Demystifying sound
for the next generation of filmmakers.
We bring our decades of experience working on Hollywood’s biggest films to educational institutions around the world
Bring the real world of sound to your students
Students may come out of their education knowing the theoretical side of the industry
but with little practical understanding of how to work on a real-world set.
This creates a huge learning curve during their first few years —
and we’ve seen it lead to low confidence, costly mistakes, and burnout.
This is why we want to shepherd in the next generation of film professionals, teaching them our hard-earned practical skills and perspectives.
We’re honored to have taught at many renowned institutions, including...
MIMEC Mexico
“Mark and Patrushkha bring a wealth of experience working on some of the biggest budget and high-profile productions in the world, and yet they are able to communicate that to students in such a clear, accessible, and tangible way…”
“Having Mark and Patrushkha teach my students demystified the industry for them — not to say that our students weren’t super impressed and in awe of Mark and Patrushkha, but that they are such down-to-earth people and talk so honestly about what it is they do, that they are able to show the students that it's not rocket science.
That it’s possible for them.
Additionally, having Mark and Patrushkha teach together means that they are able to talk about the same problems from two different perspectives, so you get a holistic appreciation for the challenge at hand. You get to see how the sound department works from multiple angles.
Mark and Patrushkha bring a wealth of experience working on some of the biggest budget and high-profile productions in the world, and yet they are able to communicate that to students in such a clear, accessible, and tangible way that it really empowers students to improve and encourages their development.
Ultimately, they refocused my students’ attention on what really matters: The practicality of making films and storytelling.”
-Dr. Knight-Hill, University of Greenwich, London
“It was like we had Patrushkha Mierzwa and Mark Ulano on our movie set to guide us and be our mentors — and you cannot ask for more…”
“Mark and Patrushkha are like musicians in an orchestra; each is a very skilled musician, and any time the score is in front of them, they're ready to play and record. That kind of skill, we really admire and want to show our students.
We designed a two-week workshop together to be almost like they were coming here to make a film with us. It was like we had Patrushkha Mierzwa and Mark Ulano on our movie set to guide us and be our mentors — and you cannot ask for more.
My students were able to learn how, even on very big scale productions, it comes down to the core three-member team of the sound department. They learned what each individual's job is, how the workflow goes, and how the sound department members are essential for capturing the performance of a film.
I would recommend Mark and Patrushkha’s workshops to any school that has the same objective as our program here: To focus on sound for cinematic storytelling. Mark and Patrushkha know cinematic language very well. They don't just know about sound, they know the cinema.”
-Dr. Wen-Shing Ho, USC-SJTU Institute Of Cultural And Creative Industry, Shanghai
Through our workshops, students learn how to...
Treat all crafts as
an art form
Understand how all the departments work together
Navigate on-set demands & personalities
Problem-solve & learn on their feet
… and ultimately, they gain the confidence and know-how to successfully pursue a career in film after graduation.
Meet Patrushkha Mierzwa & Mark Ulano
Over the past 40 years, we’ve worked behind the scenes in the sound department, as a Boom Operator (Patrushkha) and as a Production Sound Mixer (Mark).
We’ve been fortunate to have worked on many important films, alongside well-respected directors — including Martin Scorcese, Quentin Tarantino, James Cameron, James Gray, Jon Favreau, Paul Thomas Anderson, Robert Rodriguez, Jay Roach, JJ Abrams, Adam McKay, Sylvester Stallone, Stephen Frears, Robert Altman, Frank Darabont and Paul Haggis.
Now we’re bringing our expertise to the next generation of filmmakers and sound professionals through speaking, mentorship, and consulting for budgets big and small.
