- 2 days ago
HOT DRAMA 2026
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:03Hudson Williams
00:10and Connor Story
00:18Congratulations
00:19Thank you
00:22I mean, I was listening, watching the audience reactions
00:27They were squealing, panting, laughing at all the right times
00:33Okay, if you're panting at the wrong time, see a doctor
00:37And if you're laughing at the wrong times, ouch
00:42Jacob, I'm going to start with you
00:44So you listened to Rachel Reed's Game Changers series on audiobook
00:51Then you reached out to acquire the rights
00:56I did
00:56I followed her on Instagram
00:58I slid into her DMs
01:00I followed her on Instagram
01:01She followed me back
01:02And then we started chatting
01:04So from then to now
01:06You wanting to adapt the book
01:09To now
01:10How does it feel?
01:11How are you?
01:12You good?
01:13Great, I'm good
01:13Are you good?
01:14Yes, I feel good
01:15It's great
01:16Yeah, it's crazy
01:20This show
01:21That was three summers ago
01:24How does math work?
01:25That was the first season of The Traitors
01:29That's how I can remember it
01:31I was on set on season one of The Traitors Canada
01:33So it was two summers ago
01:34And that's when I followed Rachel on Instagram
01:38So in TV language
01:40That is like lightning speed
01:42It's very, very, very fast
01:44And I am very happy
01:49I'm very tired
01:50And I'm very overwhelmed
01:52So what was it about Shane and Ilya's story
01:56Holonov that made you want to start here?
01:59I mean
02:01It's the
02:02I mean
02:03I love the books
02:05I love them all
02:05Rachel, you know I do
02:07And Heated Rivalry
02:09It's the iconic one
02:11And I think it's the iconic one for a reason
02:14It doesn't follow a lot of the normal tropes of a romance novel
02:20And they're
02:22I mean, Rachel's writing is so good in general
02:24But these characters are so well written
02:27They're so alive
02:28They're funny
02:29Their dynamic is interesting
02:31You care about them
02:32And then fundamentally
02:33There's something incredibly sweet about the fact that they meet when they're rookies
02:38And the whole show, spoilers, takes place over eight years
02:42And it's like
02:43It's this long, smutty love story
02:46But ultimately they're each other's first love
02:49Which is ultimately really sweet
02:51And very conservative
02:53And very romantic
02:54And I like that
02:55Let me come back to the smutty in a minute
02:59Hudson, let's talk about Shane
03:00He is, between the two characters, more reserved
03:03And in the book, you know
03:06We learn about him through the inner monologue, right?
03:08The expectations placed on him
03:10His worries
03:12His frustration
03:12So how did you bring all that emotion to life from the page?
03:18A good director
03:19A good writer
03:20I think it came down to
03:25I think letting the fans in
03:27It started with Jacob's scripts
03:28And that was a lot
03:30Clearly he was always going through something
03:32And then reading the book
03:34He means shade, not me
03:37Yeah, clearly Jacob was always going through something
03:40It was always a new thing on sad new neuroses
03:42And he'd just take it out on us
03:44I hate it here
03:45No, no
03:47But then Rachel also
03:50Her book
03:51Like gave so much more inner monologue
03:53That I wasn't thinking when I read those scenes
03:55In the script
03:56And then I made the great choice to go on Twitter
04:00And Reddit
04:00And everywhere
04:01Just to get everyone's opinion on Shane
04:04Because I wanted to bring it all in
04:07And then they had so many opinions
04:09And so many ideas
04:11Of what he was going through in these moments
04:13And what he was thinking
04:14And how he must have felt
04:15And so
04:16At first I was like
04:17Fuck
04:18Sorry
04:19Do I choose one of these?
04:20And then I never did
04:22And it was always so many things rattling around in my brain
04:26And I never made a choice
04:28And hopefully
04:29It just worked
04:31And if it didn't
04:33I'm so sorry
04:35Yeah
04:36That's my answer
04:39Connor
04:40Ilya's
04:42Charismatic
04:44He has a more
04:46His charismatic
04:47And like assertive exterior
04:49Kind of conceals a vulnerability
04:51So what was it that clicked for you
04:54In understanding who he is?
04:56Understanding who he is
04:57Underneath the sort of exterior
04:59However you want to interpret that question
05:01And whether or not you went on Reddit too
05:03I don't know
05:04Yeah
05:04I did not
05:08No I mean honestly
05:09It was very
05:10His character is pretty straightforward for me actually
05:13If you look at his circumstances
05:15Based on
05:16Not only heated rivalry
05:17But also long game
05:18But we'll stick to heated rivalry
05:20His background is so specific
05:23That you kind of can't help
05:24But have a really distinct idea
05:26Of what that person looks like
05:27You know
05:28Coming from Russia
05:30Being secretly bisexual
05:32Or you know
05:33And having already
05:35Come to terms with that
05:37Having you know
05:38A shitty brother
05:40Having a
05:41You know
05:42Dead mom
05:43Having an Alzheimer's ridden father
05:45Being a professional hockey player
05:47Like it's all so specific
05:48That you kind of can't help
05:49But
05:51I don't know
05:52Have an idea of what that must feel like
05:53And what that must be like
05:54So I think the pressure's just on
05:56And he kind of
05:56Runs from it
05:57With that exterior
05:59You both do such a great job
06:02Playing your respective characters
06:03But then of course
06:05It's the chemistry
06:06Between Shane and Iliad
06:08I mean
06:09I believed every finger touch
06:12Every kiss
06:18I told you
06:19Only when we're paying you
06:22You don't get it for free
06:23You don't get it for free
06:25I'm sure everyone else here did too
06:28Every charged gaze
06:31All of that
06:32So how did you build this relationship
06:36Off screen
06:37To bring it on screen
06:40To this point
06:41We've gotten this question a lot
06:44I know
06:44And I want to hear it again
06:46Yeah
06:46And I think that
06:47Every time I answer it
06:49I'm just
06:49It's the same thing
06:50Like
06:51And it just makes me realize it even more
06:53I mean
06:54I think we just have very compatible energies
06:56And I think we're both very bold
06:59And kind of
06:59We're game to get
07:01Like intimate
07:02And vulnerable
07:03And get two inches
07:04From each other's face
07:05And we're both comfortable with that
07:07And when you have someone
07:08Who matches that energy
07:09It just becomes
07:09You know
07:10Even more kinetic
07:12Yeah
07:12Match our freak
07:13Match our freak
07:14And I also think
07:16We just have
07:17An ability to look like fools
07:19And try a bunch of things
07:20That Jacob hates
07:22And I think a lot of that
07:24Is like
07:24Just giving options
07:25You know
07:26Just try this
07:27Try that
07:27You know
07:28Give like Shane a nervous tick
07:30And then
07:30He's like
07:31We'll leave that
07:31On the editing room floor
07:32And then just
07:33All shaped up
07:34Nice and dandy
07:35But we have that ability
07:37Thank you
07:37To
07:38Thank you for hearing it
07:40To just try stuff
07:40He loves it
07:42I know you know
07:44The fans of this book
07:46Are very intense
07:47About this book
07:49And this
07:51Relationship
07:53And they're
07:53They care very much
07:55About signature scenes
07:57Tuna melt
07:59Tuna melt
07:59Russian phone call
08:01Confession scene
08:02All of that
08:04It's all gonna be there
08:04So
08:06Was there a scene
08:07In particular
08:08Jacob
08:09That you were most
08:10Excited to tackle
08:11Or more nervous
08:12Or
08:14Whatever
08:16I haven't answered
08:17This version of this yet
08:18You know
08:18What was exciting
08:19For me to write
08:20Was
08:22The scene on the phone
08:23From Russia
08:24Because
08:24It's not
08:25Kind of
08:26It's
08:27I mean obviously
08:28It's in the book
08:28But it's not written
08:29What he's actually saying
08:30So I wrote him
08:31A whole
08:32Fucking very long
08:35Monologue
08:36And
08:36And that was fun
08:37It was really fun
08:39To do that
08:39It was fun to
08:41Add more Svetlana
08:43It was kind of fun
08:43To help build
08:44A bit more
08:45Of the world out
08:47I took great pleasure
08:49In that
08:49While I hope
08:50And think honoring
08:51The like
08:51The spirit of the
08:52The story
08:54I was
08:54Very aware
08:55Of the tuna mount
08:56I was very aware
08:58Of the cottage
09:01I was
09:01There's a lot
09:02That I mean
09:03Yeah
09:03Like
09:04They're big moments
09:04For me too
09:05I'm a fan
09:05Like I wanted
09:06To do them
09:06To do them all
09:07I mean a lot of them
09:08Are in that
09:09Like
09:09That
09:10The Vegas rooftop
09:11Is like
09:11Huge
09:13And
09:14So is that
09:15Shower
09:15So
09:16I mean there's so much
09:17That is like
09:18So
09:18I mean
09:19That's what's so great
09:20About this book
09:20Is that
09:21It kind of
09:22Hops from these
09:22Incredibly memorable scenes
09:24To another
09:25Incredibly memorable scene
09:27Hudson and Connor
09:28Is there a scene
09:29That you predict
09:30Fans will
09:30Lose it over
09:32Once it airs
09:34I'm very bad
09:35At gauging that now
09:37Because
09:37Like recently
09:38The gym scene
09:40Was released
09:40I was like
09:41Oh that's pretty tame
09:42People might just be like
09:43Oh that's cute
09:44But they just
09:45Were feral
09:46And frothing
09:46About them
09:47And so I am just
09:49A horrible
09:50Horrible gauge
09:51For everything
09:52Clearly
09:54But hopefully
09:54All of it
09:55I hope
09:55I just you know
09:56I'm trying to think
09:57Of other iconic moments
09:58From the book
09:59That
10:00Will become
10:01That'll come to life
10:02Like that
10:02Like highlight points
10:04Oh I hope
10:05The scene
10:06Can I spoil
10:07The scene
10:10Does it spoil anything
10:12There is a whole
10:14Book out there
10:15No it's fine
10:15I like
10:16But there are
10:17Things that
10:17Yeah yeah
10:18I think you're
10:19Talking about
10:19The scene
10:21Before
10:22This Vegas hotel room
10:23In the bathroom
10:25Yep
10:25That's the one
10:26Do you mean
10:27Yes it is
10:27Yeah
10:28Yeah that's a great scene
10:29I like this scene
10:30That's an episode too
10:31And I hope it
10:32Makes them
10:33I don't
10:34I don't know
10:34What we're talking about
10:35After you guys present
10:37Oh yeah
10:40There's a
10:41There's a
10:42Like a hard to find
10:43Vodka involved
10:44Yes
10:44Yes
10:45Later
10:45No I mean
10:46That scene's great
10:46That seems great
10:47That's in Vegas right
10:48Very long
10:49The scene
10:50Before though
10:51That's like
10:52When they're discussed
10:53When they have a
10:53They kind of have a fight
10:54Post awards
10:55A fight
10:55So it's not that
10:57Hot and heavy
10:58But it's
10:59It's hot and heavy
11:00Yeah
11:04You are
11:05The stars of the show
11:07But of course
11:08It wouldn't be complete
11:10Without your colleagues
11:11Without your co-stars
11:12A few of them
11:13Are here
11:14Tonight right
11:14Dylan Walsh
11:16Dylan Walsh
11:16Oh my god
11:18Senya Daniella
11:20We have so many other
11:21One
11:21Callan Potters here
11:23With Hayden
11:25I know he matters a lot to you
11:28And we have
11:29Not with us
11:30Sophie Nellis
11:31Who plays Rose
11:32And Francois Arnault
11:33Obviously plays Scott Hunter
11:35And all kinds of
11:36Other brilliant
11:37Talented actors
11:38All over the place
11:39And yeah
11:40It's a great cast
11:41We were very lucky
11:45No
11:45Was there
11:47No I don't want you to
11:48Wait
11:48What were you supposed to say that
11:50Was there a question in there
11:51I wanted you to talk about
11:52Your co-stars
11:53And working with the ensemble cast
11:55And what that meant to you
11:56Oh it was fantastic
11:58I
12:00It was
12:01And I think
12:02Just you know
12:03You haven't met these people
12:05They're playing
12:06People you need to have chemistry with
12:08They already come in
12:09With this kind of expectation
12:10Of a relationship
12:12And I think
12:13I was sort of
12:15Overwhelmed
12:16By just everyone
12:16Having the best attitude
12:19And just being so friendly
12:20And really
12:23Careful
12:24With their characters
12:26And the text
12:27And they really cared
12:28None of it felt like
12:29They were just kind of
12:29Showing up
12:30To do a paycheck
12:31Or something
12:32They were
12:33They were in it
12:34To win it
12:35And we were both in
12:36We were both in
12:37Very new circumstances
12:38I mean me
12:39Not speaking Russian
12:40And not playing hockey
12:42Hudson also not playing hockey
12:43It was really great
12:44Because we
12:45Also can't speak Russian
12:46Fun fun
12:47But can speak Russian
12:48I can do Russian
12:49Давай
12:51That's
12:52Nope
12:52That's my thing
12:56But I mean
12:57We were in a lot of scenarios
12:58Where
12:59You know
12:59We're kind of
13:01Out there
13:01And we really need
13:02Some help and assistance
13:02And it was great
13:03I mean
13:04Alexei
13:05My brother is here
13:08Also
13:09Dania
13:10Who plays Svetlana
13:11Like I mean
13:12It was just great
13:13To have people
13:13Who actually know
13:14And they were so
13:15Incredibly supportive
13:16And that was so
13:17Nerve wracking
13:17Everyone who helped us
13:19Do all things hockey
13:21Were so supportive
13:22Like it's so scary
13:24To show up
13:24And like
13:25Not look like an idiot
13:26And then look like an idiot
13:29And someone be like
13:29You don't look that bad
13:31It's like
13:32Is a really great experience
13:34On and editing around you
13:36Looking like an idiot
13:37Hearing your director
13:39Saying that he had to edit
13:40Around you
13:41You know
13:41There's a lot of
13:42Hurtful possibilities
13:43They did a very good job
13:44With the hockey
13:45I think we should also
13:46I don't know
13:47Even if she made it tonight
13:48But our intimacy coordinator
13:50Taylor
13:50She is here
13:51I saw her
13:52Where is she
13:52Taylor
13:53That's nice
13:54A hero
13:58A hero
13:59This show
14:00Would not have been
14:00What it was without her
14:01And just made it
14:03An enormous
14:04There's obviously
14:05I mean this was
14:06Essentially a full time job
14:07For Jill
14:08As you can imagine
14:08She was there
14:09Almost every day
14:12And we
14:14The way that that
14:15You know
14:16That was something
14:17Frankly
14:18I'm just inventing
14:19My own questions now
14:20Alini
14:20Sorry
14:20My next question
14:22Was about getting
14:22Smutty and horny
14:23So let's jump
14:24Tell me about the horny
14:25I've never shot
14:26A lot
14:27I've shot sex scenes before
14:28As a director
14:29And as an actor
14:30But to this extent
14:32And this elaborate
14:33And this volume
14:34Where it was such a part
14:35Of the language of the show
14:36And we rehearsed them
14:38At the very beginning
14:39Of the
14:40But
14:40With Chayla
14:41But then
14:42Having her there
14:43And her input
14:44It was
14:45It was
14:47It just
14:48She helped us all
14:50Have a language
14:50Where we could just
14:51Become so comfortable
14:52With it
14:52And
14:53Obviously
14:54As you can imagine
14:54By the end
14:55It was like
14:56Oh my god
14:56Put on a robe
14:57Like they're so
14:58They're too comfortable
14:59Like the nudity stuff
15:01Is also for the crew
15:02Like you have to put on clothes
15:05And
15:05But like
15:07The level of facilitation
15:09And
15:10What it gave us
15:13We have to do so much
15:14With the sex in the show
15:15Because this sex
15:16Is about character
15:17Their connection changes
15:19They start off so young
15:20They get to be 25
15:21They realize they're in love
15:22Like that
15:23The sex can't be static
15:24And it's boring
15:25We all love smut
15:27But like
15:27It's boring
15:29If it's the same thing
15:29Over and over again
15:30You don't want to see that
15:31You want to see something different
15:32You want it to feel different
15:33To have a different level
15:34Of engagement
15:35You really are learning
15:36About this relationship
15:37Through it
15:37So to have Chayla
15:39As an ally
15:39As a
15:40As a guide
15:41Throughout this
15:42Was just amazing
15:43And I know that
15:44The boys loved her too
15:45Thank you for your work
15:47Thank you for your work
15:48Thank you for your work
15:48Thank you for your work
15:51My husband thanks you
15:52For your work
15:57Is he also watching the show
16:00And he's like
16:01So
16:04Listen
16:04He introduced you
16:05It's not about me
16:06But here's how I'll sell the show
16:08To people
16:08He dropped me off
16:10At the train station
16:10This morning
16:11And I was like
16:12I am so excited
16:13Tonight
16:14Fucking going to moderate
16:16This gay
16:17Hot romance show
16:18And
16:19I'm so horny about it
16:21And he was like
16:23Show me a scene
16:23I showed him a scene
16:25And he was like
16:26Alright
16:28He was like
16:29I'm coming on the train
16:30And he was like
16:32Can't wait for you to get home
16:33And I'm like
16:34You better wait up
16:37Anyway
16:38Alright
16:39So
16:40Thank you for
16:41That's the right answer
16:42I'm acknowledging my
16:43Smutty and horny
16:45Jacob
16:47Switching gears a little bit
16:48No
16:50Please
16:53You said in a recent interview
16:55That it was really
16:56That you wanted to maintain
16:58Shane Hollander's
16:59Cultural identity
17:00Yeah of course
17:01That you did not want
17:02To whitewash this character
17:03In this sport
17:04Can you talk about
17:06Why that was important to you?
17:08Yeah
17:09I mean
17:09I guess
17:10Kind of for me
17:11For the obvious reasons
17:12There are not a lot of
17:15There are not a lot of people
17:16Who are not white in the NHL
17:18And
17:19There are
17:20Not a lot of
17:21People who are not
17:22White as leads in romances
17:24Either
17:25And so
17:26That was a huge part of it
17:27And I think it's
17:28A lot about
17:29I think
17:30It's
17:31It's a lot about
17:32Shane's personality
17:33Is that he
17:35Is this kind of outsider
17:37And I think
17:37There's something very interesting
17:39That happens
17:40When you read a book
17:41And your character's name
17:42Is Shane Hollander
17:43That your brain
17:44Can whitewash him
17:45In a really easy way
17:46And
17:46There was never
17:47A question to me
17:48Like this character
17:49Had to be
17:50Asian
17:51And
17:51I think it just
17:52Brings something
17:54Much more interesting
17:55To the story
17:56Besides just honoring
17:56What's in the book
17:57I mean like
17:58It was never a question
17:58Because it's in the book
17:59Like I wouldn't question
18:00That period
18:01But then I also
18:03Wanted to
18:04And we talked about this
18:05I wanted to address it
18:06Like I wanted him
18:07To talk about it
18:07A little bit
18:08Because
18:08There aren't
18:10Besides
18:11And this show
18:12Is not Nick Suzuki
18:13Fan fiction
18:14Rachel Reed
18:15Will tell you that
18:16Though
18:17And it's not
18:18It was published
18:19Before he was
18:19The captain of the Habs
18:20But like
18:21The fact that
18:21There is a half
18:23Asian captain
18:23Of the Montreal
18:24Hockey team right now
18:25Aside
18:26There are not that
18:27Many Asian characters
18:28There are many
18:29Asian players
18:29In hockey
18:30And so
18:31I thought like
18:32That is
18:32It just makes
18:33The whole thing
18:33More interesting
18:34And yeah
18:36It would be
18:36Monstrous
18:37Just to make
18:38Him white
18:39Well
18:40As you said
18:41Yeah
18:41A confession
18:42I'll tell you something
18:44Admit it to you
18:45Okay
18:45When I was reading
18:45We're just chatting now
18:46Right
18:46No when I was reading
18:47The book
18:48Even though I am
18:49Of East Asian background
18:50Yeah
18:51Shane Hollander
18:52In my mind
18:53Right
18:54Was not Asian
18:55Yeah
18:56Even as an
18:57East Asian person
18:58Yeah
18:58So I really
18:59Appreciate this effort
19:00And so
19:01To you Hudson
19:01What does it mean
19:02To you
19:03Coming from
19:04Your background
19:05To be able to
19:06Play this character
19:07In this story
19:07That so many people
19:08Are going to see
19:09It means a lot
19:12My mom told me
19:13At one point
19:14That when I wanted
19:15I told her
19:16I was going to be
19:16An actor
19:16She said
19:18It scared her
19:19Because
19:20She thought
19:21Her being
19:22An Asian lady
19:23That it would
19:24Kind of limit
19:25My possibilities
19:25For roles
19:26I could get
19:27Because she hadn't
19:27Really seen
19:29People like her
19:32On the screen
19:33And then when I
19:34Booked a role
19:35Due to
19:35The fact
19:36There was a
19:37Prerequisite
19:37That I am
19:39Half Asian
19:40I think it just
19:42Made her see
19:45That things are
19:45Changing
19:45And there are
19:46New possibilities
19:47So that really
19:48Felt amazing
19:50Yeah
19:55Connor
19:58The majority
19:59Of the fans
20:00Of this book
20:01Are women
20:03And queer
20:04And this show
20:05Serves that audience
20:08Prioritizes
20:08That audience
20:09As a part
20:10Of this
20:11Team
20:13How do you feel
20:15To be
20:15Part of a show
20:17That prioritizes
20:19An audience
20:19That is often
20:20Neglected
20:21Underserved
20:23How do I
20:23How do I feel
20:24Doing that
20:25You personally
20:25Yeah
20:25Yeah I mean
20:26I
20:28I've said this
20:29Before
20:29I feel like
20:30Getting into
20:33Niche
20:34Specific
20:35Human experiences
20:35Whether
20:37It's
20:37Shane
20:38Being
20:39You know
20:40Half Asian
20:40Or
20:41Ilya
20:41Being a foreigner
20:42Both of them
20:43Being queer
20:44I think getting
20:45Into these
20:46Really
20:47Niche
20:48Specific
20:48Human experiences
20:49Actually really
20:50Give you
20:51A chance
20:52To open up
20:52And let people
20:53Connect
20:53You know
20:54If it was
20:54Super generic
20:55Then it's kind
20:56Of like
20:56It's so vanilla
20:57That there's
20:58Kind of nothing
20:59To stick
20:59You know
21:00I was really
21:00Surprised when
21:01I found out
21:02That most of
21:03The demographics
21:03Of people who
21:05Love Rachel's
21:06Books
21:06Are predominantly
21:08Women
21:09Because I think
21:10On the surface
21:10You would think
21:11You know
21:11M.M.
21:12Romance
21:12And you would
21:12Think men
21:14I think
21:15I think those
21:16Two communities
21:17Just really relate
21:19To the feeling
21:19Of being
21:21I'm in a box
21:22That box says
21:23I can be
21:24A, B, or C
21:25And I feel
21:26Capable
21:27Of more than that
21:28And I think
21:28These two characters
21:29Feel that way
21:30You know
21:30Living in the gray
21:31On some level
21:32Feeling like
21:32What's expected
21:33Of me
21:34What the world
21:34Wants from me
21:35And what I am
21:36Are not
21:36Always cohesive
21:37So
21:38And I definitely
21:39Relate to that too
21:40You know
21:40So it feels
21:41Very good
21:41To be in that
21:43Conversation
21:43It's also just
21:44Way more
21:44Interesting
21:45To I think
21:46Appeal to that
21:48Than
21:48You know
21:49Middle
21:50Middle
21:50Middle America
21:52Or something
21:52You know
21:53This ain't
21:54The Taylor
21:55Sheridan universe
21:56Thank you
21:59I guess
22:00But I do
22:00Have a show
22:01Called Landman
22:04It's gonna be
22:05Landman
22:06Oilman
22:06Truckman
22:07It's so filthy
22:08You mentioned
22:10MM Fiction
22:10Right
22:11Huge
22:11On TikTok
22:12A book talk
22:14Sorry
22:14BL
22:15Boys Love
22:16Is exploding
22:17In popularity
22:18In the eastern
22:20Markets
22:20In broadcast
22:21But we haven't
22:23Seen
22:24Shows
22:25The books
22:26Yes
22:27But the shows
22:28In the western
22:29Market
22:29Really take off
22:30You are leading
22:31A movement
22:32You are
22:32I agree
22:34No
22:35I think
22:36I think
22:37That what we've
22:37Seen is a lot
22:38Of it skewing
22:39YA
22:39In the west
22:40Right
22:40And I think
22:41I've said this
22:41A bunch of times
22:42Like I would love
22:44To be a gay
22:4414 year old
22:46Or 15 year old
22:46Now like to have
22:47To have grown up
22:48With heart stopper
22:49And young royals
22:50And all these
22:50Like they're wonderful
22:51They're also
22:52For young people
22:54So they're sexually
22:55Neutered
22:55And I think
22:56That this is
22:57That for grown ups
22:59Because we get
23:00To have our fun too
23:02And as cool as it is
23:03To wait six episodes
23:04For people to hold
23:05Hands
23:05It's also fun
23:06To watch them bang
23:07You know
23:11We do that
23:12Bang
23:14Bang
23:14Bang
23:14Bang
23:15Okay
23:15Yeah so that's
23:16What this show
23:17But I think
23:17That like
23:18I think that
23:19That's the
23:19That's the part
23:20That besides
23:23Happy endings
23:24That's what
23:25Gay people
23:25Really don't get
23:26I didn't mean it
23:27That way
23:28I get it
23:29I hear it
23:30But like
23:31Yeah we don't
23:32Get happy endings
23:32And we don't
23:33Get to see
23:33Ourselves have
23:34Satisfying sex
23:35We get like
23:37Kind of like
23:38Dirty secret
23:39Trysts
23:40And then we get
23:40It's like
23:41You know
23:41That was the joy
23:43Of this show
23:44To me
23:44And of Rachel's books
23:45And getting to
23:46Explore this world
23:47Was just that
23:47This is just
23:49A complete love story
23:50About two people
23:51Who
23:52Yeah who are
23:54Obsessed with each other
23:55And can't stop fucking
23:56And realize they're in love
23:58Fucking is great
23:59Agreed
24:00Amen
24:01All right
24:02We have three minutes left
24:04So we're gonna do
24:04A lightning round
24:05Ready
24:05It's just one pop song
24:08Okay ready
24:08Who breaks character first
24:10What was the question
24:11Who breaks character first
24:13Hudson
24:13Hudson
24:14I'm always in character
24:15You don't get to say that
24:17Who's most like their character
24:21Sophie
24:22Sophie
24:22Sophie
24:23Yes
24:26Not Francois
24:31Okay so
24:34Lightning round
24:35Yes
24:36Lightning
24:36Shane and Ilya's couple
24:37Name is
24:38Holonov
24:38No it's Shalia
24:39It's a Holonov
24:41Oh
24:41Shalia
24:44Or Holonov
24:46I won
24:48I won
24:49Shalia is
24:52No
24:52No
24:53Okay
24:54Shalia sounds like
24:55A thing you have
24:57Guys I think I have Shalia
24:59Um so
25:00How do we combine
25:02Connor's story
25:02And Hudson Williams
25:03What are we
25:05Con stories
25:05No
25:06Uh
25:07Yeah
25:07Hudner
25:08No
25:08Con
25:09Hudcon
25:10That's the front
25:12Of both of them
25:13That doesn't make any sense
25:15Well y'all decide
25:16I'm not gonna shit myself
25:18Hudson
25:19Hudson
25:20No
25:20Hudson
25:21Hudson
25:21Hudson
25:22Willie
25:25This is your idea
25:26This is a thing
25:27I'm asking
25:28Okay
25:28What was it
25:29Hudcon
25:30Hudcon
25:32Hudcon
25:32We didn't agree to that
25:34We're at Hudcon 5
25:38What is Shane and Ilya's theme song?
25:43I really want
25:47I really want
25:49Ilya at some point
25:50To sing
25:51That tattoo song
25:53Remember
25:58It's a Russian
25:59It's like a lesbian Russian group
26:01They're super sick
26:02Tattoo T-A-T-U
26:03T-A-T-U
26:06I think we'll do that
26:07Just collectively
26:08For both of us
26:09You get a say
26:09Yeah
26:10It's up
26:10Literally
26:10It's my say
26:11It's up to me
26:13They don't get a say
26:14Right
26:15Well say
26:16I think when you have seen the show
26:18You'll see there are some featured songs
26:20And I would guess that it is between
26:22My Moon My Man by Feist
26:25And I'll Believe in Anything
26:27By Wolf Parade
26:28Okay that's cute
26:29I'll take this one
26:30I'm thinking the Rocky theme song maybe
26:32Gonna fly now
26:34You know
26:35I think it could score everything
26:37I would do anything for love
26:38But I won't do that
26:39Me and love
26:40I don't
26:41Yeah
26:44Which castmate would be the worst
26:46In an actual hockey fight?
26:49François Reneau
26:52Worst meaning do the most damage
26:53Or lose the hardest
26:56However you want to answer that
26:57Hudson used to do MMA right?
27:00Yeah
27:01So Hudson used to do MMA
27:02So he would win
27:03Yeah
27:04I would cry
27:05Yeah
27:06François would run
27:08Also cry?
27:09Yeah
27:09And then François and I would cry together
27:11And have a competition over that
27:14And cry harder
27:15Okay before I let you go
27:17Final question
27:17You heard what Justin Stockman said earlier
27:19There are more books
27:20Yeah
27:22So have you been thinking about more?
27:25How far along are you on the more?
27:28You've shot every single one
27:30Not as far
27:30I'll tell you what I'm not
27:31Have you been to the scene?
27:33I'm not as far as
27:33Justin would like me to be
27:35So uh
27:36But
27:39Listen
27:39If
27:40If
27:40Literally Justin wants more seasons
27:43That's up to
27:44Yeah
27:44Yeah
27:44Fuck yeah
27:45Let's do it
27:45We
27:46Yes I do have a plan
27:47I have a plan
27:47I have a plan
27:48Okay
27:49Help us make that happen
27:51Remember
27:52Heated Rivalry premieres on Crave
27:55On Friday
27:55Tell everyone
27:57I know you've seen it
27:58But watch it again
27:59On social media
28:00All of that
28:01There's two episodes on Friday
28:02And then episodes as of next Friday
28:04Tell everyone
28:05Who will
28:06Like I did with my husband
28:09Tell everyone
28:09Tell Lainey's husband
28:11Remind him where she is
28:14Tell everyone
28:15Thank you
28:15All of you
28:16Thank you
28:16Congratulations
28:20Thank you
28:22Remember to tell everyone
28:23On Crave
28:24Heated Rivalry
28:25Friday
28:26Thank you
28:26Good night
28:31And
28:34Say it everybody
28:36Hot Hot Story
28:56Oh and Rachel
29:16Well yeah
29:17Rachel
29:18I want to start with you
29:28So how did this start
29:31With you
29:32The books of the show
29:34The books
29:36It started with me
29:37At my dining room table
29:38Just getting struck
29:39With
29:39I don't know
29:40Just these two characters
29:41Just appeared in my head
29:42And I just immediately
29:43Sat down
29:44And wrote what
29:45Became the prologue
29:46Of the book
29:46In one sitting
29:48So
29:48And then it just
29:49Went from there
29:50And are you
29:51A hockey fan
29:52Yes
29:54Okay it starts there
29:57Very very young
29:58Yeah
29:59And
30:01The relationship
30:02Between the two guys
30:03Was that just
30:05Something that
30:05Popped into your head
30:07Yeah
30:07I just
30:08Thought it would be funny
30:14Okay so
30:14That's when I
30:15As a comedy writer
30:18Read it
30:19And was like
30:19Oh fuck
30:20This is a sitcom
30:22It's a rock
30:24So I was sitting
30:26Over there
30:26And
30:28That group of girls
30:30I really do want
30:32To know though
30:33What is it
30:34Because
30:34Watching this
30:36You guys
30:38It's
30:38Better than
30:39Fifty Shades of Grey
30:40For you guys
30:40This is
30:42This is huge
30:42And I actually
30:43I'm not gonna ask
30:44Any questions
30:45Of the audience
30:45But I do need to know
30:46Will one person
30:47Here tell me
30:48What it is about
30:50This
30:50That really
30:52Makes
30:55Just human connection
30:56Is really important
30:57Especially like
30:58For queer people
30:59Yeah
31:00It's just like
31:00That connection
31:01Is so important
31:12What I'm interested in
31:14Is because
31:15It's hot
31:15And it's two guys
31:17And
31:18It's just
31:19It is so hot
31:21For you guys
31:21You are embarrassed
31:23You are like
31:25I like
31:26I'm slapping myself
31:27Because I haven't
31:28Shove myself up
31:33No I couldn't
31:34I couldn't
31:34I was
31:35Over there
31:35Okay
31:36But I want to ask you
31:37So when did this
31:39Come into your life
31:41So
31:41Yeah
31:42So during the pandemic
31:43I started listening to Audible
31:45And this was one of the
31:46First books
31:47I mean that's true
31:48I'm a big reader
31:49And I never listen to Audible
31:50And a friend would be like
31:50You listen to podcasts
31:52And I couldn't read
31:53Nobody else remembers this
31:54I could not finish a book
31:56I was like
31:56Why is my attention span
31:57So short
31:58So I started listening
31:59And the first thing I did
32:00Was listen to these books
32:01And I loved them
32:02And then I did a
32:04Pretty big deep dive
32:05Into the genre
32:06In which I discovered
32:08That
32:08I was writing some of these
32:10Are
32:11Rachel's a real writer
32:12And her books are funny
32:14And smart
32:15And genuine
32:16And
32:17The connections between
32:18The characters are real
32:19I agree with you
32:20Like there's something
32:20And not
32:22You know
32:22Romance is a largely
32:25Uncritically
32:26Reviewed genre
32:28And so to learn
32:29What's good at it
32:29You just have to
32:30Kind of listen
32:30Or read
32:31You have to
32:31Participate in it
32:32And I listen to a lot
32:34And I can never
32:34Shake the books
32:36I love them
32:36And then
32:37As I kind of
32:39Saw them get a bit
32:39More into the mainstream
32:41It was really
32:42I feel like
32:43I was going to spend time
32:43This Washington Post article
32:44And I was just like
32:45Oh my god
32:46If somebody else
32:47Options these
32:48I think I'll feel crazy
32:49And so I was like
32:50Brendan
32:51Brady
32:52Sitting there
32:53Who deserves a lot
32:54Of credit for this
33:02What we like to say now
33:03Is we were trying to be
33:05Like a low budget
33:06Comedy company
33:07And then we turned
33:08Into a premium
33:09Smut company
33:12I like our origin story
33:15I'm assuming it's a villain arc
33:17I'm really excited
33:19So I would think
33:20And gay sex
33:22Would be like
33:23Snakes on a plane
33:24To sell
33:25Like people would want this
33:26Was it that easy
33:28For you guys
33:29To get this made?
33:30Legendary
33:31Hits
33:31We used to be roommates
33:41Yes
33:41No
33:42You know what
33:43I had no idea
33:43We had no idea
33:44Like here's the thing
33:45It happened
33:46I knew these books
33:47Were popular
33:47I loved them
33:48I had no idea
33:50Prior to that
33:51Washington Post article
33:51I was not sure
33:52It was adaptable
33:53There's
33:54You've noticed
33:55Not a lot of sex
33:57And
33:57But I did
33:58But like
34:01I did
34:01But what happened
34:02Was
34:03We didn't
34:03I knew
34:04I was like
34:04I'm going to write
34:05The first one
34:05In that way
34:06I'm going to use
34:06This as a proven concept
34:07Because I don't
34:08I don't know
34:09People are going to
34:09I'm going to get
34:10Exacts to read this book
34:11And as soon as
34:12We started talking
34:13About it though
34:13Brennan and I
34:14We would tell
34:15We were like
34:15Oh we're not ready
34:17This isn't ready yet
34:18But we have
34:18We optioned this
34:19Serious gay
34:20Hockey romances
34:21The level of like
34:23Sorry
34:23What did you say?
34:24The level of like
34:25Leaning in
34:26Was pretty extraordinary
34:27And then
34:28It didn't
34:29It did not
34:30Take long
34:30It was way
34:31Easier than I
34:32Thought it would be
34:33That being said
34:34It was quite
34:35Difficult
34:36Initially
34:37We had another
34:38We had an adventure
34:39With another company
34:40And
34:42It was the
34:44But the question
34:45I was
34:45You know
34:46I was kind of nervous
34:47With Crave too
34:47Was just like
34:48You say you want this
34:50But do you
34:51Like
34:51Do you want this
34:52In theory
34:53And then when you
34:54See the scripts
34:55You start seeing the footage
34:56You're like
34:56Oh
34:57That's more than
34:58We thought
34:59We were getting
35:00For this
35:01And Crave
35:02They've been amazing
35:03The entire way through
35:04But
35:05So once it was
35:06Once it happened
35:07And Crave was replaced
35:08But I'd done other TV shows
35:09That I did Larry Kenny with
35:10And so I knew
35:11All these people
35:12And
35:13But it was a departure
35:14And it was a big swing
35:15For them
35:15Because they don't
35:17Yeah
35:17Because they
35:17They also just don't
35:19They're only recently
35:20Starting to do
35:20One or more dramas
35:21At all
35:22And so this was
35:23A big swing
35:24In a lot of ways
35:26I think it worked
35:29So
35:30I want to know
35:31About how
35:32You found
35:35Your boys
35:37Because
35:38I feel like
35:39That chemistry
35:39So
35:40Then I'm going to
35:40Okay
35:41So I want to
35:41You know what
35:42I'm looking at
35:43You've chopped enough
35:45I do want to know
35:46What the casting process
35:47Was like
35:48For both of you
35:49Did you
35:50Maybe
35:51Too long
35:52Too long
35:54And it was
35:54Gone out
35:55There was like
35:56But
35:57And it was
35:58Very
35:59Straightforward
35:59Besides
36:00When you read the script
36:01Was that
36:02Straightforward
36:02Like just
36:03You're a Wednesday
36:06Yeah
36:06I think immediately
36:07As soon as I read the script
36:08I kind of just
36:09Fell in love with it
36:10Or at least
36:10Besides it got sent
36:11Immediately
36:12It sort of
36:13Made sense to me
36:14In a way
36:16And
36:16I just wanted to do it
36:18And get my hands dirty
36:19And just
36:20Jump all the way in there
36:22And never stop
36:24And Connor
36:25I think for me
36:26Is this working
36:27I always had like
36:28An adjustment period
36:29Where I'm like
36:29How loud
36:30Can I hear
36:31Yeah
36:33I remember
36:34I remember
36:35The original
36:36Breakdown
36:37It was like
36:386'3
36:39Russian
36:40Bisexual
36:41Hockey player
36:43And I was like
36:44I'm not 6'3
36:47I don't speak Russian
36:51And
36:51Yeah
36:52So I was like
36:52I'm never gonna get this
36:54This isn't gonna happen
36:55I did it
36:56Heard back a month later
36:57And
36:57Did like
36:58Three
36:58Three reads
37:00In the
37:01Because when I first saw this
37:05I really
37:06Did not believe
37:07You were not Russian
37:08There you go
37:09I love that
37:09The first iteration of it
37:12That I did
37:13Was a little bit more like
37:15This is how it works!
37:18That's not true.
37:19I just threw them out!
37:23And Jake was like, I love it.
37:28Last change.
37:29A fun story about Connor's audition.
37:31A friend of ours, a bunch of ours up here, Sarah Gatton, a wonderful actress who did the voiceover for
37:37the Rookie of the Year Award.
37:40She watched a bunch of the tapes and she loved Connor so much.
37:44This was before Hudson had even auditioned.
37:46And she said to me, she was like, we have to cast the Russian one.
37:49I was like, that one's not Russian.
37:53So you fooled her.
37:55And the boob began.
37:59Well, the chemistry between them is palpable.
38:03And like so much so that you saw before, I can't not think of you guys as Shane and Ilya.
38:08Like I refuse to know your names properly.
38:13That was a choice.
38:15But how did you, cause this feels like a tall order to be able to find these guys.
38:19So how, what was that search like for you?
38:23When they did a chemistry read, it was very obvious.
38:26And full disclosure, the chemistry was stacked for them.
38:29And it worked.
38:31And then the network was concerned that they were too young.
38:35And we had another, I think they did another like take together where I was like,
38:41I was like, I don't even know what this note, imagine getting this note.
38:43I was like, I don't know what this note means, but play it like you're 30.
38:49All stupid fucking things to say.
38:51And I was like, play it like you're a bit more tired.
38:54And you don't want to play it.
38:56I think it sounds like a chore.
38:5980 seconds.
39:00Do this or...
39:03A bit more of that energy.
39:05And it worked.
39:05And it worked.
39:06But yeah, your chemistry read was amazing.
39:08From the...
39:09From the...
39:09Like, and...
39:10Yeah, it was just very, it became very clear.
39:13At least to me, very quickly.
39:15Right.
39:16Um, Francois.
39:18Yeah.
39:19Francois, who I believe is one of the greatest actors we have in this country.
39:29What I love so much is that, so I've seen all of this and...
39:34You don't know what's coming.
39:35It's amazing.
39:35You might, actually, because you've got the books.
39:38But, um...
39:39But what I love is when your little, like, little thumbnail up there showed.
39:43Those girls are like, please.
39:46So, um, how did you become involved in this?
39:52Um...
39:53Thank you, Emily.
39:54Of course, this isn't working.
39:55Turn it off.
39:56No.
39:57I don't think it is.
40:00Um, no, it's not.
40:01Yeah.
40:03Uh, thank you, Emily.
40:04Um, well, I've known Jacob for, we were counting earlier, 17 years now.
40:09Um, and when he gave me the call for this, I was unaware of the Rachel Reed game universe.
40:16Yeah.
40:16Um, and, uh, I know that Scott Hunter now is a beloved character.
40:23Um, but there was something to the writing, and I know you only have, like, a tiny little tease of
40:32it, but there's something in the writing of this, um, like, alpha-strong Captain America male, uh, that is just
40:42profoundly good.
40:44Uh, and that there's something that really moved me, and there's, um, the words that Jacob found to express that
40:52range so true, uh, that I was, I just felt like I, I had to save him at one point.
40:59Um, and, um, I'm just so glad to be in such good company.
41:03I'm so proud of you for it.
41:06I, I did hear from a source that you wanted to dye your hair bleach blonde for this, and was
41:13that just a character choice, or?
41:15Well, the character is blonde with blue eyes in the books, and I knew I was gonna get shit.
41:20From the fandom.
41:21And I was also blonde, I had just, you know, the thing is, I had dyed my hair blonde for
41:25another movie.
41:26And I was like, can we just use this mic? I was kinda tired.
41:29Uh, and Jacob was like, no.
41:32So I'm a little auburn.
41:36Um, Rachel, when, just, so having something of yours adapted, um, what was that process like, on a, kind of,
41:46day-to-day basis?
41:48What, like, an emotional role?
41:49Well, like, seeing somebody interpret what you've done.
41:53Yeah.
41:54Jacob, this is not, I don't do this every day.
41:58Ever.
42:00It, it was an absolute dream from the very first moment that I, I spoke to Jacob the first time.
42:07I, like, cause you laid out exactly everything that was important about the books and the characters,
42:12that you just got them right away.
42:13So, I never worried again after that.
42:17Cause, you know, not everybody gets, um, a dream adaptation, and gets to be this included,
42:24and gets to be this respected, having their source material respected this much.
42:29And, I don't know.
42:31I don't know.
42:31Just thank you.
42:32I don't know.
42:39You saw it.
42:41You saw it.
42:42That's what it's like.
42:43It's crazy.
42:46Um, I know that Brandon is there and not here, but if he was here, would we talk about the
42:53sale to HBO?
42:54Yeah.
42:55Yeah, we would.
42:56Can you say it in French?
42:59Oh, yeah.
43:00Uh, yeah, yeah.
43:01Uh, ben, je vais vous dire premièrement merci beaucoup d'être venu, tous les amis.
43:08Le Végean de Francis le Frey, évidemment, el moublage pour, ça vous voulez, écouter comme ça.
43:14And the last thing is that we're really super excited to be bought by HBO.
43:21It's a dream for us, to be on the zones like that in the United States.
43:26It's something super special, of course.
43:29And I'm just saying in French, they were super happy that HBO bought the show.
43:35For all the reasons I think it's just as exciting for us, it's fucking crazy.
43:39And we're so excited that it's happening at the same time as in Canada and of course our Australian friends.
43:46I knew it as soon as I read it that it would sell worldwide and it would be the same
43:50thing.
43:55And if you don't trust the master.
44:02No, the whole thing has been, you know, overwhelming.
44:04And I know there's a lot of fans here and really, we owe so much of this to you.
44:11You know, we, Brendan and I, sold this show.
44:14We were like, oh, there's fans.
44:17They're gonna show up.
44:19And we were like, I don't know, there's no obvious roadmap.
44:24And I certainly never felt anything like what it's like to be supported by you guys.
44:31Rachel tried to warn me.
44:34But it's, yeah, it's just been absolutely crazy.
44:37And we, I don't, I have, you know, people have asked me, they're like, did the fans bring this up?
44:41I don't know, is the answer?
44:42I don't know.
44:42But I know it did not hurt.
44:46That was amazing.
44:46And it was amazing for everybody to see online.
44:49But like, wow, there's a vocal and active group of people that want to see the show.
44:54And so that's, it's, that's crazy.
44:56And it's amazing.
44:57And it's very gratifying.
44:59Speaking to the fact that, I, I, I, what I want to wrap this up with one, one small question.
45:06So the sex scenes, um, yes.
45:12So they were really fucking hot.
45:15Like, really hot.
45:17And how was that, I don't want to ask you, how was that on set?
45:24Uh, to, to kind of, you're going to get asked this a lot later on.
45:29So I'm just prepping you.
45:31This is practice.
45:31Um, maybe just speak like, I will stand where you stand where you stand where you stand where you stand.
45:37You know.
45:38Okay.
45:39To be honest, like, I don't think Hudson and I are very squeamish or weird about any of that.
45:45So, I mean, it's one of those things where, you know, someone else is uncomfortable or, you know, has a
45:50different way to think about things or has certain boundaries that need to be respected, you know, it's no boundaries.
45:56Yeah.
45:57Then it becomes, then it becomes a dance, right?
45:59Like, you know, you're always kind of being like, is this okay?
46:02Is this okay?
46:03Is this okay?
46:03We kind of, from the jump, with Jacob and Chaylor, our intimacy coordinator, were like, I was like, you can
46:09do whatever you want to me, however you want to me.
46:13And it was kind of vice versa.
46:15And so, yeah.
46:17If that makes any sense.
46:19I was like, I'll do anything.
46:21Here we go.
46:22Let's get in there.
46:33Let's get in there.
46:34What else is, because that was fascinating.
46:37The record, we took a, we, they are both very comfortable.
46:42This show would not be what it is without these two and without the particular chemistry that they have and
46:47their comfort level with each other, which was amazing.
46:51Um, and also a great reminder that some of the on-set nudity stuff is actually about the crew.
46:56So when you say things like, Hudson, you have to wear a robe.
46:58You can't just walk around like that, walking around, because it's hot in the hotel room or whatever.
47:05Uh, it was a living experience for all of us.
47:07In some ways.
47:09Right?
47:09You remember that.
47:10It was so much fun to be in my little ballerina slipper.
47:13I loved his little pouch.
47:15It was like, I kept so many of them.
47:20Yeah.
47:20Yeah.
47:21Yeah.
47:22But we did.
47:24We did have a wonderful intimacy coordinator, Anib J. Lava Hunter, who really, I mean, she was incredible.
47:31And we just performed very seriously.
47:34We tried to choreograph these next scenes like dances, so that we were just going through beats and motions, so
47:38that we could allow for, much like a dance, for like the connect-
47:41You don't have to think about the next movement.
47:43You can just think about the connection and do that.
47:45Because that was always, you know, the language of this show, what the fans love, what I love too, is
47:50that like, this is a sexual relationship.
47:52And so we can't shy away from that.
47:54But we also have to make sure that these sex scenes are not just gratuitous sex scenes.
47:58We're learning about these guys.
47:59And we're learning about their relationship.
48:01And so it's quite important that they be very specific.
48:03And without specificity, it's not interesting.
48:05It's just like a mess of bodies.
48:07And you can see that anywhere, you know?
48:09It's not sexy either.
48:10It's not sexy without that.
48:11And it is so-
48:12That's intimacy.
48:14Intimacy.
48:15I know I'm not good at intimacy, but this is inspiring.
48:21So, and thank you all for making this.
48:26Thank you guys.
48:27That's incredible.
48:34Thank you to everyone here at Imaginacion.
48:38Thank you to Emily for coming into doing this and being amazing at it.
48:46And thank you to everyone that's here at Crave, Mexin, and this whole team.
48:50We really appreciate everything from Crave Quebec.
48:53Thank you so much.
48:54And thank you guys for coming tonight.
48:56We appreciate you.
48:57Okay beautiful and welcome.
48:58That's your time.
48:59You, you bow your head.
49:01Your beard man.
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