Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Fray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey has been an interesting one. After graduating from UCLA, I worked as an instructional aide for children with special needs at an elementary school. I also periodically served as a substitute teacher across all grade levels. After five years of working within the same school district, I decided to pursue my true passion — writing — full-time. Following an internship at Bleacher Report, I was fortunate enough to have my work featured by several noteworthy brands, including FOX Sports, Saturday Down South, MSN, and Sports Illustrated. I continue to freelance for Sports Illustrated today, primarily covering the major sports teams in Los Angeles. For the past eight years, I have helped build the content creation branch of a startup digital marketing company based in Hermosa Beach called Brightcast Media. As a Senior Digital Content Manager, I have written about everything from sports and pop culture to health, travel, the occasional click-bait gallery laden with ads, and virtually everything in between. This role has also included writing scripts for in-house videos and digital content snippets produced by our company. On the side, I enjoy screenwriting, with hopes of one day producing my own short film. Additionally, I have partnered with one of my best friends to create a boutique apparel company called The 13th House, where we produce celestial-themed hats and other items. As a creative with an appreciation for fashion, it’s a passion project that I thoroughly enjoy, allowing me to be entrepreneurial while learning the ins and outs of running a business. Including my hobby of photography, I truly possess a deep interest in a variety of different art forms within the broader creative umbrella.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like everyone, I have faced my share of challenges. I was unexpectedly laid off by FOX Sports without warning. Instead of conventionally reentering the workforce, I took the advice of a college friend and joined him on a two-month backpacking trip across multiple continents. In total, I visited 16 different countries during this time — without a real plan or purpose. As a 27-year-old trying to figure things out, the trip helped me mature tremendously. Prior to this, I was a shy, neurotic, sheltered kid from the suburbs with little in the way of actual life experience beyond the comforts of what I knew. It gave me a great deal of confidence, as I learned to navigate train systems, public transportation, and social situations without necessarily speaking the native languages of the places I visited. I was solely responsible for myself during this period. After being highly inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s content — particularly his writing — I became a voracious traveler and an enthusiast for learning about people and cultures from all over the world. This has been manifested through much of my photography portfolio. Years later, I endured a very difficult breakup right in the middle of the pandemic, which forced me to focus deeply on my mental health. By leaning on my closest friends and family members, I was able to express my quirky self more freely, a change that has truly enhanced my creative process.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say I’m most known for my versatility as a writer. In college, I often helped my friends write and edit their term papers. Since then, I’ve frequently been asked by friends to assist with crafting cover letters and other forms of professional writing. I’m very proud that my sportswriting has been featured in major media publications. At the same time, I’ve also enjoyed helping to build multiple content brands from the ground up, as I have with my current company. The single piece of content I’m most proud of is a tribute I wrote about Bourdain following his unexpected passing. Watching his shows sparked my excitement for travel and, by extension, made me a more confident and worldly person as I took the leap and ventured beyond my comfort zone. I used to watch his shows with my late grandfather, and it became something we bonded over tremendously. The piece I wrote details how much Bourdain meant to me and how his impact on my soul will truly last forever. Whether traveling abroad or simply exploring Los Angeles, I love capturing images of aesthetically unique and beautiful things. Most recently, I’ve been focusing on photographing captivating examples of street art. As I get older, I’m excited about branching out further with my creativity — whether it’s continuing to develop the screenplay I’m currently working on, growing the apparel company we’re trying to launch, or completing a children’s book I’ve begun to write, which focuses on the principles of inclusion, camaraderie, and diversity.
Any big plans?
The hope is that The 13th House will soon be available in local stores throughout Los Angeles in addition to establishing a strong online presence. I’m always excited to continue developing my personal writing, with the goal of eventually sharing it with the world in a format beyond traditional print media. This winter, I’m also planning to travel to Sicily where my mother’s family is from. Being a very proud Sicilian-American, I’m hoping to further deepen my connection to the small mountainous village of Nicosia my family left roughly 100 years ago.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @13houseapparel ; @fray.jason.23
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfraychineaud
Image Credits
Image credits: Jason Fray
