We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jesse Crowell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jesse below.

Jesse, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started dabbling in filming and video editing when I was very young, no older than 12. I first started to pursue this because of what my hobbies were. At the time I was really into skateboarding and gaming. I started just as any other person would really. I would film what my friends and I were doing, and then I would turn that into something better and better each time. I would find tutorials to help me enable a new level of style and clarity to incorporate into the vision.
The people that I was hanging out with at the time really aided me in the process and helped get me started with the software that I still use to this day.

The skills that I picked up that were most essential were patience & faith. The ability to just know when you can’t see, faith in myself and ability to perform under high pressure and certain circumstances. Patience to be calm, approachable and appropriate. Knowing when to take action and when not to.

The main obstacles that stood in my way the entirety of my journey has been myself. Taking new routes to stay on track. Growing myself to become more independent and more responsible.

Knowing what I know now, things that would have helped me speed up this process would have been to know when to get in and when to get out. I tied up so much of my time with the wrong people that it took me forever to finally believe in MYSELF full heartedly.

Jesse, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jesse Crowell I am a Film Director from Minnesota. The name that most people know me by is Jed or Jed_zilla which is my name on most social media platforms. I mainly film Music Videos but over the years I have gotten into filming a variety of things such as, podcasts, commercials, events, shows, live performances, fashion events and much more.

My company is called Conformed Resistance. The name stems from the ability to relate to one another and everything going on around you. The polar opposite of one another, together creating one meaning.

I am also a graphic designer. I make a variety of things such as clothes, cover art, logos, websites and anything really that relates to the idea of creating digital art. You can check all of that out over on my website @ www.ConformedResistance.com or YouTube page @ConformedResistance

I am really a problem solver most of the time I spend in the field. Working with a range of new clients that age from 14-45. I am constantly adjusting to new environments and adapting to new places, spaces and faces around me. Never too good enough for anyone or anything thrown at me. I give the same amount of respect to someone who I might idolize as opposed to someone who I may have just met. I believe in constant elevation in my craft. I believe this is what separates me from the pack. The ability to have what you need in a matter of minutes. I work harder than anyone else I know.

One thing that I am most proud of is that I never gave up on myself. I have always had this dream and to actually see it coming to life is an amazing feeling and experience. I can’t thank my supporters and fans enough.

I have traveled all over the United States filming for a catalog of people ranging from local hip-hop artists to Grammy winning celebs. My goal is to continue to make an impact and inspire people to think outside the box. You’re ultimately your own enemy, you’re either going to sink or swim. I love swimming so that’s what I will continue to do.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I quit my management job to become a full-time cameraman.

I was managing a GameStop working fulltime, 44hours a week.
The demand for my services started growing to a point where I felt as if I could quit my job and become a full time Cameraman/Entrepreneur.

Unfortunately, around the same time I was having these thoughts, my mother ended up passing away very suddenly.
This put me in a very uncomfortable position and state of mind for quite some time.

Despite my semi-impulsive decision to quit, I got a job at Target right after I quite GameStop.

After two weeks, I quit working at Target to go to Miami to film a music video.
I believe that trip changed my life. I truly saw with my own eyes what I was capable of manifesting, I just had to trust in myself and God.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I live in Nothern Iowa

99% of my business is done in Minnesota, the closest location that I film at is over 2 hours away. I make this trip multiple times a week, sometimes multiple times a day. I never let anything get in the way of making my dream come to fruition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.conformedresistance.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jed_zilla/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesse.crowell.5
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jed_zilla
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy9lWtyZPJS0wKpNERutOw
• Other: Releasing new clothing on November 4th 2022 on my website @ https://www.conformedresistance.com/products 14 new music videos are currently awaiting confirmation for upload @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy9lWtyZPJS0wKpNERutOw This year leading into the next couple are going to be insane!

Image Credits
@mcast_studio