Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On a hot summer's day, a woman invites a guy over for a date.
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Squash by Ruhi Radke
ruhiradke.com
"The concept for this short came from a moment in my own life, and at first, the short was about the moment after. I initially wanted to write and direct a story about a woman processing how she felt after having sex for the first time and really missing her mom’s cooking. I had written a few versions of this, but it just didn’t feel authentic to the experience I had. As an experiment, I wrote down exactly how things went down in real life, and the short just came out of me. I was incredibly nervous and scared of that version of the story, and cautious about how the lead character would come across. I knew, because I was scared, that this was the best version of the short to make…"
🎙️ Dive deeper into the making of Squash with our exclusive interview with writer/director Ruhi Radke
directorsnotes.com/2026/04/29/ruhi-radke-squash
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Podcast: pod.link/192507317
// Credits //
CAST
Zoya: Shubhangi Kuchibhotla
Guy: Brendan Lin
CREW
Writer & Director: Ruhi Radke
Producers: Hayley Ulmer & Ruhi Radke
Assistant Director: Rachel Debolski
DP: Anh Vu
1st AC: Jane Yang
Gaffer: Rutuja Sawant
Grip: Bri Fronczak
DIT: Gokul Pann
Production Designer: Abe Chan
Intimacy Coordinator: Brooke Haney
Sound Mixers: Teresa-Esmerelda Sanchez & Maximilian Arias
Composer: Hannah Lipton
Editors: Kim Su & Ruhi Radke
Colorist: Kim Su
Sound Designer: Wren Haven
PA's: Gioia Kelleher & Misha Han
ABOUT DIRECTORS NOTES
Since 2006 Directors Notes has curated the world's best independent films alongside exclusive daily deep dive interviews which provide behind the scenes insights into the inspirations and production stories of the most talented filmmakers on the planet.
#firsttime #drama #dating #comedy #shortfilm
On a hot summer's day, a woman invites a guy over for a date.
🔔 Love indie films? SUBSCRIBE to Directors Notes for more trailblazing shorts: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: directorsnotes.com/submit
Squash by Ruhi Radke
ruhiradke.com
"The concept for this short came from a moment in my own life, and at first, the short was about the moment after. I initially wanted to write and direct a story about a woman processing how she felt after having sex for the first time and really missing her mom’s cooking. I had written a few versions of this, but it just didn’t feel authentic to the experience I had. As an experiment, I wrote down exactly how things went down in real life, and the short just came out of me. I was incredibly nervous and scared of that version of the story, and cautious about how the lead character would come across. I knew, because I was scared, that this was the best version of the short to make…"
🎙️ Dive deeper into the making of Squash with our exclusive interview with writer/director Ruhi Radke
directorsnotes.com/2026/04/29/ruhi-radke-squash
👉 Follow Us for More Short Film Greatness:
Newsletter: directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Instagram: instagram.com/directorsnotes
Podcast: pod.link/192507317
// Credits //
CAST
Zoya: Shubhangi Kuchibhotla
Guy: Brendan Lin
CREW
Writer & Director: Ruhi Radke
Producers: Hayley Ulmer & Ruhi Radke
Assistant Director: Rachel Debolski
DP: Anh Vu
1st AC: Jane Yang
Gaffer: Rutuja Sawant
Grip: Bri Fronczak
DIT: Gokul Pann
Production Designer: Abe Chan
Intimacy Coordinator: Brooke Haney
Sound Mixers: Teresa-Esmerelda Sanchez & Maximilian Arias
Composer: Hannah Lipton
Editors: Kim Su & Ruhi Radke
Colorist: Kim Su
Sound Designer: Wren Haven
PA's: Gioia Kelleher & Misha Han
ABOUT DIRECTORS NOTES
Since 2006 Directors Notes has curated the world's best independent films alongside exclusive daily deep dive interviews which provide behind the scenes insights into the inspirations and production stories of the most talented filmmakers on the planet.
#firsttime #drama #dating #comedy #shortfilm
