Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Stafford.
Hi Jason, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my career in the fashion industry as a salesman at a retail store. I sold suits. From there, I stumbled into the modeling world. From the front of the camera to the back, I navigated the industry as a model talent agent, working for a couple of well known agencies in Los Angeles and eventually co-founded Industry Models with the owner of Pier 59 Studios. I’m proud to say it’s still thriving today.
After parting ways with agency life, I worked freelance for a few casting directors, production houses, and location scouts. I took my lumps and learned everything I could about being an independent producer. Eventually starting my own Production Company, Shoot It Productions & Casting, llc® in 2009, I never looked back. After a couple of years working in-house and running production departments for two brands during a worldwide pandemic, I’m back at it again, rising from the ashes and kicking off the dust.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing great was ever achieved without struggle. I’ve experienced growth from success and extreme loss, along with building something better from the ashes. The pandemic is the biggest example of that; our business completely closed down, and I lost everything. But along with others, we rose back up. Contacts, clients, employees, everything changed, relocated or disappeared altogether, but I had to find a new path. Now I’m starting over—but with the help of others. The best part about the struggle is that I’m not alone; the artists, photographers, crews and assistants are supportive, understanding and helpful. We all want to get back to our best and because of the new generation of creative people, I’ve found a renewed focus and fresh inspiration to succeed. Together we can overcome and thrive in this new reality.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a hybrid creative producer with experience on both agency and vendor sides. I partner with you to create beautiful, strategically sound visual content to engage and delight your audience. From conceptualizing, casting talent, building sets, permitting, and post-production editing to gathering the material, I am your one-stop shop*. I even cast my projects and scout the locations all under one roof. Thanks to the slow economy, during which I received training on Adobe Suite programs and learned to layout lower thirds, design logos, and storyboards on the fly. I have also designed and presented film treatments for the infrequent movie pitch. These experiences have made me more understanding of brands and have helped me create a better process while working with advertising professionals.
Above all, nothing replaces the joy I have on set, bringing together people from different backgrounds—artists, craftsmen/women, and technicians—to work on a project. The flashes of cameras, the rolling of props, the resurfacing of coffee aromas, and the renewed drone of a generator somewhere off in the distance are just some examples of what goes on behind the scenes. It’s not work for me. It’s a lifestyle.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I’ve learned that there are no wrong turns, just new paths. I’ve also learned not to be afraid of making mistakes, and to learn from my mistakes and my past experiences, take risks where I can but make calculated decisions when necessary.-this is not easy-but like Bruce Lee said, “Be like water…”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shootitproductions.com
- Instagram: @shootitproductions
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpd1bdXhDlCuJZEOeKf9XAgFEI1IkGP6S
Image Credits
Photography credits: Dylan Gordon, Tom Johnson, Rafael Astorga, Justin Chung, Sebastian Kim, Dewey Nicks.
