The Hug

After an exhausting workday, a young couple’s disagreement over a hug spirals into a tense emotional standoff.

  • Leo Hsueh
    Director
  • Melissa Morris
    Key Cast
    "Anna"
  • Joshua Franck
    Key Cast
    "Jackson"
  • Leo Hsueh
    Writer
  • Izzat Abdullaev
    Producer
  • Sophia Conte
    Assistant Director
  • Harsh Desai
    Script Supervisor
  • Ciana Bergey
    Director of Photography
  • Casey Webber
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Michelangelo Bellini
    Gaffer
  • Aidan MacIlvaine
    Audio
  • Damein Williams
    Production Design
  • Frankie Sparrowen
    Casting Producer
  • Leo Hsueh
    Editor
  • Adam Long
    Sound Editor
  • Colt Gunn
    BTS Photo
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Temple University
Director Biography - Leo Hsueh

Leo Hsueh Taiwanese-American Filmmaker in the BFA film program at Temple University. His works focus on personal, everyday, and vulnerable stories. He is a recipient of the Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions, First Take Shorts Series, and the YellowHammer Film Fest. He also has the world’s cutest cats, Meowth and Cheese.

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Director Statement

Showing affection is something very contradictory to me. Growing up in a more conservative society, it always felt like there was never a standard answer. It was never forbidden, yet never encouraged either. I see myself in both Jackson and Anna, and I’m also still searching for what this means to me. Beyond that, I want to explore the relationship between an overextended couple and the roles in a domestic setting.