Two friends experience a strange phenomenon when their goodbye method evolves from a handshake into a hug.At its core, The Hug is a tender exploration of friendship, masculinity, and the quiet strength found in vulnerability. What begins as a simple, everyday moment between two friends—a casual goodbye—unexpectedly shifts into something profound when their handshake evolves into an unusually long hug. The moment, comical at first, gradually reveals layers of sincerity, offering a touching reflection on the ways we express care and connection.Inspired by a real experience with his own friends, writer-director Drew Kendell channels both humor and heart into the short. With its balance of comedy and emotional resonance, The Hug shines a light on the importance of gratitude, intimacy, and authenticity within male friendships—reminding us that sometimes the simplest gestures can carry the deepest meaning. ADVERTISEMENT(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The idea came from a real-life hug with your friends. At what moment did you realize that this small, funny gesture could become the seed for a short film?My friends and I often joke about turning real-life experiences into sketches or short films. At the time, we had opened up about some of our mental health struggles. I was feeling particularly grateful for my group of friends. I sat with the idea, and it started to marinate and grow into something meaningful.Male vulnerability isn’t often explored on screen in such a simple way. Why do you think hugs — something so ordinary — can feel radical in the right context?I think simple situations that are easily relatable lend themselves to being dramatised. You could pick almost any small moment of vulnerability and, with the right treatment, turn it into something. We’ve all been in a situation where it’s like, ‘Do I go in for the handshake or hug?’ Someone has to take the lead.The film balances humor with sincerity. How did you work to make sure the comedy didn’t undercut the genuine emotional connection at its core?It was definitely a fine line. I think it’s about trying to play everything straight and with sincerity, even if you want there to be humour in it. Audiences seem to respond to it in different ways. Some have laughed throughout, while others haven’t, viewing it through a more serious lens. It’s all about balance; lots of little tonal choices can compound together to determine where it lands on that scale.The premise is deceptively simple — just a hug. What were the challenges of stretching such a minimal concept into a compelling narrative?It was really about breaking it into beats and finding the right dynamic between the characters. Things clicked together when I figured out I wanted the hug to have a ripple effect on the other patrons in the venue. It became a shared experience for everyone.What did you look for when casting the two friends, and how did you guide their performances to capture both the awkwardness and the authenticity of the moment?We did in-person chemistry tests during our auditions and had actors switch up and read for each of the roles. It was really about trying to find a fit that felt honest and genuine. In the lead-up to the shoot, I found it useful to do a number of filmed rehearsals. We ran through some of the camera angles and coverage I had planned so the actors knew where the camera would be and what type of performance was required. The film lent itself to this ‘mock shoot’ approach of rehearsal, since it’s basically a simple moment, stretched out to feel heightened.Real-time rehearsals as a singular scene felt too rudimentary, so we had to hone in on how we were capturing their exchange. By moving the camera around during rehearsal, we were assigning particular importance to certain moments and figuring out the rhythm and beats of the scene.One of the key words on set was ‘gentle’. If something was straying away from the tone we’d established, I’d find myself saying, ‘Remember, gentle boys, nice and gentle. ’Was there improvisation involved in shaping the dynamic between the characters, or was it tightly scripted?The film itself was tightly scripted. The only thing that was improvised was the opening preamble that leads into the start of the film. During rehearsals, we did play with some improvisation and back story to nail down the character dynamics.How do you hope male audiences in particular respond to the film’s message about friendship and vulnerability?I hope it encourages them to be open, lean on each other for support, and feel empowered in sharing their sensitivity.On a broader scale, what do you hope viewers carry with them after watching The Hug?That there’s strength in vulnerability, and simple actions can have a lasting impact.Can you talk about your visual approach — framing, pacing, or shot choices — to make a hug cinematic?I admire filmmakers like Sam Raimi who use inventive shots and angles. I think it was about breaking a hug down into baby steps. What physical motions lead up to the embrace (a hand movement, a swallow, a step forward, etc), and what angles showcased it in the most detailed and effective way. I’m a fan of using wide-angle close-ups, getting the camera right in there, especially during awkward moments so the audience feels what the character is feeling.What are the books, podcasts or even YouTube Channel that you recommend young filmmakers to get their hands on?Books: In The Blink Of An Eye – Walter Murch, Directing Actors – Judith Weston, The Creative Act – Rick Rubin, Into The Woods – John YorkePodcasts: Scriptnotes, Jacob Krueger Write Your ScreenplayYoutube: Lewis PottsCan you share with us some of your favorite short films you’ve seen lately?Two Cents & A Foot Long by Kanin Guntzelman, Shoes Off by Joel Jay Blacker (Watch on FS) and Room Tone by Michael Gabriele.The post The Hug appeared first on Film Shortage.