Patti McCarthy received her M.F.A. and Ph.D. from USC Cinematic Arts and worked in the film industry at RASTAR Productions with producer Ray Stark on Harriet the Spy, Random Hearts, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She also co-produced the documentary film, Clint Eastwood presents Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way with executive producer Clint Eastwood, and a series of short biographical films about George Lucas with Lucasfilm based on her book, The Lucas Effect: George Lucas and the New Hollywood. Most recently she produced the indie comedy, Carlos Through the Tall Grass, which is currently enjoying success on the festival circuit.

She is the author of numerous essays based on her research on “The Heroine’s Journey“ and is in the process of writing Outlander: The Heroine’s Journey and The Heroine’s Journey for Screenwriters and Filmmakers for McFarland Press. She’s been a keynote speaker, judge, moderator and panelist at many well-known pop culture events and conferences and a frequent panel moderator and speaker at the University Film & Video Association. She currently teaches film production, film theory, history, aesthetics and screenwriting at Whittier College in the Los Angeles area.