Jason stated in a Copper Presss interview in 1999: “I grew up in a burnt-out shipbuilding and steel making town. Lorain is profoundly important to my music. It is the environment where I learned to walk away from the darkness. It is a place of water and storms and falling red sky and lightning. I learned to write music there about the world because out there it was immense and sudden. I learned that misery is not to capture but to learn about. Lorain and I have an unspoken agreement to always remain in each other’s lives. It is a hard place.”

The youngest of the three Molina kids was far more interested in rap and R&B than metal and punk rock. But make no mistake. The three were a team. Pictured here with her brothers on a suprsingly windy early 90’s Christmas? Ashley’s perspective on J has been largely overlooked until this film. It will make you wonder WHY!? Ashley is a STAR!

Jason’s younger brother, Aaron, exhibits no Peter Brady tendencies. grew up in Lorain. He was a member of the band 667 “The Neighbor of the Beast” which tells you a lot about 80’s 90’s musical influences. In a display of true Molina generosity, Aaron spent more than 4 hours with us on camera. We couldn’t get enough! Pictured here with Jason areound 1981.

Mr. Molina remains fondly remembered for being as an outstanding teacher at Hawthorne Boone Junior High. Sadly, He passed away in 2021 just days after pre-production began. Found footage of Mr. Molina allows him to be present with us. He is pictured here with Jason, and the Easter Bunny in 1975. Their trailer home was right next door water plant in the background.

The hero, court jester, and inpiration for this film. There were so many incredible sides to this man. Fans will discover new details about our haunting songsmith, and we hope to foster deeper appreciation for Jason’s life and music.

Born in Lorain County, Geof met Jason in a high school soccer match, and went on to become a part of several SONGS:OHIA ensembles including the long time two-piece of Geof and J. Geof (left) is pictured here on bass. Jason on guitar. Todd Jacops on drums.

Max met “Sparky” as J was swinging from a lamp post in Oberlin. Literally. Max (in shades) played bass in the 1998 SONGS:OHIO line-up. He is one of the very few, if not the only, Oberlin College friend that visited Lorain with Jason. They walked and talked for miles together. Oh to have been a Lake Erie mosquito buzzing around them that day!

Carl is a founding member of the Spineriders, and remains the drummer to this day. He continues his musical career with Elko Blue. Their cover of “Soul” is in the film. He is also a DJ and engaged in multiple other projects. This photo is from the legendary Peabody’s Down Under in Cleveland, Ohio, 1989.

Todd is the guitarist and a founding member of the Spineriders. He also played with Jason in Green, Bleem, and SONGS:OHIA. Todd is pictured here playing drums with J on the mic and Mike McCartney on guitar in the 1995 SONGS:OHIA line-up including Geof Comings.

Tommy and J were soccer teammates at Admiral King High School from 1988-1990. This is part of the 1990 team photo which also includes (not pictured) Jason, Carl Raponi, and Todd Jacops.

Millicent and Jason remained friends long after their Oberlin College days together. She once gave him a Randy Rhoads cut on a perfect day. A variety of SONGS:OHIA ensambles crashed at her pad in Chicago. We are so grateful for her unique perspective and wit in the doc! Here Millicent holds a little chickie on an Oberlin farm in the mid 90’s.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance that staring out at the Lake Erie horizon had on Jason as a boy. Horizons are a recurring theme in Jason’s music. This was his horizon for the 16 years of his life as seen from the bank of a trailer park in Lorain, Ohio.

Reilly and J met at a 1987 community center metal show in Lorain. This is his freshman year photo just one year later. Reilly and Jason remained friends for many years, especially in the Chicago days that occurred after the timeline of the film.

Jenni and J were born the same year, and were almost literally life-long friends from the age of 3 (as pictured here.) They were in an Advanced Studies accelerated learning program in Lorain City Schools and graduated high school together. Mr. Molina was their science teacher in Junior High.

Spineriders front man and founding member. Mike (right) and Jason on bass guitar at the Avon Lake “Battle of the Bands in 1990. Mike is still belting out Spineriders tunes, and they just released the four track “Subliminal Hynosis” in June 2025. You can also catch Mike gettin down and weird at a Lorain Skum show.

Bruce, a native of Oberlin, Ohio, played guitar for the 1998 SONGS:OHIA Spring Tour along with his brother, Geof (drums) , and Max Winter (bass), and Jason. Two of his Becoming Projections tunes are in “from the director” promos. Bruce (left) and Jason are trying to sleep in a van in a sub-zero blizzard in 1998.

Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio Jason is leading a successful 20-year career as a stand-up comedian in California. His unique, hilarious take on growing up in Lorain enhance the energy of the film. LTown talent is everywhere, folks.

Kurt wrote music columns for a number of Cleveland area publications. That is how he bacame a huge fan of Jason’s. Kurt is rare and very deeply appreciated transplant TO Lorain, Ohio. He and his wife, Page, are incredible supporters of the burgeoning creative community in J’s home town. This project may never have gotten off the ground without the incredible support of the “Speak of the Devil” family.

Will passed a mini-comic he drew to a friend that was going to a SONGS:OHIA show back in 1997. The image here is one of many mail-art trades that Will and Jason made over a span of years. Wil created several album covers for Jason’s music including posthumous releases and cover tunes by Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman. Ya gotta see the poster art he made for the film!

Kristy is a freelance photographer in San Diego, California, and loves shooting the live music scene. This project started with her idea to do it! In addition to her primary role as Directory of Photography, she also contributed as a producer and editor. Kristy’s family has deep roots in Lorain, Ohio.

Tommy boomeranged back to his native Lorain, Ohio where he met Jason decades ago. He served multiple roles including executive producer. YFFIO is his first film project. This project is just about as Indie as it gets!

Alex hails from Amherst, Ohio - right next door to Lorain. The graduate of Kent State University developed the Motion Graphics in the film, and he worked as a Camera Op among a whole host of production roles.

Lance Arial Photography works out of CLeveland, Ohio.

Rudy is a cousin to both Tommy and Kristy. He shot the initial aerial footage for two days and nearly lost his dron in the Black River in Lorain.

“The Chach” assisted with production and wardrobe on the very first day of shooting. It was her first day ever on a set. She is now taking film classes in high school. Lexi is pictured here with Die Spitz!

Cora is Kristy’s high school aged daughter who is excelling at art and music. This is her film debut. A the age of 13, Cora also realized the first version of an animation that set the tone for those now in the film. It can be seen in the soon to come Episode 3 of From the Director.