A co-production of the Northern Virginia Motion Picture Co-op and Crater 8, “Custody” was pitched to a producers panel hosted by the Virginia Screenwriters Forum.
Based on a true story set in Pittsburgh in 1973, a nine-year-old visits with his businessman grandfather to show off a prized baseball glove, but the pleasant visit takes a real-world turn when the boy returns to find more than he expected. The coming-of-age story deals with themes of transparency and family secrets.
The short film debuted at the Virginia Screenwriters Forum Showcase in Richmond where it won the Audience Choice Award as well as honors for its screenplay and for 12-year-old Connor Maloney’s performance. It was accepted into the 2026 AwesomeCon Film Festival in Washington, DC, the Altoona Reel Film Festival in Pennsylvania and the Alexandria Film Festival in Virginia.
CAST
Nick: Connor Maloney
Patty: Erica Colson
Eugene: Jerry E. Long
Mancuso: Thomas K. Belgrey
Joe: David Janosik
Suited Man: Michael Kohlhaas
CREW
Director: Michael C. Ivey
Producers: Robert Kendzie, Michael C. Ivey
Executive Producer: Kristofer Haase
Writer: Brian L. Weakland
Directors of Photography: William “Bill” Ku, Bunt Young
Editor: Kevin Heraldo, Michael C. Ivey
Assistant Camera: Charlie Harris
Location Sound Mixer: Allen Cavedo
Gaffer: Jimmy Ray
Wardrobe stylist: Erica Kelly
Original music: Bill Grishaw
Art Director: Susan Verbeeck