Phone book listing of the Molina residence in Lorain, OH. Courtesy of an incredible partner, Lorain Historical Society.

So many lovely people donated use of materials to the film. This incredibly beautiful contact sheet is courtesy of Thomas Heath.

There is little question that freighters such as this, once far more common on Lake Erie and the Black River, are the iron aged beasts that Jason sang about in “Blue Factory flame.”

The “HOB” story highlights Jason’s incredibly odd sense of humor and intelligence. It will be shared in one of the From The Director installments.

Jason Molina sent this drawing with Will Schaff duirng their many years of mail art trades. YFFIO. This is a re-draw for use in an animation.

Todd and Tommy met when they were 9 or 10 years old when Mr. Jacop’s was their soccer coach in Lorain City league. It makes sense to start pre-production with your oldest friend of the bunch, especially considering Todd made music with Jason for all of the early years.

Including Jason, that make 3 Lorainites, 3 former Spineriders on SONGS:OHIA’s 1st release. Todd Renschler ( I’m pretty sure there is no W?) was an Oberlin College stent. Add that up for a 100% Lorain County ensemble!

It sure helps when you know folks that graduated with Jason. Too bad he did not go to prom that year. Video of J in a tux would have been awesome!

Too bad there aren’t any photos of the Savannah, GA set up. That place was dope. It is not hard to be humble working out of Mom and Dad’s garage.

Back in 2021 we didn’t even have a camera yet. These were first steps starting from nothing. Donations, Cheap finds, and college stuff reclaimed from the attic.

Front to back, Alex, Kristy, Cora, Chachi, and cousin Rudy (drone photographer) are all in the shot. Tommy must have taken it, becasue that is everyone that worked on the film other than Lance Aerial Media, who wouldn’t join in for months to come.

When your ship comes in, you get B-roll. Several hours on the Black River resulted in just a few seconds of this freighter landing in the film.

Prepping for drone shoot with Lance Aerial Media .

Reviewing transcripts mid-winter, in a small space without heat. Punk rock!

Initial categorization of footage and assets with notecards.

Production kicked off with 7 interviews, 2 full days of B-roll, and a “re-enactment” all in 7 high-pressure days. This pic sez it all.

“Daiies” were never daily. It sometimes took weeks to get a chance to see what was filmed. Bruce Comings is pictured here.

Big love to Pat O’Connor and Zach Konieczny for showing up as often as possible to give much needed feedback! They have each seen 7 cuts in development!

Tommy (before he got fat) sits for a lighting test to shoot Mike McCarntney at his home.

Syncing 3 cameras and sound after shooting Bruce.

The first cut was 2 hours 20 minutes long. Seems like it still turned out OK.

Aaron Molina was a trooper and a super star. Still smiling after a mammoth 4 hour interview at Fort Foreclosure.

This was home base for the film for a little while. The roof barely even leaked! It even had windows!

Trust me. Jason’s high school band, The Spineriders, have NOT gotten any less weird over the years.

Cora, the Latch Key Rocker, had never taken a cassete out of its case, not yet put it in a boom box and hit play before! Kristy shoots. Chachi is in the background. Basement hangs, parties, and shows were very common in the 80’s and early 90’s.

We definitely listened to plenty of DRI and Slayer back in the day. Glad to see they are still (ahem) sticking around.

The illustrious Director of Photography, Kristy Walker. Even before Tommy busted his wrist, Kristy toughed out PA, Gaffer, and many other roles.

We celebrated J’s bithday wtih his favorite, pumpkin pie. One slice for the Homie.

Main Street Oberlin was Jason’s old stomping grounds. Millicent Souris once lived above this institution of olde.

Jason and his siblings planted this tree about 1989(?) when they moved from the trailer park to 10th Street.

Kristy setting up the shoot for Jason Lawhead at his home.

The last stop on the 1st week of shooting. No, the HBO did not work.

When a funny man agrees to an interview, you go see a show. Kristy, Jason Lawhead, and Tommy on stage after Jason’s hilarious set.

The Lake Erie horizon just steps away from where the Molina Family trailer home once stood.

This project would never have begun without the blessing of Jason’s sister, Ashley. She generously granted access to photograph boxes of pictures and keepsakes.

Alex Green shoots Ashley Lawson photographs in her basement.

You can’t talk about Lorain without recalling the years it was an industrial powerhouse attacting immigrants from all over the worl to work in the steel mill.

Reilly sat in front of cameras for hours. He and Kristy rehydrate and replenish here.

Max Winter left a box of photos at Fort Foreclosure so they could be shot over night. He picked them up after the crew left and hauled them back to Berlin.

Garage studio at the Wlaker residence in San Diego. A swell respite from an Ohio Winter, and a rare chance for the crew of 2 to collaborate in person.

There is no question that Jason and his brother, Aaron, walked these very tracks as boys.

This project would never have happened without the support of so many incredible people. Mail art postcards were one of the ways to express gratitude.

Back in the garage again. Carol wishes her son were a dentist.

Reilly Lambert got a new SONGS:OHIA tattoo. Too bad he waited until after his interview.

Ashley and Kristy pose before the “Welcome to Lorain” mural after wrapping 3 interviews that day.

Todd and Jason’s Bullet bass from the days of way back. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, are you paying attention?

Tommy, Alex, & Ashley before the Welcome to Lorain mural.

Kristy tossed an old jean jacket into the mix. Tommy drew the Chronic Insanity insignia loaded with symbols common to the late 80’s the morning of the shoot. A prop is born!

Jason’s second SONGS:OHIA single, the first on the Secretly Canadian label, was recorded by Eoin Russel, another Oberlin College student and 3 Spineriders lineup. Lorain County through and through once more.