“I feel that a person should help out when they can.  It just so happens that I own a company with a lot of cool toys and that is why I seem to help out in fun ways.  Besides, it feels good to help out.”  - Jes Webb

Jes Webb was only five years old when his family moved from Massachusetts to Oregon. Like other young people, he occasionally dreamed of moving to a big city to become famous, but over the years Jes came to appreciate the small town atmosphere of Grants Pass. He now is married with children, thanks to a chicken dance at a party, but that’s a story for a different time.

While Jes spent over 15 years working for the Fire Department and even played a role (as himself) in the television show Rescue 911, he now has dedicated himself full-time to Sights and Sounds Unlimited, a venture started in 1988 as a part-time DJ service which operated out of a back room. Sights and Sounds Unlimited  has now blossomed into a successful mobile entertainment and on-site multimedia services corporation with two offices and numerous employees. Sights and Sounds Unlimited also provides video and multi-media productions for businesses and public service organizations. Although their primary service area is in Southern Oregon, they have also performed in other places, such as Washington and Las Vegas, Nevada. Production remains the favorite service Jes provides. His business has done everything from making a DVD from a cell phone for evidence in a trial to shooting a one man documentary in Nepal for a non-profit agency. In 2008, they will be present at approximately 400 live events and plan on producing around 25 videos for individuals, attorneys, companies, and non-profit organizations.

Despite his success, Jes remains humble. He describes his employees as simply amazing people, and he tries to make sure they enjoy their work and the time spent with Sights and Sounds Unlimited. This makes him a desirable employer, although Jes still seems surprised at the number of skilled and talented people who submit their resumes to him.

This type of work comes naturally to Jes. His father is a photographer who used to put multi image slide shows together before video projectors came about. It really caught the attention of Jes, and although he didn’t have a television for much of the time he spent growing up, he loved movies and spent time watching movies with his friends. His family was into Theater Arts and family summers were spent in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where the Williamstown Theater Festival offers a variety of classic and modern plays, along with workshops, readings, and other related events. For Jes, it served to further pique his interest in becoming involved with the entertainment industry. He ended up studying in Williamstown under Bob Burns of the Burns Summer Learning Center and the Berkshire Ensemble for the Theatre Arts.

If being a family man and the owner of an increasingly successful business isn’t enough of an achievement, Jes is voluntarily involved in a number of local organizations. He is in the Gateway Rotary Club, serves as a Public Information Officer with the Rural/Metro Fire Department, is involved with the Chamber of Commerce in both Jackson and Josephine Counties, and is on the JoCo Chambers Political Action Committee and Advisory Board for Access Foodshare. He also dabbles a bit in the Boys and Girls Club. He is a member of the Law Enforcement Video Association and a recipient of the Oregon Department of Health’s Media Recognition Award for Video Production.

Just when you would think there couldn’t possibly be room for one more thing in his life, there is. His latest project is the Josephine County Parks “Movies in the Park” program. This program started in 2007 and had an attendance of over 550 people who came to see the two movies shown, Rooster Cogburn and Happy Feet. Although the program lacks adequate sponsorship, Jes has found it to be such a gratifying program that he has promised it will continue for the rest of this season. Thankfully, there have been a few more contacts from sponsors to help defray the costs of this free program. The moves are being shown at Tom Pierce Park on Fridays and being at sunset. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket and arrive early in order to find a comfortable spot. Drinks and snacks are available for sale, but they may also be brought into the park, which waves entrance fees for those who arrive after 7 P.M. The next two movies to be show are as follows:

August 22nd: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
August 29th:  Bee Movie

For more information on this event, visit http://www.southernoregonevents.com/
Mr. Webb hopes that people in the community will take advantage of this free program, and that the program will be able to return next year with a bigger, better screen and more sponsorship.

The main office and mailing address for Sights and Sounds Unlimited is this:

Sights & Sounds Unlimited
1867 Williams Hwy Suite 215
Grants Pass OR 97527

Their office hours are  Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

They may be contacted by writing to the above address, or by calls, faxes, or email to the following:

Grants Pass Area: 541- 476- 8558
Toll-Free: 1- 800- 511- 8558
Fax: 541- 476- 8575
Email:info@ssounds.com