohrer subsequently directed ''Cereal Killerz 2'', the follow-up to the original player-profile documentary.

The film premiered during the 2009 PSP Paintball World Cup.

It featured professional players including [[Ryan Greenspan]], [[Angel Fragoza]], [[Travis Lemanski]], [[Konstantin Fedorov]], [[Brian Fow]] and Thomas Taylor.

The production used high-speed cameras recording at approximately 500 frames per second to create slow-motion sequences of tournament action.[7]

== Tournament broadcasting ==

Spohrer expanded Monkey With a Gun Productions into live professional paintball broadcasting during the late 2000s.

At the 2008 PSP World Cup, the company produced a live webcast covering professional NXL competition.

The broadcast used six cameras, live scoring graphics, footage from the tournament pits and interviews with players and equipment manufacturers.

[[Matty Marshall]] served as commentator.

Coverage was distributed online through a combination of free viewing and paid access, while live feeds were also shown around the tournament trade-show area.[8]

Monkey With a Gun subsequently produced further live tournament broadcasts for PSP events.[7]

== Filmography ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Production
! Documented involvement
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Push (paintball film)|Push]]''
| Co-producer with Bryon Benini
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Sunday Drivers]]''
| Co-producer with Bryon Benini
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Cereal Killerz]]''
| Director and producer through Monkey With a Gun
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story]]''
| Director and producer
|-
| 2009
| ''Cereal Killerz 2''
| Director and producer
|}

== Legacy ==

Spohrer's films contributed to the development of documentary-style paintball media during the early 2000s.

His productions combined professional tournament footage with interviews, music, player biographies and scenes showing the lives of competitors away from the field.

The approach differed from conventional tournament highlight videos, which generally concentrated on match footage.

Contemporary WARPIG reviews credited ''Push'' with establishing a new standard for paintball filmmaking and identified Spohrer's later productions as developments of that approach.[1][5]

His transition into live broadcasting also contributed to the presentation of professional X-Ball competition through multi-camera streaming coverage.[8]

The Monkey With a Gun documentary catalogue, including ''Push'', ''Sunday Drivers'', ''Cereal Killerz'' and ''Heroes for a Day'', has subsequently been made available through [[Major League Paintball]] PLUS.[9]

== See also ==

* [[Bryon Benini]]
* [[Push (paintball film)]]
* [[Sunday Drivers]]
* [[Cereal Killerz]]
* [[Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story]]
* [[Monkey With a Gun Productions]]
* [[Matty Marshall]]
* [[Paintball media]]
* [[Paintball Sports Promotions]]

== References ==

# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/resources/videos/mwg_xsv/ WARPIG, Bill Mills, "Heroes For A Day, The XSV Story DVD Review". Historical account of Spohrer's playing background, filmmaking career and Monkey With a Gun Productions.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/worldcup/2000/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL World Cup 2000", October 2000. Contemporary coverage documenting the premiere of ''Push'' and its production by Spohrer and Bryon Benini.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/resources/videos/mwg_ck2/ WARPIG, Bill Mills, "Cereal Killerz 2 DVD Review". Account of Spohrer's filmmaking career, Monkey With a Gun Productions and later tournament broadcasting.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago00/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Chicago Open 2000", 21–25 June 2000. Contemporary reporting on the preview screening and production of ''Push''.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/worldcup/index.shtml WARPIG, "PSP/NPPL World Cup 2002", 19–27 October 2002. Contemporary coverage of the premiere of ''Sunday Drivers'' and Division One Productions.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2004/sandiego/ WARPIG, "NPPL Commander's Cup 2004". Contemporary reporting on the premiere of ''Cereal Killerz'' and the establishment of Monkey With a Gun Productions.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/resources/videos/mwg_ck2/ WARPIG, Bill Mills, "Cereal Killerz 2 DVD Review". Production details and 2009 premiere.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2008/worldcup/tradeshow.shtml WARPIG, "PSP World Cup 2008 Trade Show", 22–26 October 2008. Contemporary reporting on Monkey With a Gun's live professional tournament webcast.]
# [https://www.mlpbplus.com/monkey-with-a-gun-paintball-documentaries-1 Major League Paintball PLUS, "Monkey With a Gun Paintball Documentaries". Digital archive of Spohrer's films.]

== External links ==

* [https://www.mlpbplus.com/monkey-with-a-gun-paintball-documentaries-1 Monkey With a Gun documentary collection, Major League Paintball PLUS]
* [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/resources/videos/mwg_xsv/ Heroes for a Day review, WARPIG]
* [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/resources/videos/mwg_ck2/ Cereal Killerz 2 review, WARPIG]

[[Category:Paintball people]]
[[Category:Paintball media]]
[[Category:Paintball filmmakers]]