Pittsburgh-based, women-owned production company Flying Scooter Productions closes the Three Rivers Film Festival with a story about loss, grief, love and hope through music
PITTSBURGH (October 23, 2024) – The Ocean – Five Years, a film by the Pittsburgh-based, women-owned brand strategy and film studio Flying Scooter Productions, produced in partnership with The Vault Recording Studio and The Rhythm19 Fund, has been chosen as Official Selection by Three Rivers Film Festival. The film has received seven Official Selections and won Best Documentary at the Vienna Independent Film Festival (VIFF) in September 2024 (Full list of Awards and Official Selections at the end of this press release). The Ocean – Five Years closes out the 43rd Three Rivers Film Festival on November 20, 2024 at 7:00PM at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center with a 90-minute program including performances by musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Mt. Lebanon High School Wind Ensemble with vocals by Chris Jamison from The Voice.
“After seeing the film, it was clear to our programming team that this film deserved a special spot in our line-up,” said Kathryn Spitz Cohan, executive director of Film Pittsburgh. “We’re thrilled to be able to make an evening of it with important conversation as well as Brett’s beautiful compositions played live with musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mt. Lebanon Wind Ensemble and Chris Jamison.”
The story of The Ocean – Five Years wraps around the death of Ryan McCutcheon, a 19-year-old college freshman at Robert Morris University who was tragically killed in a car accident while driving home from coaching a local band festival in September 2017. Brett McCutcheon, who was just a sophomore at North Allegheny High School, turned to music to express his loss. Over five years, he composed a five-track EP that conveys his journey through the stages of grief.
Before he finished recording the album, Brett and his father, Bob McCutcheon, reached out to long-time friend and director Jennifer Schlieper to talk about a music video. Schlieper had other ideas.
She wanted to tell their story as a way to connect with others experiencing grief. Schlieper said, “When you lose someone you love, it is one of the hardest things to navigate. The McCutcheons trusted us to tell their story, share Brett’s beautiful music and find hope in the midst of great tragedy. It is a testament to who they are as a family. The film really is a love letter to Ryan.”
Brett, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator, has always had a passion for music. “After Ryan’s death, I was determined to make sense of his loss. I used music to express my feelings. My good friend and collaborator, June Bracken, helped me write The Ocean – Five Years EP. We blended classical orchestration and pop as we explored the complexity of grief,” said Brett. Now 23 years old, he shares his love of music through his compositions and as a Band Director at Mt. Lebanon High School.
The Ocean – Five Years closes out the Three Rivers Film Festival as it falls on the eve of Children’s Grief Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of death on children. “This film creates a community of hope and support for those experiencing loss and grief, especially children. It shows how art can be an effective avenue for expressing what we might not be able to put into words. It’s important that children find ways to not hold their grief inside. Music can be an incredible instrument for healing,” said Terese LaVallee, Executive Director and Vice President of the Caring Foundation. Brett invited LaVallee to be a part of the project and amplify awareness of the services offered at The Caring Place, an organization that helped him heal after the loss of Ryan. He wanted the film to have a voice outside of family and friends, someone who always offered help to kids and families experiencing grief.
Flying Scooter Productions and the McCutcheons were committed to using this film to spark a larger conversation about grief and share resources that offer hope and healing. The Rhythm19 Fund, established by the McCutcheons to honor Ryan’s memory, provides access to music and encourages the use of music to enrich life and navigate its challenges. Bob McCutcheon said about the mission of the fund, “Ryan was such a kind and loving person and a very talented percussionist. It was important for us to keep his memory alive by sharing our experience and providing access to music with kids. We know how much music and art can change lives.”
The Ocean – Five Years is Flying Scooter Productions’ first film festival release, winning Best Documentary at VIFF, and Officially Selected at Milan FFI (including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design and Best Documentary), Documentaries without Borders International Film Festival, Red Rose Film Festival, Toronto International Women Film Festival, Venice Shorts and the Three Rivers Film Festival.
The screening of the film will be followed by a Q&A with Jennifer Schlieper, Brett McCutcheon, and Terese LaVallee; a performance by the Mt. Lebanon Wind Ensemble and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra directed by Brett McCutcheon; and a post-premiere reception. To purchase tickets for the Pittsburgh premiere of The Ocean – Five Years, visit https://filmpgh.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FPW00000D7VsQ2AV.
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About Flying Scooter Productions
Established in 2017, Flying Scooter Productions is a female-owned and operated global branding agency and film production studio. With more than two decades of brand strategy experience, they leverage their approach to marketing through a business lens to create synergies and shape messaging for internal and external audiences. 2024 Winner of Best Supplier from Duquesne Light Company, nominated for the 2024 Anthem Community Voice Award for their Homeless Children’s Education Fund – 25 Years documentary and holding more than twenty-three awards globally, the Scooters have received 7 Film Festival Official Selections for their first-time entry with The Ocean-Five Years including winner of VIFF for Best Documentary. Learn more about Flying Scooter Productions at flyingscooterproductions.com.
About The Vault Recording Studio
The Vault Recording Studio is a family run business delivering a unique and highly personalized experience. Their award-winning team comes from a diverse set of experiences in the music industry. Each brings a unique perspective that can be brought to any project. The Vault assists with all aspects of the music creation process, including writing, arranging, producing, recording, mixing and mastering. They provide access to professional session musicians and consult on music release, distribution and promotion strategies.
Learn more about The Vault Recording Studio at thevaultrecording.com.
About The Rhythm19 Fund
The mission of The Rhythm19 Fund is to honor Ryan’s memory by providing access to art and music education for children and youth. Through charitable contributions and volunteerism, the fund provides access to music for children and encourages the use of music to enrich the lives of those with challenges or special needs. It also strongly encourages the continuation of music programs for school children. The Rhythm19 Fund is active in fundraising, providing financial support and volunteering their time. To date, the fund has raised over $200,000. As a result, the fund has awarded several high school scholarships, supported a number of local area music programs with equipment and even helped fund trips to music competitions. They also enjoy hosting high school and middle school field trips to The Vault.
Learn more about The Rhythm19 Fund at thevaultrecording.com/rhythm19-fund.
About The Highmark Caring Place
The Highmark Caring Place, A Center for Grieving Children, Adolescents and Their Families, is a safe place where grieving children and families can come together and be with others who understand what they’re going through. An essential community resource, the organization offers services to grieving families, including peer support, educational programs, consultation services, presentations and resources at no charge. The Caring Place works to raise awareness about the needs of grieving children and how to meet those needs.
Learn more about their work at www.highmarkcaringplace.com.
About Film Pittsburgh
Film Pittsburgh presents independent films from around the world, deepening audiences’ understanding of various cultures, expanding acceptance, and recognizing our common humanity. Each year, they present the Three Rivers Film Festival, Pittsburgh Shorts and Script Competition, ReelAbilities, and JFilm festivals, along with the one-day Robinson Competition and their Teen Screen Program. Learn more about Film Pittsburgh at filmpittsburgh.org.