Heated Rivalry Adapts the Book’s Sex Scenes Beat by Beat

Jacob Tierney emphasizes that the decision to avoid showing full frontal nudity in Heated Rivalry was his own. Crave, the Canadian streaming service that launched his popular series, gave him complete creative freedom to adapt the second book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series – six steamy romance novels set in professional hockey. Tierney, known for the sitcoms Letterkenny and Shoresy, didn’t want the hassle of using props, and he didn’t believe nudity was necessary for the scenes. He explains, “These scenes are about the intimacy, not just seeing nudity.” For this show, the emotional connection is the sex, and the sex drives the plot.

The series Heated Rivalry charts the eight-year competition and secret relationship between professional hockey captains Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. Initially, their connection is primarily physical, with sex scenes serving as a key element of the story and character development. According to creator Tierney, these intimate moments are how the characters communicate. The show distinguishes itself through its meticulous attention to detail, with scenes closely adapted from the source novel, including specific gestures and physical interactions. Tierney explains that adapting an erotic novel requires precision, much like a choreographed dance or a hockey game – it demands practice, careful camera work, and physical commitment.

Working on this project, we really wanted to handle the intimate scenes with respect and care, so Tierney brought in Chala Hunter – I’d actually worked with her years ago in Montreal! She was amazing, practically on set every single day. She didn’t just choreograph things, she really felt what the actors were going through, adjusting things on the fly. As she put it, she was almost acting alongside them! Her role wasn’t about taking control, but about supporting Williams and Storrie and letting their natural chemistry shine, even in the most sensitive moments. It was actually really funny – they’d be right in the middle of setting up a scene and one of them would ask something like, ‘Is my pelvis okay? Can you see my sock?’ – those socks became their little joke! And Chala would just reassure them, ‘You’re good!’ Or maybe give a tiny adjustment, like ‘Drop your hip an inch.’ It was a really collaborative and comfortable environment.

As we get closer to the finale, I was reading how the director, Tierney, and Hunter approached the intimate scenes in Heated Rivalry. Hunter said the whole production was a genuinely happy experience, and it’s amazing when actors can really surprise you – and themselves! She was recalling a moment from the final episode, ‘The Cottage,’ where one of the actors, Storrie, did something so unexpected that Hunter actually had to walk away from the monitors because she was laughing so hard. She emphasized how incredibly bold the actors were and how much of themselves they brought to these characters. They were constantly saying things like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe they’re actually doing that!’ It sounds like a really collaborative and exciting set.

Prep: “Is there anything you don’t want the camera to see?”

Hunter explains that she and Jacob quickly decided to be very detailed and accurate in their work. She carefully reviewed each scene of Tierney’s scripts, creating a large spreadsheet to track every instance of nudity or intimacy. Her goal was to portray queer sex – particularly gay male sex – in a way that felt genuine and respectful to the community.

Unlike some directors who allow actors freedom on set, Tierney came prepared with a detailed plan for every scene. Hunter explains that Tierney had specific dialogue and actions mapped out. She discussed each scene individually with the actors, reading the script and asking for their input on how it would look when filmed. Because there was so much to cover with Williams and Storrie, these discussions took multiple long sessions. Tierney made a point of presenting her vision neutrally, avoiding any pressure. For example, she might indicate a shot type – “This will likely be a wide shot” – and then openly discuss boundaries, asking about comfort levels with nudity and what angles they preferred.

The production team dedicated a day to rehearsals, where Hunter, Tierney, Williams, and Storrie carefully planned each scene, experimenting with actor placement and camera setups. Hunter describes this process as similar to choreographing a stunt, explaining that she maps out the movements, considers everyone’s comfort and boundaries, and makes logistical decisions – like when to close the set or provide clothing for sensitive scenes. “We do all this preparation and communication so that when filming begins, everyone understands what to do and the actors can focus on their performance.”

The first shower encounter: “You get so wrinkly.”

Before their first season, Shane and Ilya begin a sexual relationship. This is established with a provocative scene filmed for the show. While shooting a commercial, the competitive pair find themselves openly noticing each other’s bodies in the locker room showers. Ilya begins to masturbate, and Shane watches, feeling both aroused and uneasy. The director, Hunter, emphasizes the practical challenges of filming a shower scene, noting the long filming time and the resulting discomfort for the actors. To ensure privacy and respect, the set was closed to all but essential crew members, who maintained a comfortable temperature and had towels and robes readily available. Monitors were carefully controlled to prevent accidental viewing, and phones and cameras were prohibited. Access to the footage was also limited to protect the actors’ privacy. A special modesty garment, sourced from Covvier, was used, but it kept filling with water, requiring the actors to frequently squeeze it out – a surprisingly comical aspect of the shoot.

Hunter described the scene’s movements as carefully planned, like a stage fight. To portray Ilya’s actions, director Storrie focused on a specific point on the actor’s body to ensure the movements were precise and controlled. According to Hunter, it’s similar to throwing a punch and then hitting another part of your body to create a sound – all while considering how the actor’s entire body reacts, including their breathing, gaze, and the position of other actors. The goal is to create a physical performance that translates effectively on camera and conveys what’s happening to the audience.

The first hotel hookup: “Now your thumb goes in his mouth.”

Following a brief encounter where Shane stops Ilya in the shower, Ilya asks for Shane’s room number. That night, they connect for the first time in Shane’s hotel room, marking Shane’s first sexual experience with another man. While every moment of the film’s longest sex scene was planned, actor Jacob Tierney made one unscripted choice: he kept Shane’s socks on. According to director Hunter, this detail wasn’t directed, but wasn’t discouraged either. The progression of Shane and Ilya’s intimate moments was crucial to the story, and Hunter felt that any deviation from the script felt unnatural. Jacob’s interpretation of the scene was ultimately considered correct.

Hunter carefully worked through the nine-minute scene with Williams and Storrie, discussing each moment as they practiced. She recalls everyone collaborating on the physical details: “We’d say things like, ‘Now put your thumb in his mouth, now kiss, now take off his shirt, and now go to your knees.'” Once the actors learned the choreography, Hunter believed it felt more natural and intuitive for them. “Then they could relax and fully commit to the scene.”

The rooftop: “Does this kind of kissing make sense?”

Throughout the first season, Shane and Ilya reconnect physically after their initial encounter, but a planned intimate meeting is interrupted by a snowstorm. After Shane wins an award in Las Vegas, he discovers Ilya upset on a rooftop. They argue—Shane thinks it’s about the award, but Ilya is actually worried about having to return to Russia—and their disagreement leads to a heated kiss.

Fans appreciate Hunter’s work in creating believable moments. She focuses on ensuring any intimate scenes, like kissing, feel natural to the story. She constantly asks herself if the level of intimacy matches what the characters are feeling. For example, if it’s early in a relationship, she’ll make sure the actors don’t seem too comfortable with each other, even if they’ve been filming for weeks. She might point out if a kiss feels too familiar for where the characters are in their journey.

The penetration: “You wanna watch them douche?”

I get why some people are asking about the details of Shane and Ilya’s first time together in episode two, ‘Olympians,’ but honestly, it’s a TV show, not a documentary! The creator, Tierney, has explained that we’re not meant to see everything. Do we really need to see Shane preparing for that moment in graphic detail? He’s skipping over those private, less interesting parts to focus on the story, and I totally support that decision. It’s about the emotional connection, not a play-by-play of every single step.

The scene needed to feel deeply vulnerable. To achieve this, the director, Tierney, and the actors, Hunter and Williams/Storrie, carefully explored the imagined physical sensations of their characters, building on each feeling to create a shared understanding. Tierney openly discussed these sensations, giving the actors a common ground for portraying what their characters were experiencing. As Tierney explains, he made a point of not assuming any prior experience from the actors, stating, “I don’t care what you’ve done.” He preferred to verbalize potential feelings, for example, saying, “In my experience, the first time you’re penetrated feels like this.”

Williams and Storrie then collaborated with Hunter to clearly communicate each physical sensation to the audience. According to Tierney, Hunter would explain things like, “When I touch your thigh like this, it indicates a certain level of intimacy.” They essentially developed a unique system of nonverbal communication for the scene.

Even though the script often shows Ilya directing Shane – like telling him to lie down – Hunter emphasizes that the actor has the final say in how those moments are played. She and Storrie discussed how to portray a character who is both in control and caring. Hunter explains that this comes across through physical choices – whether a character is gentle or forceful, moves quickly or slowly, or how they express affection. It all depends on the actor’s emotional goal and how they choose to show it.

The Vegas hotel room: “We had to do a lot of underwear throwing.”

Filming the intimate scene between Shane and Ilya in “Olympians” was a big moment for everyone involved, even though their characters had a history of hooking up in the show. It was the first time the series filmed a scene of that nature, so creating a comfortable and appropriate atmosphere for the actors was a priority, as Hunter explains. It was a significant experience for the whole team.

The biggest challenge, according to Hunter, was making sure the actors’ modesty coverings stayed hidden – particularly during a scene where Shane did a front roll across the bed. She says Hudson Leibel had to be incredibly athletic for the shot. “I remember coaching him on exactly how to move his body – keeping a leg and hip down, and pressing close to the bed – so we wouldn’t see anything we shouldn’t,” she explains. Getting the underwear toss right was also difficult. “Imagine being nearly naked in front of a whole crew, trying to act natural while repeatedly throwing something to the exact same spot, over and over, for different camera angles,” Hunter says. “We did a lot of takes of that underwear throw.”

Hunter draws a parallel between the technical challenges of filming and a specific scene in the episode “Rose.” In that scene, Sophie Nélisse, who plays Rose Landry, had to perfectly time dropping her dress so it fell just right. She then had to walk up a staircase wearing a modesty garment while the camera followed, a difficult feat Hunter praised. “It wasn’t easy,” he said, acknowledging Nélisse’s skill and effort.

The couch: “It gave the whole crew the feels.”

In the episode “Rose,” Shane and Ilya become intimate after sharing a tuna melt, which changes their dynamic. Previously, these competitive hockey players only referred to each other by their last names. However, during their encounter on Ilya’s couch, as their connection deepens, they begin to use each other’s first names for the first time.

Working through the technical challenges of filming intimate scenes – like figuring out how to realistically show a character performing a personal act – sometimes led to funny moments, but also strong emotions among the cast and crew. Hunter recalls the whole team being deeply moved. “We were all so invested in the characters,” she explains. “Hearing them use each other’s names felt significant – it showed their amazing connection and that they were genuinely developing feelings. That made the scenes both incredibly appealing and also really sad.”

2025-12-18 23:57