Check Out Andrea Morgan’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Morgan.

Hi Andrea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in London most of my life, but I have a very international background as my mum is Canadian and my dad is Lebanese. I grew up spending all my summers and winters in Lebanon and the country is a big part of my identity. We would speak French and a little Arabic at home and the English at school. Initially, when I was very young I wanted to be a clown as I loved to entertain and make people laugh. Only when I watched the Wizard of Oz at age six, did I realize I wanted to make films. I did a lot of theatre because it was the closest I could get to cinema until I was given a camera through school and the opportunity to make my own short films with my friends. I started by making silent movies, as I had always been very impacted by the silent era of cinema. Chaplin and Wings (1928) are some of my favorites. I believe film is a visual medium and dialogue should be used sparsely. I had my eyes set on USC or NYU for years and I had the opportunity to get into both schools, but ultimately I chose USC for Film and Television Production. At USC I’ve continued to write and direct. My junior thesis film, Le Beyrouth, about my father’s childhood in the civil war in Lebanon, was selected at the Academy Award and Bafta Qualifying film festival LA Shorts. I then was asked to direct a dance film called Baraye in honor of the Persian movement ‘Women, Life, Freedom.’ This film has circulated several festivals, but more importantly has resonated amongst the Persian community. My next film that I’ve written and directed is entering festival circuit in 2026. I shot a 30 minute movie in Lebanon in the summer of 2024 called ‘Mon Premier Amour’ – (My First Love). It’s a love letter to my country. In addition to directing, I’ve found a new love for producing in the past couple years at USC. I got the opportunity to produce a USC senior thesis short film ‘Nuns With Guns’ coming out next year!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been challenges for every project I’ve tried to take on and complete. The biggest challenge of all was getting my film ‘Mon Premier Amour’ made. I wrote the script in 2023, and I knew I wanted to go back to Lebanon and shoot it in Beirut, but raising enough money and finding a team with no connections in the industry there was incredibly tough. I thankfully raised enough money due to the tight-nit community the Lebanese have, and I was able to get connected with a producer in Beirut. The production of the film was a whole other beast! Tensions were rising in the area whilst we were in the depth of pre-production, and we often discussed delaying and changing the date due to the ongoing issues with bombings in the south and war planes flying over. Nevertheless, we got the film shot within a week. The war did hit after I had left, but my post team was still stuck in the country. With a story about the struggle of a family due to political turmoil, it felt as though art had imitated life for this film.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a film writer, director and producer. I specialize in dramas, international and foreign language films. What sets me apart as I have a unique global view where I seek to bridge gaps, creating films that can be understood both abroad and in the US. I am most proud of the films I have directed, particularly when they can directly impact a community, but speak to a larger purpose.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Every year until I turned eighteen, I would force my two older sisters to perform a Christmas play with me for my parents. I would write, direct, production design the entire production and although my sisters acted like they didn’t want to do it, deep down they loved it. Every year the plays got better and the stories more complicated. But the sheer act of bringing something from paper to life with people I loved was the best!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniella_raphael_film?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniella-raphael/

Image Credits
Amy Ge