thePULSEBy Diane Garcia
While following in her father’s footsteps in the business world, and later continuing her mother’s legacy at Worcester Technical High School, Caitlin McCarthy got a little help from fate to forge her own path in life.
After living in Boston, Washington State, and the Netherlands, McCarthy realized that Worcester was the only place to settle down. Worcester, which is “centrally located,” allowed her to have a life without burning a hole through her wallet, plus it has a great city atmosphere. “You can go out and afford dinner and afford to do things. It’s not like everything is going toward the rent like the way it is in New York.”
The people also brought her back home. She believes that unlike those in Los Angeles, Worcester artists “…will talk to you because they’re excited that you’re doing the same thing.” The genuine support helps her stay optimistic and connected to the arts scene.
McCarthy was introduced to Oscar-nominated director Matia Karrell while training at a teaching program at Brockton High School. Karrell loved McCarthy’s story “Cape Cod Lite” so much that she wanted to adapt it to film. From then on, McCarthy was no longer an ordinary high school teacher; she had become an award-winning screenwriter.
Aside from “Cape Cod Lite,” McCarthy has written 3 screenplays: “Wonder Drug,” “Free Skate,” & “Resistance.” However, “Resistance” and “Wonder Drug” are still in development.
McCarthy’s inspiration for her screenplays comes from aspects of real life. She explained, “I don’t necessarily write about myself, but of something I’ve either experienced or heard about.”
For instance, Resistance is based on the life of one of her college professors. McCarthy recalls sitting in class, “…mesmorized and thinking that this woman’s life should be a movie.”
Her professor was Vera Laska, a member of the Czech Resistance during World War II. Laska had survived three Nazi death camps and escaped the Nazis during a death march.
Resistance is a feature film that is told from the young female point of view. Since the war is almost always retold from a male’s perspective, McCarthy believes that the new view will capture audiences. She also hopes that the film will inspire young women because they will “…see themselves on screen and that they are capable of heroic acts too.”
As for future projects, McCarthy is currently brewing up two pieces. Arcadia focuses on her roots and the ethnic cleansing of Arcadians that took place in Nova Scotia. The other piece looks at the portrayal of teachers on television.
No matter what happens, Caitlin will remain optimistic. She says, “You can hear as many nos as you want, it only takes one yes to change your life, and that’s what I always live for.”
Check out some of Caitlin’s work at www.wonderdrugthemovie.com,
www.facebook.com/pages/WONDER-DRUG/233795428655,
www.resistancethemovie.com,
and www.facebook.com/pages/Resistance/177306333262
