HALF

Welcome to HALF, Executive Produced by Anthony Ramos (TRANSFORMERS, TWISTERS, HAMILTON), Creatively Produced by Phillipa Soo (DOCTOR ODYSSEY, HAMILTON) and Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg (CHARMED, PERCY JACKSON) written and directed by Morgan Marcell (HAMILTON), starring Daniel J Watts (THE CHI, PENGUIN) and filmed by Ayana Baraka (Variety 2024: top 10 DP’s to Watch). This is a short film based on a real conversation, very near and dear to our hearts. Half offers a small window into the Japanese/Caucasian experience and touches on what it takes to balance the responsibility, privilege and bias that comes with being both. Ultimately, it explores the complex relationships between minorities, and provides nuance on the Asian American experience.

  • Morgan Marcell
    Director
    Hamilton, Sharing Our Stories: The Eliza Project Documentary, Kiss of the Spiderwoman
  • Morgan Marcell
    Writer
  • Anthony Ramos
    Producer
    Twisters, Transformers, Hamilton
  • Phillipa Soo
    Producer
    Doctor Odyssey, The Code, Dopesick, Hamilton
  • Steven Pasquale
    Producer
    Rescue Me, American Son, Doubt
  • Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg
    Producer
    Charmed, North by North Pole
  • Todd Donovan
    Producer
  • Stephen Baker
    Producer
  • Michael Robin
    Producer
  • Jimmy Jackson
    Producer
  • Dana Kreitz
    Producer
    Hapa Media
  • Morgan Marcell
    Key Cast
    "Malea"
    Law & Order: SVU, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, L&O: Organized Crime
  • Daniel J. Watts
    Key Cast
    "Braden"
    The Chi, Penguin, The Last O.G.
  • Grace Aubry
    Key Cast
    "Sophia"
    Artists United Agency
  • Eri Sica
    Key Cast
    "Young Malea"
  • Ayana Baraka
    Director of Photography
    In the Arena: Serena Williams
  • Leah Kreitz
    1st AD
    Hapa Media
  • Mary Marxen
    Production Designer
  • Selinda Zhou
    Editor
  • Anya Khusnutdinova
    Editor
  • Katherine Beggs
    Music Composer
  • Anthony Raffaele
    Colorist
  • Jerrell James
    Post - Sound Mixing
  • Bethany Tesarck
    Crew
  • Mick Szal
    Crew
  • Micky Staten
    Crew
  • Gigi Aquilina
    Crew
  • Shane Duckworth
    Crew
  • Abbey Maruyama
    Crew
  • Gabe Quiroga
    Crew
  • Huttemburg "Hutt" Nassar
    Crew
  • Moe LaRena
    Crew
  • Tyler Gustin
    Crew
  • Gabrielle Spiegel
    Crew
  • Emma Ling-Hwei
    Crew
  • Lance Smith
    Crew
  • Shreya Muju
    Crew
  • John Abrams
    Crew
  • Isabella Friedrich
    Crew
  • Griffin Stanton-Ameisen
    Crew
  • India Chappell
    Crew
  • Karoline
    Crew
  • Logan Mortier
    Crew
  • Avery Garza
    Crew
  • Morgan Milone
    Crew
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 20, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Alexa
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Morgan Marcell

Morgan is an actor and creative based in New York. She made her Broadway debut in Hamilton (OBC) and originated roles in Bandstand and Moulin Rouge! She was both Cast and Creative for the 74th/76th Annual Tony Awards, NBC’s Annie Live!, FX’s Fosse/Verdon and most recently, Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Sundance 2025). Impassioned by education, Morgan founded the The Eliza Project, linking professional artists to the students of Graham Windham, the orphanage Eliza Hamilton started. Her first documentary about the project, Sharing Our Stories: The Eliza Project, went to the Napa Valley Film Festival and Smithsonian Archives. She continues to direct Music Videos, Social Impact Content and is currently producing a short, AMERICA, executive produced by Vanessa Hudgens. Check out Morgan's website for more upcoming projects - morganmarcell.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a mixed Japanese-American female artist, I've rarely seen myself on screen. At a young age, I realized intersectionality and solidarity are the real drivers of change, though the concept proves difficult in action. So began the fascination with how the visual arts shape our perception of race, community, culture, and directly affect our acceptance, empathy, support and beliefs. This film is my calling card as a visual storyteller, highlighting the untold story through a specific, relatable human experience.