Movie about PTSD will be filmed locally

Cast and crew members have ties to New Carlisle.

New Carlisle has the “hometown look” one film crew was looking for, and, after a week of scouting, the cast and crew of a “A Soldier’s Loss” chose the Clark County city as its primary shooting location.

Director Scott Robertson took New Carlisle native Matthew Roy up on his first screenplay — calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

Roy, who wrote “A Soldier’s Loss” in three weeks, said he wanted to create a film that focused on the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, not only on soldiers, but also on their families.

“Being gone for 12 to 15 months is really hard — there are a lot of transitions you have to make,” Roy said. “In that period of time, you lose out on a lot. Lives change. Your soldier can come home and just not be the same anymore.”

Supporting actor Jason Greear, a Huber Heights resident who landed a speaking role in “Out of the Furnace” with Christian Bale and Woody Harrelson in 2013, is also from New Carlisle.

“I’ve gotten nothing but tremendous encouragement from this town, chasing a crazy dream like this,” he said during an interview at 571 Grill and & Draft House last week. The restaurant on Milton Carlisle Road has already been selected for a scene in the movie.

“New Carlisle is kind of like a lost jewel out here, so I think it will be nice for people to see what we have to offer in our area,” said restaurant owner Brandy Juday.

“A Soldier’s Loss” will join a growing list of movies filmed in southwest Ohio. Most recently, scenes for Don Cheadle’s movie “Miles Ahead” were filmed in downtown Dayton. In 2009, another independent film, “The Last Truck: The Closing of a GM Plant,” was nominated for an Oscar.

Crystal Udy and Amanda Marie have been named as lead and supporting actresses in the film. Casting for the lead character — U.S. Navy Seal Johnny Samson, who returns home from Afghanistan — has not been revealed.

Filming begins in eight weeks, and Robertson hopes for a 2016 release.

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