Studio Unknown believes in Visceral, Personal, and Affordable sound for film. It’s these core principles that not only guide us through the work we do, but strengthen the relationships we build with filmmakers.
We strive to provide soundtracks that heighten any film, no matter the budget or size. This takes forms like comedic timing we add through foley, terrifying creatures we create, lush or delicate ambiences we build, or deep, dark themes we extract through sound design. It can also be as simple in concept as making a character’s dialog clean and understandable.
We help prioritize budgets, and consult with the filmmaker to help make appropriate decisions about what sound work is needed once we assess the film. We then explain and collaborate on how to approach the sound concepts, overall story arc, budget breakdowns, external workflow and turnaround time.
We are a full-service, Dolby® tuned/Print Master Approved facility equipped with a 5.1 dubbing stage and full in house editorial suites. Studio Unknown’s primary focus is on sound for film and we have developed a unique process for working with filmmakers that allows us to maximize client budgets and meet the tightest deadlines.
In 2005, Jaime Horrigan joined Studio Unknown as a part time sales associate. Within several years, his role expanded, adding administrative duties to his responsibilities. Due to Jaime’s relentless drive and determination, the studio’s client base expanded. In 2013, Studio Unknown committed to a major expansion as a professional sound editing company, increasing its presence nationally within the field of film making. As a result of his work, Jaime was invited by Kevin Hill to join the company as co-owner. As the managing partner, Jaime’s responsibilities include all areas of business for the studio. In 2017, Jaime was invited to become a Board member with the MD Film Industry Coalition, an advocacy group for more film and television production in Maryland. Jaime also manages and performs in the successful Maryland based band, Sweet Leda. He and his wife, Julie, Sweet Leda’s vocalist, live in Pasadena, Maryland.
Kevin began his career in sound over 25 years ago playing in bands and working in live theatre before transitioning into post production sound. He has worked for many theaters and sound studios including the Omaha Theater Company for Young People, The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and Clean Cuts Music & Sound. He then ultimately founded Studio Unknown in 2001. Realizing his love for film and cinema, in 2008 he shifted the focus of the studio’s model and opened a Bicoastal, Dolby® Approved sound facility to service filmmakers across the country.
His sound work has been heard at film festivals around the world including SXSW, Toronto, Tribeca, Berlin, Cannes, Hollywood Film Festival and more. Broadcast credits include sound design and mix for programs for Lifetime, Discovery, National Geographic, ESPN, PBS and others. With over 150 film titles, many currently on Netflix, Amazon and iTunes, Kevin has been a part of projects that have taken or been nominated for awards nationwide including the Emmy’s, Telly’s, Addy’s, CINE and MPSE. He is an active member of the Cinema Audio Society and has served as an adjunct professor at Anne Arundel Community College teaching Audio Production.
Matt is the Supervising Sound Effects Editor, Foley Artist and Partner of Studio Unknown. He got an early start in film sound while studying as an undergrad at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, doing production sound for documentaries, performing sound art and designing sound for stop-motion animation. Matt now teaches Sound for Animation at MICA. Combined with a background in fine art sculpture, his love for sound results in hand built instruments and collecting interesting items, trinkets, and junk for the ever-growing collection of Foley props at Studio Unknown. As a Sound Designer, he’s accustomed to contorting his voice to make creature sounds, tweaking analog synths and can be found on the Foley stage combining weird objects to find just the right noise.
Matt grew up in the UK, has an affinity for craft beer, Alien, and grows one hell of a beard.
Rich formally entered the world of post-production sound as an intern at Studio Unknown in 2011. After freelancing for StUn as a Sound Effects Editor and supporting several field recording expeditions, Rich was offered a full time position with the team in early 2015. He also maintains a career in live sound for concerts, theatre, and events.
Rich was an Assistant Audio Recordist for the 2013 Brevard Music Festival which featured soloists Joshua Bell, Johannes Moser, and Jean Yves Thibaudet. Soon after, he joined the production crew at the Lisner Auditorium as an Audio Technician. He graduated with honors from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County having studied music and the recording arts.
Rich dreads leaving voicemails, enjoys listening to video game soundtracks, and almost always leaves room for dessert. His favorite sound is Godzilla’s roar or the seismic charges from Star Wars Episode II… depending on the day.
Cazz Cerkez graduated from Towson University where he studied Electronic Media and Film. Since then, he has sound designed and composed music for dance performances, documentary, horror/thriller, drama, comedy, and animation.
Cazz first joined the team at Studio Unknown as an intern in 2015. Already a talented composer, he immediately showed promise as a budding sound editor and designer. Quick to learn and eager to advance, Cazz was invited to join Studio Unknown as an editor and composer upon completion of his internship in 2016.
As a Composer, Cazz commonly combines synthesizers, guitars, strings, and percussion to create a fitting tone for a film. His passion started in the 6th grade when he would spend his weekends improvising short films with friends. It was in the edit where he would realize his favorite part was how a soundtrack could bring everything to life and completely determine the tone of a scene.
Outside of the audio post world, Cazz has worked as an audio technician for concerts/events, and played guitar and synth with several bands around the DMV area. In his free time Cazz enjoys playing with synthesizers, watching movies, and snowboarding. He also loves a good cup of coffee while cooking breakfast and listening to some chill music.
Mandisa is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. She spent several years working in human resources and in volunteer management for hospice facilities. Her passion for film and music drew her to the Annapolis Film Festival, where she has served as both a board member and as part of the programming committee since 2011. Mandisa joined the Studio Unknown team in 2016 as an administrative assistant and production coordinator. On top of that, she now oversees many aspects of the post production process for the Studio Unknown including talent casting, ADR scheduling, music supervision, client relations and facility management.
Mandisa is also an instructor with a film camp in Annapolis. She has also worked on films as a PA and is known to hop in the booth when needed for voice over work! Mandisa loves her cats, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
A Los Angeles native, Rick began his career in 1995 as a highly sought after Studio and Pro Tools Tech.
In 2003, Rick and his wife, Veronica, founded Santisound with a focus on post production audio. Santisound became a destination for editing and mixing unique content like featurettes, VAM, trailers, TV commercials, film commentary, and theatrical sound. Films that he has worked on include X-men, Amazing Spider- Man 2, Titanic 3D, Avatar, and Man of Steel. Broadcast credits include Disney, ABC, Fox, Discovery, BBC, NOVA, History, HBO, Showtime, and others. Projects mixed by Rick have received Emmys, Telly Awards and Hollywood Reporter Key Arts Awards.
Studio facilities Rick has worked in include Capitol Records, Oceanway Recording, The Record Plant, Technicolor, Deluxe, Warner Bros and on location all over the country. He has mixed and recorded with artist such as Chris Cornell, Goo Goo Dolls, Rancid, Kinky, Smokey Robinson, Black Eyed Peas, and Justin Timberlake.
Rick and Veronica live in Los Angeles, CA with their two children. He is a musician, speaks fluent Spanish, and when not in the studio, he coaches Pony baseball.
Jason is a re-recording mixer, sound editor, and partner at Racket Sound. He studied media production at the Pennsylvania State University and proceeded to work in the fast-paced, rigorous and highly specialized film marketing world as lead mixer at the legendary Hollywood post house, PictureHead. During his tenure, his work on Super Bowl spots, domestic and international television promos, theatrical trailers and home entertainment media could be heard around the globe.
After a decade of being one the very few audio professionals crafting marketing assets for major motion pictures and with the desire to explore the more creative side of audio post, Jason partnered with Racket Sound to bring his meticulous, detail-attentive and efficient ethos into the fold. He can now be found mixing, editing and providing supervisory services on projects ranging from television spots and web media to episodic television series and feature length films on Racket’s 7.1 re-recording stage.
Jason is a lifelong cyclist and outdoorsman, a horrible guitar player and self-proclaimed mac and cheese aficionado. If he’s not on his mountain bike, using overdrive to cover for dreadful technique or gorging on neon orange chow; you’ll find him at his home at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains with his wife, two dogs and cat.
Karol loves playing mind games with sound. She has built a diverse list of mix credits over the last 18 years spanning work on feature films, scripted episodic, TV movies, documentaries, and unscripted series. She is always seeking opportunities where sound can manipulate emotion and enhance the narrative.
Karol holds a BS from James Madison University in Audio Post Production, speaks Spanish, is on the Board of Directors for the Cinema Audio Society, and The Television Academy’s Governor’s Board for Sound Mixing and is co-editor of the CAS Quarterly Magazine.
Stephen Joseph Antonelli is an award winning songwriter, composer, engineer and producer with 20+ years of experience in the music business. Stephen spent nine years in Nashville, where he received his musical education, working in busy demo and commercial studios. Later, he worked in New York City, where he fine-tuned his skills working with some of NYC’s finest musicians and producers.
In 2007, Steve opened and now runs SongBuilder Studios and All About the Song, two music production companies in the Baltimore area. He specializes in working with artists composing the song, as well as shaping the final sound. This model has allowed Stephen to produce, write and co-write songs that have been placed on national television and in films. Some of Steve’s work can he heard on Lifetime, Fox, and Discovery Channel.
All About the Song provides custom music for any music-related production or application. All About The Song’s music has been used by Discovery Channel, CIA, World Bank and Met Life.