It all started when I was about 5 years old.
We lived in an apartment right next to the very first coed dormitory in the country, Keep Co-op, at Oberlin College, Ohio. I would go over there and bug the “old people.”
One of the students told me, “If you can stand at the top of the stairs and then fall and tumble down the stairs while keeping your body very stiff, you can become a stunt man in Hollywood!” So, that’s what I did! I did it a lot. And it hurt and I got headaches! But the bug had bitten and I kept waiting for Hollywood to get in contact with me.
Well, they didn’t. So when I grew up, I headed out there myself. I no longer wanted to be a stuntman, but I did get involved in many different ways! And after all was said and done, I made my mark as a Video Editor and Sound Effects designer.
Of course, I also learned a lot more on this journey. For instance, here is a blurb put together by Moby Games. I have edited portions for clarity and to bring it up to date.
“Michael B. Schwartz is a film, audio and video specialist who was educated at California Institute of the Arts where he received his Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in Film/Video.
One interesting side note, while Michael was a student there, he founded the famous CalArts Annual Film and Video Festival, an event which is still active today.
He began his career in “Digital Media” in 1989 when he worked as Audio Producer and Editor for The Voyager Company/Criterion Collection in Los Angeles.
In 1992, he began working for Activision Studios and became their Computer Games Audio Manager. While at Activision, Michael contributed in small ways or larger ways in over 30 games, but specifically was best known for creating and designing the audio and sound effects for The Return to Zork, Muppet Treasure Island, a great deal of work on MechWarrior II and HyperBlade.
Michael has also been an audio and video instructor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and the Art Institute of Seattle, School of Video.
He has received awards for his work in the industry: Best Audio for Return to Zork in 1992, Best Game of 1995 for Mechwarrior II, Best of Show at the E3 1997 for Dark Reign: The Future of War, Best 3D Game and 1997 Game of the Year for Quake II, Computer Gaming World’s 150 Best Games of All Time for Shanghai: Great Moments.
In 2004, he joined Microsoft where he was a Video Producer for Microsoft Office “Personal Solutions” applications. He then spent the next 5 years at Worktank Studios as their Digital Media Producer.
He founded Ambrosia Digital Media, LLC in 2009 working with several high profile clients. And finally, Michael’s company was hired to produce all the video for Curious.com for the next 7 years. Michael put together a team and hired an additional 6 video editors, editing a combined total of over 10,000 videos.”
Now, during the Pandemic, Michael has gone back to his computer game roots and is Lead Sound Designer on an upcoming PC game, “In The Black” by Impeller Studios Inc.
(Oh, btw, that’s my dog, Ruby. She’s about 7 1/2 years old now and came from a rescue at 10 months. She’s a mixed Cattle Dog, most likely Blue Heeler. And DNA says she has some German Shepherd in her.)
