Encouraging female empowerment has become an important social message this year in Hollywood. Actress Heather Graham is bolstering the movement with the upcoming distribution of her feature film directorial debut, ‘Half Magic.’ In honor of the romantic comedy opening in select theaters, as well as on VOD and Digital HD, on February 23 by Momentum Pictures, the distributor has unveiled the movie’s official trailer.
‘Half Magic’ focuses on female empowerment in relationships, the work place and in sex. Graham, who also wrote the script for the film, was inspired to pen the story by her own personal experiences. Graham also appears on screen, and is joined by an ensemble cast that includes Angela Kinsey, Stephanie Beatriz, Jason Lewis, Thomas Lennon and Chris D’Elia.
Momentum Pictures has released the following synopsis for ‘Half Magic’:
Three women use their newly formed sisterhood to fight against sexism, bad relationships and low self-esteem. Through embracing their wild adventures, they learn the secret to ultimate fulfillment.
Graham has distributed the following note about making ‘Half Magic’:
On the surface, ‘Half Magic’ is a comedy about bad dating decisions. Why do we choose the people we choose? What draws us in? Why do we always “know better,” but do it anyway? I have made some bad choices and put my self-worth into needing to be with “that” guy. So I made this film because I wanted to share the journey of how I got over the programming of my religious upbringing and terrible dating experiences to come to love myself and my sexuality. As the story and film evolved, much like my dating life, I learned that true happiness can only come from within.
I want to empower women to feel good about themselves and make better choices. I want to celebrate women enjoying their sexuality and finding their pleasure. I want to celebrate how strong we are and how we can create anything we want. This movie is about the power of friendship and how it inspires us to see the magic in our lives.
As a woman and a first time filmmaker in Hollywood, I’m glad there’s more attention than ever on the sexism women have faced for years. Over the last few months, a new sexual revolution has begun, with more women than ever coming forward to share their stories of sexual harassment. Gone are the days when women felt powerless, with their abusers facing no repercussions. I chose to include these themes in my movie from a satirical point of view because, after all, I was writing a comedy. I wanted to find a way to laugh at the situations that frustrate me.
‘Half Magic’ is about sex. No matter what kind of negative attitudes you might have picked up from religious or cultural conditioning, this story is about learning to love your sexuality and seeing it as a beautiful part of yourself.
For more information on ‘Half Magic,’ visit its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Momentum Pictures has released the official trailer for Heather Graham's feature film directorial debut, the romantic comedy, 'Half Moon.'