‘The Ocean—Five Years’
Watch the first public theatrical screening of this Emmy-winning documentary at The Lindsay!
November 12 @ 7:30 pm
The Lindsay is hosting the first public theatrical screening of a highly acclaimed documentary about how a local composer honored his late brother by making a breathtakingly beautiful album in his memory.
The Ocean—Five Years follows Pittsburgh-based composer Brett McCutcheon as he creates that achingly emotional 2022 album of the same name. The film mirrors the ebbs and flows of its track list while also highlighting the stories of friends and family members who share Brett’s journey.
You can experience this award-winning film at The Lindsay on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The screening will be immediately followed by a filmmaker Q&A. Tickets are available online and via our box office for $11/$8.75 with standard Theater discounts.
This project was produced by locally based Flying Scooter Productions and directed by Flying Scooter co-owner Jennifer Schlieper. This screening is taking place during Children’s Grief Awareness Month, observed annually every November.
Ryan McCutcheon, a wildly talented percussionist and Brett’s older brother, was killed in a car accident in September 2017. He was only 19 years old. Five years later, Brett released The Ocean–Five Years as a monument to Ryan’s legacy.
The album was written in collaboration with June Bracken, Brett’s longtime friend and vocalist, and features members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and The Voice finalist Chris Jamison. It fuses classical orchestration and pop as it explores the depth and complexity of grief.
In addition to starring in and executive producing this film, Brett is also an accomplished composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and music educator who is currently serving as Mt. Lebanon High School’s band director. In 2018, he and the McCutcheon family worked with The Pittsburgh Foundation to establish the Ryan McCutcheon Rhythm19 Fund, which helps provide access to art and music education for children and youths.
The Ocean—Five Years earned a 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Best Documentary. Schlieper’s film has been officially accepted into 11 film festivals worldwide. It won Best Documentary Film at the 2024 Vienna Independent Film Festival; a Best Documentary Short Audience Award at Pittsburgh Shorts 2024; a 2025 Silver Anthem Award for Special Projects; and 2026 Gold Telly Awards for General Documentary and General—Kids & Family.
