Experiencing Interruptions?

Leaving Malcolm

After taking in his father for hospice care, Malcolm "Mac" Peters is reminded of his childhood neglect. Out of disdain for his father, Mac tries to be a better father for his son but finds himself in an uncomfortably similar situation. Oliver now feeling similarly to his father when he was young, has found an unlikely friend in his attempt to find his own happiness. It will take Oliver's genuine heart and the wisdom of his unlikely imaginary friend to show Mac what being a father is really about.

  • Lucas Ruderman
    Director
  • Annemarie Bettica
    Writer
  • Julio Acevedo Bird
    Assistant Director
  • Craig Thomas Rivela
    Key Cast
  • Silvan Friedman
    Key Cast
  • Emil Ferzola
    Key Cast
  • Rachel Barrer
    Key Cast
  • Michael Castaldo
    Director of Photography
  • Arsalan Danish
    Assistant Camera
  • Meaghan McConnell
    Production Designer
  • Cristian Ramirez
    Sound
  • Miranda Smith
    Wardrobe/Hair and Makeup
  • Elizabeth Lyons
    Still Photographer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    32 minutes 27 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • American Filmatic Arts Awards
    Brooklyn, NY
    United States
    Best Student Film
  • New Hope Film Festival
    New Hope, PA
    United States
    Nominated: Best Student Film
  • YoFi Fest
    Yonkers, NY
    United States
  • Golden Door International Film Festival
    Jersey City, NJ
    United States
  • Rosebud International Film Festival
    Arlington, VA
  • Borderlands Film Festival
    Las Cruces, NM
  • Reel East Texas Film Festival
    Kilgore, TX
  • BLOW UP International Arthouse Film Festival
    Chicago
Director Biography - Lucas Ruderman

Lucas just finished his final year at Manhattanville College as a Film Directing Major as he got to self-design the major using Dance/Theater, Digital Media Production, and Film Studies as his primary departments. He has written and directed several student films as well as produced and worked as a crew member on many others. He has also worked in the field as a PA, Grip, Props Assistant, and Assistant Camera for commercials, corporate videos, narratives, as well as the Hollywood production Marshall coming out this October. He is currently Co-Directing a documentary and freelancing in production.

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Director Statement

I probably had the most fun working on this film than any other. My mother and I wrote the script and if you think working with your mother is easy, it's not. At some point I had to realize that not all my ideas were the best and let go, and she made the writing come together perfectly. I immediately fell in love with the characters and the story (especially since there is some family history hidden in it) and was so excited to direct the piece as my senior thesis. Everyone in the cast and crew worked so hard to make this happen and I couldn't be more grateful.