Bringing visibility to the craft, art, and crucial role of sound for film.

 For over 40 years we’ve been telling stories with sound; Mark as a Production Sound Mixer, and Patrushkha as a Boom Operator and Utility Sound Technician. 

We’ve been fortunate to have worked on many important films, alongside well-respected directors.

Now, we’re bringing our experience to the next generation of filmmakers and sound professionals through speaking, mentorship, and consulting. 

Meet Mark Ulano

I’m a lifelong filmmaker, musician, poet, photographer, documentarian…. and Oscar-winning Production Sound Mixer. You’ve likely heard my work in films including Titanic, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hateful Eight. 

There isn’t a time I don’t remember having an immense fascination with sound and music. Growing up, I trained to be a percussionist with my father. But in high school, I fell in love with making movies, and filmmaking became my new passion. 

My early experiences as a musician exposed me to the power of sound to move people and tell a story. When I approach my role as a Production Sound Mixer, it is always through the lens of storytelling

I believe this perspective has led to my success in the industry, contributed to the creation of some very important films, and is ultimately what I want to pass down to the next generation of sound professionals. 

Astronaut looking through helmet visor on "Ad Astra" movie poster.
Poster for the movie 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' featuring a collage of characters and scenes with an orange and red background. Includes images of two male figures, a woman, and various Hollywood-related imagery. Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Poster of the movie 'Inglourious Basterds' featuring military characters and actors' names.
Movie poster for "Titanic" featuring a close-up of a couple embracing above the ship's bow, with text "Nothing on Earth Could Come Between Them."
Poster for the movie 'Super 8' showing two silhouetted figures standing on a street at night, facing bright lights and a beam in the sky, with credits for J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg.
"The Master" movie poster featuring a central close-up of a serious-looking man with others blurred in the background, including another man and a woman. Awards and actor names are listed at the top.
Poster for the movie 'Wedding Crashers' featuring two men in suits, one standing casually and the other in a dynamic pose, with bold text above and below.
"Rocky Balboa" movie poster showing a man with raised fist in snowy scene and slogan "It ain't over 'til it's over."
Poster of "Iron Man" with Iron Man suit, actors, and film title.

Meet Patrushkha Mierzwa

Most people in the industry know me as one of the first women Boom Operators in Hollywood, known for excelling in this field—but it’s really just having the courage to follow my heart.

I love being with the directors and actors, getting to the essence of an idea; for me, that’s where the excitement is.

I’ve contributed my skills to over 90 films and tv shows, collaborating with Robert Rodriquez, Roger Corman, Robert Altman and Quentin Tarantino.

I was celebrated in the book “1000 Women in Horror” for my early work, including “Pet Sematary” and “Cujo” and I recently worked on Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” “Ad Astra” and “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” were both nominated for Oscars for sound.

Beyond my on-set accomplishments, I am dedicated to education and mentorship. I conduct workshops at institutions worldwide, guiding newcomers of all crafts into the industry.

In 2021, I wrote Behind the Sound Cart: A Veteran’s Guide to Sound on the Set, a comprehensive book that bridges the gap between what students learn in film school and what they need to know to work on set. 

I’m working on a general crafts version now after finishing “Beneath the Boom Pole” — for boom operators and those concerned about their health while working in the industry.

Poster for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Features stylized illustrations of actors, retro Hollywood elements, cars, and cityscapes. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Text includes film title and cast names, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.
Movie poster for "Ad Astra" featuring a close-up of a person in a space helmet.
Poster for the movie "Spy Kids" featuring two children in spy gear, various action elements, and a background collage of characters and gadgets. The tagline reads, "Real spies...only smaller."
Group of five men in military uniforms from "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" production.
Movie poster for "The Big Easy" featuring a man and woman embracing, with text highlighting the film's title and tagline.
Movie poster for "From Dusk Till Dawn" featuring two men with guns, with actor names and film reviews."
"Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning" DVD cover featuring a hockey mask and forest background with red and black tones.
Promotional poster for the movie "Cujo," depicting a large, menacing dog with blood on its face, a frightened woman holding a bat, a child, a car, and a barn in the background.
Cast of "The Waltons" TV show featuring a group of people posing, with the show's title above them.