Meet Patti McCarthy, Associate Professor of Film
"Whittier College couldn’t be more ideally located to Hollywood and the film industry. Our location opens the door to real-world, in-the-field experience. We aren’t just talking about film at Whittier College, we are making them!"
How was the making of “Carlos Through the Tall Grass” a real-world experience for Whittier students?
Recently, over 20 theatre and film students got the chance to work in key crew or as supporting cast on the feature film, “Carlos Through the Tall Grass.” It was shot entirely in Whittier over 16 days, following an intense six weeks of pre-production. Getting the opportunity to work beside their professors and professionals in the industry gave our students the real-world “Hollywood” experience they need to best prepare them for graduate school, earn IMBD credits, and gain a competitive edge for jobs in the film and entertainment industry.
How do experiences like this set the film program at Whittier College apart?
No other college or university offers student filmmakers the opportunity to work on a feature film with their professors. Not USC, not UCLA or Chapman. Only Whittier College can honestly boast that over 20 of their film and theatre students worked in front of and behind the camera on a feature film that has garnered great reviews and is doing fantastic on the festival circuit.
This film sends a strong message that Whittier College is committed to giving our students first-hand, personalized, and professional experience that will give them a leg up when competing for jobs in the entertainment industry. It also serves to acknowledge and support our Latino and Hispanic on-and off-campus communities which are completely underrepresented in major Hollywood films today.
What is “Carlos Through the Tall Grass” about?
The heartfelt film focuses on Carlos, a first-gen, Latino high school student who is having a hard time deciding whether to go to college or stay home and help out his quirky family and friends who depend on him. As a film professor at Whittier College and the producer of the film, I was immediately attracted to the script because so many of our students face the same dilemma. It’s a sweet, funny story with a good message that offers positive representation to the Latino community.
What about the buzz and awards the film has earned?
• "Carlos" had its World Premiere at Dances with Films in the TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to a sold out screening. LA Weekly hailed the film a “must see” and Film Threat said "Carlos" was “an experience that touches the heart.”
• It was named the Opening Night film at the Downtown LA Film Festival (DTLAFF) where it won the Best Performance award. Whittier College students, alumni, faculty, staff, and administration attended the glitzy event at the DTLAFF hobnobbing with Hollywood notables, posing for photos while walking the red carpet, and dined and danced at an after-screening party event at LA LIVE. During the festival, "Carlos" was featured on Good Day LA.
• "Carlos" won a Remi Award at the prestigious WorldFest in Houston. IndyReviews proclaimed "Carlos" is “entertaining, sweet and humorous;” and it received a wonderful review from Richard Propes of The Independent Critic: "A delightfully entertaining coming of age story...The kind of film that will have you feeling much better than when you walked in."
• "Carlos" was screened for Opening Night at the Xicanindie Festival XXV which features the best in Latino films from around the world. Our goal is to get “Carlos” picked up by a major distributor so audiences can enjoy the film around the world.
