Patti J. McCarthy

Patti McCarthy, PhD, MFA is an Associate Professor of Film, teaches film production, film studies, creative producing, and screenwriting and heads the film program at Whittier College. She holds a PhD in critical studies in film from University of Southern California, and a MFA in film production from University of Southern California. Prior to teaching in the Film program and developing a film major at the University of the Pacific, Dr. McCarthy worked as Head of Development at Rastar Productions at Sony Pictures Entertainment and was involved in the production of many well-known major motion pictures, including: Random Hearts (Harrison Ford), Harriet the Spy (Rosie O’Donnell), To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (Michelle Pfeiffer), American History X (Edward Norton) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt).

She co-produced a documentary film, Clint Eastwood presents Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way (Exec Producer, Clint Eastwood and Director, Bruce Ricker) and an indie feature, Carlos Through the Tall Grass, as well as a series of short, biographical documentary films about George Lucas which were based on her book, The Lucas Effect: George Lucas and the New Hollywood. Her current research focuses on “The Heroine’s Journey” as a feminist post-structuralist reimagining of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” and companion model for theoreticians, screenwriters, and filmmakers. A frequent panelist at the University Film & Video Association and assorted pop culture venues and comic cons, she has presented papers and published several essays and books on the topic.