Director of photography, producer and founder of Crystal Pyramid Productions
He put a camera on his helmet in 1987. The world followed.
For more than four decades Mark Schulze has been behind the lens in San Diego, from the first mountain biking videos to broadcast shoots for Inside Edition and Extra.
Before GoPro
A red motorcycle helmet, a camera and a backpack full of tape.
In 1987, shooting The Great Mountain Biking Video, Mark wanted viewers to feel the trail the way a rider does. He stripped down a red motorcycle helmet, built a camera mount on top, and ran a cable to a backpack holding a portable recorder and battery.
That homemade rig made him one of the earliest innovators of the helmet camera. He kept refining it through Ultimate Mountain Biking, Battle at Durango and Full Cycle, including a helmet-cam ride down into a volcano.
London’s The Independent interviewed Mark for its history of the helmet camera. GoPro founder Nick Woodman is a fellow UC San Diego alum.
A career of firsts
Where the camera hadn’t been yet.
Founds Crystal Pyramid Productions
Starts the company while finishing his BA in Communication and Sociology at UC San Diego. It is now San Diego’s longest-serving video production company.
New & Unique Videos
Launches a special-interest label and stock-footage library. Its first hit, Massage For Relaxation, is the world’s first instructional massage video.
Discovers mountain biking
Mark and Patty Mooney find the sport on a trip to Canada, and bring it home to San Diego.
The Great Mountain Biking Video
The world’s first mountain bike instructional video, shot with his homemade helmet cam.
Lessons in Cycling with John Howard
Instruction from the Olympian and speed record holder. Wins the National Silver Telly, the award’s highest honor.
Battle at Durango
Documents the first-ever World Mountain Bike Championships in Durango, Colorado. It went on to win a Spirit Award at the International Sports Video & Film Festival.
Full Cycle: A World Odyssey
Stars with Patty in a mountain bike adventure through nine countries, riding underwater off Costa Rica and into the Turrialba Volcano. It earns 15 international awards.
The Invisible Ones
Co-produces a documentary on homeless combat veterans that wins Platinum Ava, Gold Aurora and Golden Reel awards.
Honors and recognition
Four decades of award-winning work.
Silver Hugo
Chicago International Film & Video Festival, 1995, for Full Cycle: A World Odyssey, which later won a Classic Telly in 1999
National Silver Telly
1990, for Lessons in Cycling, plus Bronze Tellys for The Great Mountain Biking Video and Ultimate Mountain Biking
Top 100 Producer, three years running
AV Video/Multimedia Producer magazine, 1997, 1998 and 1999
Most Admired CEO
San Diego Business Journal nominee or finalist in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013
Best Camera Operator & Producer, San Diego
Acquisition International Business Excellence Awards, 2017
CEO of the Year
Corporate America, 2016
Platinum Ava & Gold Aurora
For The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans, 2008 and 2009
Inaugural Heilbron Award
San Diego Business Journal and Rotary Club 33, 2011, for service to the community
Silver Telly
2021, for the Cultural Resources Awareness Training video
Selected films
Adventure, instruction and advocacy.
Full Cycle: A World Odyssey
Mark and Patty go looking for the world’s best singletrack, from Costa Rica’s sea floor to a volcano’s crater.
The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans
A documentary that brought the struggles of homeless combat veterans into view.
The Great Mountain Biking Video
1987, the first of its kind
Lessons in Cycling
1990, with Olympian John Howard
Ultimate Mountain Biking
Benjamin Franklin Award winner
Battle at Durango
1990, the first World Mountain Bike Championships. Spirit Award, International Sports Video & Film Festival
Behind the camera
Director of photography, on location since 1981.
Corporate, broadcast, conventions and documentaries, in his green-screen studio in San Diego or anywhere a shoot takes him.
In the kit
“I love how Mark always refers to a shoot as: we’re having fun, playing!” V. Fibbiani, Media Director, WebMD
Verified client reviews
What clients say.
“The depth of knowledge, personal attention and flexibility is tier-one and certainly the best production company we could have hoped to engage for this important project.”
Jim Sanchez, DrovverVerified review on Clutch
“Their personal attention to every detail of the whole project stood out.”
Tom Dawson, Auto Glass SpecialistsVerified review on Clutch“They delivered items on time and made sure we were happy with all deliverables. They have tons of experience, fair pricing, and lovely people.”
Erin Stone, Rise-Up FoundationVerified review on Clutch
Partners on the trail and on set
The couple who play together.
Mark met Patty Mooney on Valentine’s Day in 1982, and they married in 1987 in the Cleveland National Forest. They’ve made nearly everything since as a team, and still ride the trails together every Saturday.
Meet Patty Mooney