When he was just three years old, Ryan Cudahy’s family moved to Charlottesville. By the time he was nine, he was performing with Black Box Players in shows that ranged from “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” to “The Sound of Music,” and in his teen years, he enrolled in his first theater class while studying at Albemarle High School. Now, he may be best known for the feature film “Written By Mike,” which he wrote and directed, and was released in the fall of 2024.
The film, shot primarily in Fredericksburg, tells the story of two couples grappling with issues related to family, illness, and trauma, and was inspired by Cudahy’s own exploration of issues related to mental health. “I didn’t know how to deal with all of these things I was going through,” Cudahy said, “My psychologist told me to write a screenplay about it. I did, and people liked it and encouraged me to move forward with it. Then, an old boss, James Laughorn, financed the whole thing.”
In the months following the release of “Written By Mike,” Cudahy and his crew toured throughout Virginia to showcase the film in locations that included Richmond (where it was an official selection at the Richmond Film Festival), Harrisonburg, Winchester, Ashton, Arlington, Woodbridge, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville. “What was special about Charlottesville was that the Q&A was moderated by Charlotte Wood, who was a film teacher at Albemarle,” Cudahy said. “It was very special to me.”
Cudahy says that a portion of the proceeds of the tour will benefit an organization that he has immense respect for: Charlottesville Region Ten. With locations throughout Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson, the organization aims to support community members in need of mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse services.
Cudahy says that the team also prioritized giving back to the community during the filmmaking process. “I think that’s incredibly important. One thing we tried to do with “Written by Mike” was support local businesses with product placements and lots of shots of local businesses,” Cudahy said. “The Virginia Film Office does great work when giving money to make sure it’s used in the Commonwealth. We also worked hard to hire people who live in Virginia.”
In addition to “Written by Mike,” Cudahy has previously released one other feature-length film and 13 shorts. For future work, while he enjoys focusing on coming-of-age topics and psychological thrillers, he also has hopes of producing a sociopolitical-based film and is in the process of potentially collaborating to bring a close friend’s script to life. “She’s written the most beautiful script I’ve ever read, and we’re discussing how to get that out there.”
While Cudahy used his screenwriting skills and talent as one means of exploring mental health, he credits two close relationships as also being inspirational and supportive. “When I was really struggling with mental health issues, my swim coach at Virginia Gators, JJ Bean, was basically a second dad to me and was super inspirational,” Cudahy said. “And Joseph Lusk at Timberwood Grill -- he’s the best boss I’ve ever had and someone who was very important to me to work with. It was a wonderful experience getting to know both of them.”
“Written By Mike” can now be viewed on both YouTube and Tubi.
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health support services, reach out to one of Charlottesville's trusted professional resources.