Jody Patton is president of Vulcan Productions, an independent film production company founded by Paul G. Allen to originate, develop and finance creatively driven and inventive motion picture and documentary projects. The company aspires to the highest level of compelling storytelling in its filmmaking, and is dedicated to creating films characterized by significant artistic merit as well as long-term commercial success.
Feature films produced by Vulcan Productions (formerly known as Clear Blue Sky Productions) include Victor Nunez' Coastlines (which world-premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival), starring Josh Brolin, Sarah Wynter, and Timothy Olyphant; Rose Troche's The Safety of Objects (which world-premiered at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival), starring Glenn Close, Dermot Mulroney, and Patricia Clarkson; Marleen Gorris' The Luzhin Defence, starring John Turturro and Emily Watson; Julie Taymor's Titus, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange (which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design [by Milena Canonero]; and John Sayles' Men with Guns.
Vulcan's documentary productions, all for PBS, include the series Evolution, the special Cracking the Code of Life, and the upcoming series The Blues. The latter series will have seven feature film directors helming individual episodes; among the directors are Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Mike Figgis, and Clint Eastwood.
Since helping launch Paul G. Allen's management company with Allen and William Savoy in 1986, Patton has developed and led a wide variety of Allen's business, charitable, and entertainment endeavors. In addition to serving as a senior advisor to Allen and directing the ongoing strategic and corporate development of the organization and its broad portfolio of projects and investments, her responsibilities include serving as president of Vulcan Productions (the independent film production company), vice chair of First & Goal Inc. (the developer and manager of the Washington State Football & Soccer Stadium), and executive director of Experience Music Project (Seattle's uniquely interactive music museum).
Patton also serves as executive director of the six Paul G. Allen Foundations, which support nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest in the areas of health and human services, the arts, medical research, and forest protection. She previously served in various capacities in the business and nonprofit worlds, including development work for the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
An active member of the arts and education communities, Patton serves on the board of directors of the University of Washington Foundation, the International Glass Museum, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Theatre Communications Group; as well as on the advisory boards of Meany Hall and the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.
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