Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/23/26 –Â Sometimes the most unexpected encounters lead to the most extraordinary connections. In First Date, filmmakers Ashley Crowe and Will Crouse take audiences on a colorful, emotionally revealing journey through the unpredictable landscape of modern romance, where two women discover that falling in love can be every bit as exhilarating, and terrifying, as a psychedelic trip.
Written and directed by Ashley Crowe and Will Crouse, First Date stars Crowe as Ameesha and Alex Nolen as Jori, two women who meet at a bar, discover an undeniable spark, and decide to take an unexpected leap together, by dropping acid. What follows is a romantic, psychedelic romp filled with laughter, vulnerability, and unexpected emotional revelations.
The 16-minute short film screened at the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival on October 17, introducing audiences to a love story that is simultaneously unconventional and remarkably relatable.
Their encounter begins with a playful “muffin” joke, and Ameesha quickly captures Jori’s adorable curiosity. Drinks lead to shadow dancing and arcade games before the two find themselves in a bathroom contemplating a rather unconventional decision: Should they drop acid?
“It’s like being a kid again,” Jori explains to Ameesha, who has never tried it. “Colors move, there’s lights, and little things are funny.”
Oh, and one small detail Jori mentions only after they’ve taken the drugs:
“It lasts like 10 hours.”
As night turns into morning, their LSD-inspired adventure takes them on a whimsical nature walk that gradually evolves into intimate conversations about life, love, and the fears that accompany both.
“Do you ever get scared?”
“I’m scared all the time.”
For a fleeting moment, everything feels magical, spiritual, and wonderfully limitless. Two strangers become deeply connected, allowing themselves to experience something extraordinary.
And then, just like that, it’s over.
Total ghosting.
We watch Ameesha’s anguish as she stares at her phone, waiting for a message from Jori, who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Days pass, and the excitement of their unforgettable encounter gives way to confusion, disappointment, and heartbreak.
Then, finally, Jori resurfaces with an unexpected explanation for her disappearance.
“What if I’m in love with you?”
Ameesha may be relieved to hear those words, but she’s understandably protective of her heart.
“I can’t do hot and cold.”
Jori, however, seems ready to take another chance.
“I just wanna be hot.”
And perhaps the most romantic suggestion of all comes without psychedelic adventures or grand declarations:
“Maybe we can just go on a real first date, you, me, and some tacos?”
While the story may appear to be a whimsical exploration of romance under the influence of LSD, its origins are deeply personal.
In an interview with The Hollywood Times, Crowe and Crouse revealed that their creative partnership began almost seven years ago while working on Crouse’s earlier project, The Reception.
“We both met working on Will’s project The Reception, in which Ashley had a small role alongside Alex Nolan as two wedding guests turned potential love interests, ‘Amesha’ and ‘Jori.’ We hit it off and became friends working on the project,” the filmmakers explained.
Crouse had already been considering a romance centered on two people experimenting with LSD when an unexpected conversation helped transform that idea into something much more meaningful.
“Will wanted to make a romance film around two people doing LSD and one day when he and Ashley were hanging out, Ashley shared with him her first experience being romantically involved with a woman.”
A few weeks later, Crouse had begun writing the screenplay.
“Ash was like, ‘Wait, this is like my life.’ That was almost seven years ago, and we’ve been working on it together since.”
Although the film is not strictly autobiographical, the filmmakers acknowledge that its emotional foundation comes from real experiences.
“It is loosely inspired by moments/seasons in both of our lives.”
That personal connection helps explain why the film’s emotional moments feel so authentic. Beneath the humor, psychedelic visuals, and playful dialogue is a recognizable exploration of what happens when unexpected attraction challenges our assumptions about ourselves and our relationships.
One of the most interesting aspects of First Date is the unusually collaborative relationship between its two creators.
Rather than maintaining strictly defined creative roles throughout production, Crowe and Crouse developed the story together, exchanging ideas and refining its emotional direction over several years.
“We both wrote and directed the film, passing ideas, images and dialogue back and forth for years before shooting,” they explained.
Once cameras began rolling, however, their responsibilities naturally shifted.
“When we finally shot the film Ashley fully dove into acting for the role of Amesha and Will fully dove into directing and running the set.”
Following production, the two reunited creatively in the editing room alongside editor Kat Webber.
“Then, after the filming, we came back together in the editing room alongside our editor Kat Webber for another collaborative experience, dreaming together and slowly molding the footage to what you see today.”
That lengthy development process appears to have served the film well. Rather than simply following two characters through an amusing psychedelic adventure, First Date allows the audience to experience the emotional highs and lows of a connection that develops almost faster than either woman can comprehend.
The result is a story that moves effortlessly between humor, intimacy, uncertainty, and heartbreak.
Despite the nearly seven years spent developing the project, principal photography was completed in just five days. “We filmed in Chicago over the course of five unforgettable days shooting in some Chicago gems including the Bird Sanctuary, Belmont Harbor, and the iconic (now closed) Pink Squirrel.”
These locations contribute significantly to the film’s atmosphere, providing an engaging backdrop for a romance that moves from playful urban encounters to moments of quiet contemplation.
The transition from nightlife to the natural world also mirrors the evolving relationship between Ameesha and Jori. What begins as a spontaneous adventure gradually becomes something far more intimate, with the characters confronting emotional truths that cannot simply be laughed away.
The film’s Chicago setting becomes more than a backdrop; it provides the landscape for an exploration of discovery, vulnerability, and connection.
The chemistry between Crowe and Nolen is central to the film’s success, and according to the filmmakers, that chemistry was apparent long before production began.
Crowe had previously worked with Nolen on a short directed by Crouse, where the two actresses shared a supporting scene.
“They were so good together in those roles, that when the script came together it became obvious we should cast Alex Nolen as Jori. In fact, we wrote the part with Alex in mind.”
For the remaining roles, the production collaborated with Mary Munez, utilized Actors Access, and received additional casting support from Stewart Talent.
The decision to reunite Crowe and Nolen gives First Date an appealing sense of spontaneity. Their exchanges feel natural, and the characters’ growing attraction is conveyed as much through expressions and playful interactions as through dialogue.
That connection becomes particularly important when the relationship takes its unexpected emotional turn.
Beneath its playful premise and psychedelic visuals, First Date offers a tender and surprisingly relatable exploration of modern romance.
It captures the exhilarating uncertainty of meeting someone new, the courage required to reveal our vulnerabilities, and the fear that can make us retreat just when something meaningful begins.
Perhaps the film’s most compelling observation is that falling in love requires a willingness to relinquish control.
Ameesha and Jori may initially believe they are embarking on an adventure defined by a psychedelic experience, but the real transformation comes from the emotional connection they develop.
The drugs eventually wear off. The feelings, however, are not so easily dismissed.
When Jori disappears, the film shifts from whimsical romance to an examination of the emotional consequences of intimacy. Her eventual return forces both characters to consider whether the possibility of love is worth the risk of heartbreak.
It is a question that extends far beyond the experiences of these two women.
What makes this film especially charming is its universality. Regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation, the emotional journey is familiar: curiosity leads to attraction, attraction invites risk, and risk exposes our deepest fears.
Sometimes we run away to protect ourselves, only to discover that what frightens us most may be exactly what our hearts desire.
When asked what they hope audiences take away from First Date, Crowe and Crouse emphasized the importance of embracing life’s unexpected possibilities.
“I hope audiences go on their own trip with the film. Being swept up in new love and new interest is a beautiful experience. I hope we can give our audiences the gift of discovery and finding something new in the unknown.”
That sentiment is at the heart of the film, which invites audiences to celebrate not only romantic attraction but also the courage required to pursue something unfamiliar.
The filmmakers also shared a broader message that speaks to the film’s LGBTQ+ themes while embracing a universal understanding of love.
“It may be trite, but love is love. For anyone to follow its beck and call requires a certain amount of courage.”
They continued:
“Our hope is that audiences of all walks can go on their own trip with the film and get swept up in the rush of taking that leap of faith and engaging in one of life’s most profound experiences, the chance to Love boldly and loudly.”
It is a fitting philosophy for a film that refuses to portray romance as entirely predictable or safe.
Instead, First Date celebrates the beautiful, messy, unpredictable experience of falling in love, and the possibility that something extraordinary can begin with the simplest invitation.
What makes First Date memorable is not simply its unconventional premise but the emotional honesty beneath it.
Crowe and Crouse have created a short film that manages to be funny, romantic, visually imaginative, and genuinely touching without losing sight of the insecurities that accompany new relationships.
The story reminds us that even the most magical encounters can be complicated by fear, uncertainty, and the instinct to protect ourselves from disappointment.
Yet it also suggests that meaningful love often begins when we find the courage to be vulnerable.
The closing invitation to share tacos rather than another psychedelic adventure is especially endearing. After all the excitement, confusion, and emotional turbulence, perhaps what these two women really need is something wonderfully ordinary: an opportunity to get to know each other without running away.
My takeaway? Take the risk. Drop the acid.
Metaphorically speaking, of course.
Sometimes love is the wildest trip of all.
First Date (2026) is a 16-minute LGBTQ+ romantic short film written and directed by Ashley Crowe and Will Crouse, starring Ashley Crowe and Alex Nolen. The film screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 17, 2026.
Additional filmmaker interview responses courtesy of Ashley Crowe and Will Crouse.
