Walking into a gated cement house with sound equipment lying all around the house normally would leave one with the feeling of being recorded. However, the Mangini household has an inviting charm despite the museum like build. There is a distinct smell of a primo pasta with winter squash and tomatoes wafting from the kitchen, a smell that you can taste, a smell can make someone who ate at an all you can buffet’s mouth water. Echoes of laughter ring throughout ever corner of the Mangini house as the guys catch up on life events. A truly delightful environment because the Manginis easily make guests feel like a part of the family, and there is no place like home.

With a name like Matthew Mark Mangini you would think he was a 1930’s magician, but that is not the case unless you consider film making to be a kind of magic. Matt stands tall at 6’1 with piercing blue eyes, fair skin, and contrasting dark hair. He is the eldest son of Mark Mangini an Academy Award Winning Sound Editor, Sound Designer, Musician, and Re-recording mixer. Mark Mangini may have unknowingly started a family legacy in the film industry. Matt has grown up immersed in the Hollywood industry, and continues to be not only because of his father, but also for his love of the cinematic arts. The family resemblance is strikingly strong which can be seen even in the smallest forms like their smile, and stance. Matt and Mark’s love for the movies runs deep, and it is spellbinding to witness the two men talk about a movie.

Mark and Matt Mangini

Your father Mark Mangini has worked on countless films. What are some of your favorites?
“It's pretty easy to list out the marquis titles: The Star Trek movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fifth Element, Mad Max: Fury Road, etc. and say that I love them. Because I do! The work on those films is fantastic but there's also the films such as Schizopolis & Grey's Anatomy or pretty much all the collaborations with Joe Dante that had a major impact on the way in the way I viewed and perceive film. I could list “Anchorman” because it's probably the single most quotable movie I can think of in the last 20 years, The Green Mile because the two of us edited his bakeoff clip together. Gremlins and The Lion King because he used my voice over for the Mogwais and baby Simba, yeah going to brag a little, even if it hasn't been earned.
 
My single favorite moment he's created was a squeaky thermos lid from last years The Accountant. That had me howling with laughter. Good job, dad!”

"Art isn't about you (ironic considering the ego and self-absorption of Hollywood) or what people think about you."

What is your first memory of your father’s job?
“Through the various iterations of the company my father started, the partners decided that rather than hire solely based on resume or knowledge of the craft, they would hire based on talent and fit within the company. When they did their interviewing, they would always walk the prospect past their offices and specifically, past a wall festooned with pictures of a ridiculous looking clown. Most never noticed or mentioned it but If the interviewee spoke up about the picture or commented on how silly or awesome it was, they got put at the top of the hiring list. That was the kind of culture they had and because sound at that time was considered more of a craft or the job of an engineer than that of an artist, they always had a strange mixture of nerds, mad scientists and tech wizards. Almost all of whom had larger than life personalities. If one were inclined to do so, you could write a fascinating book about the early days of Weddington Productions. The other and less interesting answer was the smell of the place. Specifically, that of coffee and magnetic tape. Both of which seemed to be in endless supply.”

In the Limo, February 29, 2016, After The 88th Academy Awards

What do you remember about the night your dad took home an Oscar?
“Panic, fear, relief, elation and then pride. I threw a small Oscar themed party at his house to watch the show. Everyone had to get dressed up in their best formal attire as if they were going to the Academy Awards themselves. I think I spent a week’s pay on food and drink. It was a lot of fun till it dawned on me: 'Oh shit, he better win this otherwise this party is going to suck!' I had been recalling my feelings when I'd gone to the Oscars back in 1993 when he was nominated for Aladdin and the sheer panic that coursed through me as a 10-year-old when the award come up. Hearing Chadwick Boseman dryly announce Mad Max Fury Road was at a combination of relief and elation. After that I think I spent the next 4 or 5 hours answering my phone as the messages and calls poured in. I didn't get into bed till around 2:30 that night and right as I started to doze off, my phone rings. My dad and his wife had forgotten their house keys and drove the limo from Madonna's place to come pick me up to let them in with mine. We managed to have a fun moment in the back of the limo”

Rumor has it you had a bit part in the movie Hook. Do you have any tales from the set?
“TONS but my favorite was a day when we’re were filming a scene up in Hook's little treasure room behind the ship. The group of extras I was in, Spielberg and a couple of his PAs erupted into singing the theme song from Animaniacs. Everyone knew the lyrics and randomly people from other parts of the set would run over to join in and so you had maybe 6 or 7 kids and 15-20 adults taking a minute of the day to randomly sing this song from a cartoon. It was silly and fun.

Hook was a 'big' Hollywood style movie that just doesn't get made all too often anymore. Big names, big sets, a fun fantasy story told by the biggest director. There was such a romance about being on those sets that I wish I could impart onto anyone who might be reading this. Also, Robin Williams was as magnificent as you could imagine. He would always have us in to his trailer to play games in between setups. He spent more time making people laugh than anything else. From the director to the caterer to us lowly extras. He just wanted everyone to smile.”

You are studying film to go into the industry it took your father decades to gain awarded recognition in. Why have you chosen this path knowing that?
“I'm not after the recognition. Maybe it'll come, maybe it won't but if you're going into the arts for recognition then you should probably do some soul searching because you're probably not going to get it. Even if you do, it’s unlikely to make you happy. That said, I’m moving towards this business because I love entertainment, especially the moving picture. I love stories and story-telling. The art and craft of movie making is a language I speak and want to expand upon. It’s a fun business. A bit scary to approach considering all the pitfalls of Hollywood but I’ve dreamed of being a part of the movies since I was a kid. I just wish I had started doing it sooner!”

"Tell your friends to give you a short story and then just film it. Who cares if it sucks. You'll get better."

If you could give advice to someone going into the cinematic arts, what would it be?
“If you are going to school, make sure your teachers give a shit. If you're not, then at the very least, challenge yourself as often as you can. Make something every day or every week. Make 5 second clips or do a stop motion animation of your Legos walking across the table.”

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
“It would be great if one day we could get to the point where we're doing bigger and bigger budgets and a lot of people want to see our stuff but really, if we can make a decent living, do some good work and then spend the next 20 or 30 years making each other laugh, I'll be happy.”

Is there a movie that you and your father have bonded over? If so what and why? How many times have you watched it together? Could you quote every line?
“Monty Python as a whole. That's our go to. I guess The Holy Grail fits all that criteria but really, all of Monty Python.
You'll hear me almost any day of the week say, 'Everyone a Maserati!' The only person who will laugh will be my dad and I'm OK with that.”"

"Surround yourself with people who challenge your creative process as well as understand it. I have my father, we challenged each other to make a short once month, from there the idea has evolved."

Look for the Mangini last name in the credits of the next movie you watch, you might be surprised. It could be Mark or Matt’s name rolling by, either way there might be a Mangini. In ten years, the duo’s possible untitled production company could be the company who developed the film you watched!