about us
Protopia Studios is a public benefit corporation that nurtures meaningful creative experiences to produce surreal, transportive, cathartic new worlds. We believe in a wholistic approach to world building, which means scripting, designing, engineering, and producing our works of art and media from a deeply immersive point of view. A “protopia” is a world that exists outside of the numbness, duality and scarcity of the everyday. But we have to imagine that world freely in order to build it.
We have to go towards whimsy in order to get there.
At Protopia, we define whimsy as true creative freedom. When you stop trying to predict success, the rules, or the market — you can refocus on belonging, discovery and purpose. Creative experiences become more gratifying and sustainable, so long as we continue to pursue meaningful choices. Our hypothesis is that getting comfortable with whimsy can instill deep emotional catharsis for creators and audiences. When we create this way, it reinforces our reasons for existing in the universe.
We are based in Los Angeles, CA and our workshop/studio is on Beaver Island, MI.
our work.
- Screenwriting + Fiction
- Collaborative Art, Design + Production
- Creative Development
- Empathy-Focused Project Management
- Capturing the Spirit of Place
- Experimental New Works
about us.
sarah c. mueller
head of creative + Ceo
- 10+ years of screenwriting + production experience on award winning television shows
- Passionate about intimate character stories featuring surreal + transportive worlds.
- Loves adventure, listening to ideas, collecting film cameras, drinking craft beer + taking herself way too seriously.
- Wonders if we’re all gonna die soon.
nathan “mary poppins” altman
head of production + COO
- 15+ years of creative project management, design + production experience on big budget sculptures, technology + events.
- Passionate about building spaces + operations that reduce friction/discontent + increase well-being.
- Loves logistics, providing for crews, studying obscure engineering + burning stuff down for fun.
- Worried about that noise no one else can hear.
There is no experience Disney World can create that will be as thrilling as breaking into Disney World.
-Caveat Magister, Turn Your Life Into Art
Protopia 