The Artist Laureate for The Ohio State University will visit Ohio State Mansfield for an April 21 screening of “Scrap Heap,” a film he wrote, starred in and produced on the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans.
Kevin McClatchy is the head of Acting and Directing in Ohio State’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts. He is also the director of the OSU Shakespeare & Veterans Initiative and the OSU Shakespeare and Autism Project.
Based on a true story, “Scrap Heap” is a turbulent, darkly funny whiplash tour that examines the costs of war and explores the reality of what we ask of service members as well as society’s responsibility in the transition from service to civilian life.
The idea for "Scrap Heap" came from McClatchy's reflection on the people in his life impacted by military service. He recalled how his father, a Marine in World War II, lived the last 60 years of his life with undiagnosed PTSD, and how it would have been invaluable to have understood those experiences growing up. He also learned about his friend, Jeff's, remarkable military service and struggles with the VA, mental health.
“Creating this film has helped me widen my radar of how our veterans are portrayed and given me a front-row seat into a portion of their experience,” he said. “People who have seen this film, including veterans, tell me that it helps express and amplify their struggles in ways they could not do alone.”
Please note, “Scrap Heap” discusses combat-related trauma and suicide and uses flashing lights and sound effects including gunfire.
The film will be shown at 6 p.m., inside the auditorium at Riedl Hall. The event is free to attend and there is no pre-registration.
Following the showing of the film, a community conversation will be held to discuss reactions and perceptions regarding the military-civilian divide in the United States.
McClatchy has been facilitating workshops for the military community since 2016 and did a week-long residency with Scrap Heap at the Wexner Center for the Arts in July 2023.
McClatchy has been a working actor for over 30 years. His recent acting credits include “The Tempest” at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the films “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Old Man and the Gun and On Sacred Ground” as well as episodes of WGN's Outsiders and NBC/Universal's Gone.
McClatchy has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Washington and Lee University and earned his Master of Fine Arts in Acting and Performance from The Ohio State University.
Riedl Hall is located at 1760 University Drive, Mansfield. For more information, contact Joe Fahey at fahey.9@osuedu or 419-755-4276.