Meet Jason Crow | Casting Director & Audio Engineer/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Crow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Sides and Sounds was something that actually came to fruition very organically. I grew up playing drums in bands starting at a very young age. In high school, my bedroom began to transform into a recording studio where my friends and I would produce music. Some time near the end of college I was playing less in bands and doing a lot more recording and producing for friends. After getting my degrees in Advertising and Radio, TV and Film in 2011 I interned in several different fields in TV (Management, Production & Casting). In 2012 I landed a job in casting where I fell in love finding, working with and developing actors. While working in casting, the recording studio always continued. It evolved from a bedroom studio, to a back house studio in Koreatown. I began not just doing music but podcasts, voice-over and the occasional ADR on Indie films I was working on. As time went on, and my casting career continued, the two world’s began to naturally intertwine until it was time to officially open Sides and Sounds, a casting and recording studio. I wanted to create a space for actors and creatives (up-and-coming or established) where they can make the content they need to succeed in their career. Whether it’s an important audition, podcast, audio play, demo reel, YouTube show, or something else, I’m here to help guide and empower them to take creative control of their career.

What should our readers know about your business?
Sides and Sounds is a place for actors and creatives to come into a welcoming and comfortable environment to get help on projects or just work on their craft. We also cast for different projects here at the studio. I think what sets us apart from others is we’re really focused on helping people navigate the entertainment industry. Working on the casting side the last 13 years I have inside knowledge of how this business works and what it takes to succeed. There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there and we can help people clear the muddy waters and help them hone their creative vision and succeed in their career.

I got where I am today slowly but surely. Constantly building and evolving my own creative vision over the years. Learning everything I can in the different positions I’ve worked to be able to help pass along relevant and helpful information to those seeking it.

I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way, but I think the most important is that nothing is permanent. Everything is always changing and you have to be able to adapt and evolve with whatever life throws at you, or takes from you. Also, it’s so important to trust yourself when working on anything creative. People are often falling into the trap of trying to guess what others want, what producers might be looking for, etc…rather than trusting their own creative vision and making it personal and unique to them and their strengths. I just want the world to know that you can do it, and we’re here to help you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite spots in the city is The Largo. A venue I absolutely love, and if you have the time to check out Improv Shakespeare there, it is one of the funniest shows in the city. Also, anything JFI Productions is doing, they’re an immersive theater group behind The Willows and CreepLA. I adore them and they put on the most incredible and exciting shows that you get to be a part of. Regarding food, two of my favorite spots to check out are Chifa and Little Sister.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I have to shoutout my beautiful wife, Dania Crow, and our extraordinary daughter, Luna. They are my biggest support system. Angela Terry and Barbara Stordahl have been my casting mentors for over a decade and have taught me so much, I would never be in the position I am today if it were not for them. I also need to shoutout Brett Weinstock and Ace Studios. Sides and Sounds doesn’t exist without the help of Brett and Ace Studios, he’s been a terrific partner and friend throughout the years.

Website: https://www.sidesandsounds.com

Instagram: @sidesandsounds

Image Credits
The image of the musicians is a group called Midnight Rewrite. And the guy doing VO is Jack Norris