Jason Biggs (Photo by John Schreiber, The Daily Campus)

It’s the middle of a busy weekday on campus. In the lower-level basement of the Meadows School of the Arts sits Jason Biggs. Two lamps light an otherwise dark room. Fluorescent lights make it too clinical, he says. There is sound equipment everywhere.

Biggs may have the same name as the “American Pie” actor, but the two look nothing alike. With sandy brown shaggy hair, dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt, Biggs looks more like a college student than a Hollywood star.

Biggs, 31, is the head sound designer and engineer for Meadows. For students and teachers in the arts, he is seen as the go-to guy for staging performances. Shelley Berg, a professor in the dance division, describes Biggs as a magician.

“He is able to conjure wonderful sound from complex machinery, sometimes in different recordings, despite seemingly impossibly short deadlines and multiple demands from an array of divisions,” Berg said.

Biggs provides the sound effects and music for theatre shows and the sound for the music and dance departments. He also provides sound reinforcement for all Meadows-sponsored events and continually upgrades equipment.

Biggs says he spends most of his time editing and composing music for the students and faculty. He said he wants each project to have its own special look. It’s hard work, but he loves it.

“As long as I’m doing something creative,” he said.

Biggs received his degree in music composition from SMU in 2002. He originally started out as a performer but switched to composition. He still plays the piano and composes music for himself in his spare time.

David Karp, a music professor and Bigg’s former piano teacher, was instrumental in helping Biggs transfer from Kilgore College to SMU.

“He is a courteous and fine young man,” said Karp.

Biggs got his full-time job at SMU by chance. He was a work-study student in the sound design department as a student. After graduation, he became a part-time assistant at the university and began freelancing around town, setting up sound for such plays as “A Chorus Line” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

He was then asked to return to SMU as a full-time employee. This is his third year as a staff member.

Biggs said that in addition to helping theatre and dance students with their projects, he has work-study students who are learning the business.

“Those who are new need guidance,” he said.

Sound Assistant and Recording Engineer Chris Devany is Biggs’ assistant. She is usually the only other person working with Biggs in the otherwise lonely basement.

“Jason is the most understanding, likeable, easy-going person I’ve worked with,” she said.

Biggs’ life is not all about SMU though. He has also done recordings with the Myerson Symphony Orchestra, where he assisted the main engineer.

He also enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and dog.

And his future goals?

“Live life and keep doing what I’m doing,” he said.