Patrushkha Mierzwa - Behind the Sound Cart

Your thoughtfulness, clear thinking, and writing style are wonderful, and you bring up so many of the things that are so close to my heart, a celebration of our craft and our creative contribution.

Jeff Wexler, Oscar-nominated sound mixer for The Last Samurai,
Independence Day. Bafta Winner, Almost Famous.

All I can say is I am amazed at the great detail and well-rounded approach you have taken. The mindset section blew me away.

Joe Aredas, Jr., Hollywood Sound union Local 695 Asst. Business Agent

Your writing has this lovely, personal, honest style to it that I just havent seen in other industry-based literature. It is refreshing. And there is a SERIOUS amount of knowledge packed in there; its impressive.

The book is such a gift. You are a powerhouse of knowledge, insight, and entertaining stories.

It has been a privilege to read your manuscript.

Monica Bannon, Recent film school graduate, Screenskills Program
participant, United Kingdom

Distilling 40 years of experience and knowledge into such an easy-to-read, easy-to-follow, and easy-to-understand format is simply astonishing. I also really appreciate the bits where you try to separate how it may be done in L.A. versus how it may be done elsewhere, and under what various contracts...and perhaps more importantly, how some things are just universal.

I said it before, but Ill say it again. This is the book we ALL wish wed had when we started in this business.

Aaron Cujo Cooley, Head of the Audio Dept., Tyler Perry Studios

I love the forms. Love the pictures. Love the book. Thank you for shining an eloquent light on our craft. An unparalleled insight to the dynamics of perfecting cinematic sound.

Eva Rismanforoush, Much-sought-after UST, IATSE Local 695 Director,
Bombshell, Marriage Story, The Lion King, Yesterday

The book is easy and fun to read, I ate it (as we say here in Brazil when a book is so good). The chapters connect to each other, and you go from the beginning of the subject until the end of it. I never read something so complete about the non-technical things in the film industry (and the technical, too). The way you explain how to act, how to relate with the crew, how to deal with and solve problems that are not about sound itself, all of these are things you dont learn at film school, and it takes years or a lifetime to learn (when you have ability enough to understand, and some people never do). Thats why its so important to all the sound crew members and to everyone involved in filmmaking! (I think all Producers should read this.) It is so explanatory about the duties of a UST that it gives an overview of the work of the entire sound team. It is perfect, accurate, and taught me a lot about how to train and always seek the best of my team in the future! Its really impressive how many movies and works youve done. This a good example of how women can have an extensive career and a personal life. This book is so important, and considering the lack of specialized literature you should have a Portuguese and Spanish version, too.

Carolina Barranco, Documentary sound mixer, Brazil

Behind the Sound Cart

A Veterans Guide to Sound on the Set

Published by Ulano Sound Services, Inc.
Los Angeles, California

2021 Patrushkha Mierzwa

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or the printable forms provided.

The events and conversations in this book have been set down to the best of the authors memory, although some names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals. This book is written for educational purposes and any identifiable mention of a person is intended to show him or her in a positive light. This book is intended to supplement and complement other information available to readers interested in working in the motion picture and television industries but is not a substitute for in-person professional training. The publisher and author disclaim any liability for loss or damage to any party as a result of errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

The author has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act of 1988.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020926031

ISBN: 978-1-7362900-0-2 (print)

978-1-7362900-1-9 (ebook)

This book is dedicated to the global sound community, who were immediately supportive of my desire to write this book. I am humbled to have their unwavering faith and trust in representing our creative contribution to the world.

This book is dedicated to utility sound technicians, so they will finally have a foundation of knowledge necessary to reinforce their careers.

P atrushkha Mierzwa has managed to pour decades of knowledge, wisdom, and experience into this highly efficient career guide. If your path is to enter the world of production sound, and more specifically in the craft of utility sound technician, or UST, you will not find a more direct distillation of the steps necessary to succeed in this esoteric specialty.

It is particularly timely to consider becoming a utility sound technician as a career choice. The post-Covid-19 world only further impacts the complexity of approaches needed in the fast-moving world of filmmaking. The demand for highly trained, competent individuals with the specialized skillset that Ms. Mierzwa details in these pages will only grow.

Her style of writing is empirical, forthright, and clear. Its obvious that she draws easily from her direct professional experiences and succeeds in sharing this intelligently. Application of technology and technique are here in force but not in language excluding the uninitiated or dumbed down for the more experienced reader.

I have been very fortunate to know and collaborate with the author in a professional context for 40 years, and I have benefited enormously from her filmmaking instincts, set savvy, and solution-based philosophy. Her approach to sound became an essential part of my teams success in the dynamic world of film and television production. I have no doubt that her application of those same principals in this book can become a key factor in both moving your career forward and informing the industry, as a reference, of the true work of the utility sound technician.

Mark Ulano, CAS, AMPS

IATSE 695 president, past CAS president, AMPAS
Credits include Titanic, Once Upon a Timein Hollywood,
Inglourious Basterds, Ad Astra, The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill 1&2, Iron Man 1&2,
and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

I d like to acknowledge: Mark Ulano, my mentor who became my business partner, cheerleader, and companion of my favorite adventures and life experiences.

Kathy, the 10th muse, a never-ending fountain of ideas and inspiration, my spiritual and biological sister and lifelong art critic, and the best collaborator Ive ever known.

Carole Papson, my high-school drama teacher, who risked her professional career to support me practically and emotionally.

Mr. B, who never doubted me or my artistic ability.

Monica Bannon, Jeff Wexler, Simon Clark, Eva Rismanforoush, Carolina Barranco, Jennifer Winslow, and Aaron Cujo Cooley, who took time from their busy work schedules to review and comment on my rough draft. Thank you.

All the grips, electricians, and camera guys I worked with in the beginning of my career. It was an anomaly to see a woman booming 40 years ago, and I thank you most sincerely for your respect and support as I forged a new path for myself and women.