Mark Ulano and Patrushkha Mierzwa

In this masterclass, Oscar-winning production sound mixer Mark Ulano and veteran boom operator and utility sound technician Patrushkha Mierzwa show how expressive sound design begins with strong production sound on set. Drawing on decades of work on landmark films such as Titanic, Killers of the Flower Moon, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, they break down how microphone placement, collaboration on set, and thoughtful recording choices give sound designers the raw material they need to tell the story emotionally and clearly. Through concrete examples from their shared careers, they emphasize sound as a creative storytelling tool rather than a purely technical afterthought, demonstrating how directors, actors, and sound teams can work together from prep through post so that very little needs to be “fixed in the mix.”