Entertainment And Arts

Low-budget film Heated Rivalry achieves unexpected success

A low-budget Canadian production has garnered widespread international attention.

In a dramatic turn of events, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have transitioned from their previous roles as waiters to becoming the main attractions of the highly acclaimed show, Heated Rivalry.

Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie, both wearing tuxedos, embrace on a rooftop in a scene from Heated Rivalry.

Based on a novel by Canadian author Rachel Reid, known for her explicit queer romance novels featuring hockey players, Heated Rivalry explores a clandestine romance between two athletes from rival ice hockey teams.

Despite its current popularity, Heated Rivalry was not initially expected to be a huge success, having been produced in Canada with a relatively low budget of under C$5m per episode. The six-episode series was filmed in Ontario over the course of just over a month, with a cast composed primarily of lesser-known actors.

Since its premiere in North America last November, the show's lead actors, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who portray characters Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, respectively, have garnered a massive following, served as ambassadors prior to the Milan winter Olympics, and made appearances on several late-night television programs.

Connor Storrie is scheduled to host Saturday Night Live later this month, while Hudson Williams, who still resides with his mother in Vancouver, recently shared the stage with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a film industry event in Ottawa.

In a recent conversation with the Shut Up Evan podcast, Williams, who portrays Hollander, discussed the accelerated learning curve she and Connor have experienced, noting that they have had to absorb information typically acquired over five years in just 30 days, according to a conversation she had with one of her agents the previous day.

Since its premiere in November, the show has catapulted its cast and crew to new heights, achieving unprecedented success. The penultimate episode has made history by matching the highest-rated episode on IMDB, a record previously held by Breaking Bad. With the show now streaming globally, including in the UK, its impact on the television industry is likely to be significant.

Jenny Lewis, a casting director responsible for discovering Storrie and Williams, expressed her pride in the actors, saying they feel like "proud mommas" when discussing their findings.

Lewis, who worked in tandem with co-casting director Sara Kay, revealed to the BBC that they had a limited timeframe of just three months to identify the show's leads, further complicated by a detailed and extensive set of requirements.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, wearing a beige fleece sweater with a red Canadian maple leaf on the arm, laughs as he hugs Heated Rivalry actor Hudson Williams, wearing a leather jacket. — A fleece jacket, like the one worn here by Prime Minister Mark Carney, designed for a scene where Hudson Williams' character is at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, will soon be available to buy following a grassroots fan campaign

According to Lewis, the casting process involved a lengthy checklist of specifications, including comfort with sexual content, language proficiency, skating ability, physical attractiveness, and athleticism, among other stipulations.

According to Jacob Tierney, the show's producer, his goal was to ensure the characters stayed true to the original material, given its dedicated fan base. In an interview with Kay and Lewis, Tierney emphasized the importance of fidelity to the source.

Kay noted that finding the right agents for the project was a challenge, but Connor and Hudson stood out for their enthusiasm and willingness to take on the show's unique aspects. As Kay observed, many agents might have been intimidated by the project's scope, but Connor and Hudson were undaunted.

Kay expressed surprise at the public's reaction to the show's leads, stating that she and Lewis did not anticipate the intense excitement and fervor that has surrounded the series. The level of enthusiasm, comparable to that of a pop star's fan base, has been unexpected, Kay admitted.

Show producers Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady have discussed the pressure they faced to modify the show's explicit LGBT romance in order to secure financing. The pair had to navigate these demands while attempting to remain faithful to the original material.

However, Canadian streaming platform Crave, which had previously collaborated with Tierney on projects like Letterkenny and Shoresy, provided the necessary support for Heated Rivalry, allowing the producers to maintain creative control. This decision helped win over the loyal fan base of the books, generating momentum for the show, according to Myles McNutt, an associate professor of media studies at Old Dominion University.

According to Tierney's vision, the goal was to create a remarkably accurate adaptation of the novel, staying true to the original story to an unprecedented degree.

Crave leveraged the existing fan base to generate buzz and secure global distribution partnerships. Anne Rohweder, administrator of the Heated Rivalry Scrapbook fansite, notes that fans were invited to participate in the show's initial promotional efforts.

Connor Storrie, smiling and holding an envelope, wearing a dark suit and tie, and Hudson Williams in a white open necked shirt a white suit coat, on stage at the Golden Globes — Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams received a stars' welcome at the Golden Globes

Rohweder observes that the show's producers seemed genuinely invested in engaging with fans, demonstrating a notable level of attention to their community.

The trailer's widespread popularity prompted international fans to campaign for the series to be picked up by other streaming platforms. This enthusiasm ultimately led to distribution deals with HBO Max in the US and Australia, as well as Sky in the UK and Ireland, with further rollouts planned across Europe.

McNutt comments on the trailer's initial success, stating that it garnered viewership numbers surpassing other content on the platforms, likely making a significant impact on the decision-making process of streaming networks.

Unlike the prevailing trend in the streaming industry, where A-list celebrities often headline big-budget series, this show takes a different approach.

By opting for relatively unknown talent, Lewis and Kay aim to create a new standard for casting in the entertainment industry.

According to Kay, the production team prioritizes acting ability over social media presence, saying they are not concerned with the number of Instagram followers an actor has or their ability to create content on TikTok.

The focus is on finding talented individuals who can deliver strong performances, rather than searching for the next big celebrity.

By adopting this strategy, Kay notes that it is possible to uncover hidden gems who may not have been discovered otherwise, and subsequently launch their careers into the spotlight.

For musician Peter Jones, a solo artist, working on Heated Rivalry marked a significant departure from his usual projects, one that he welcomed as an opportunity to explore new creative avenues.

The score, characterized by its ambient and sonic landscape, has garnered widespread acclaim, with Jones noting that the response has been nothing short of exhilarating, likening it to a intense emotional experience.

In an interview with the BBC, Jones, who performs under the stage name Peter Peter, highlights the crucial role music plays in evoking emotions in the series, revealing that he has been inundated with requests from fans eager to access the score, with hundreds of messages pouring in.

Jones acknowledges that the attention surrounding the show must be overwhelming for its creator, Jacob Tierney, and the cast, but notes that as the composer, he is still able to manage the demand for his work.

Jones describes his experience with the show's success as a unique and unprecedented event in his career, one that has left a lasting impression on him.

Author Rachel Reid has experienced a significant shift in her life, recently sharing with the BBC her initial belief that her books were not suitable for adaptation.

Brendan Brady, Jacob Tierney, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Dylan Walsh, Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, Christina Chang and Rachel Reid stand in a line behind a Heated Rivalry billboard the Toronto premiere — The shows creators and stars, as well as author Rachel Reid, at the Toronto premiere

According to Spotify, Rachel Reid's audiobook collection has seen a substantial 1,500% increase in global listenership since the show premiered. Additionally, her publisher, HarperCollins, reported on Thursday that her series of hockey-themed queer romance stories has achieved remarkable sales. Notably, the original novel reached New York Times bestseller status seven years after its initial release.

Lewis stated that casting decisions for the show's second series, which was promptly commissioned following its immediate success, have not been made yet. However, she expressed hopes that more information will be available later this month, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Canadian talent.

Lewis noted that the creative freedom afforded to productions in Canada, where budgets are often smaller and actors are drawn to projects based on the material, allows for a unique approach to storytelling.

Fans of the show are eagerly anticipating the second series, hoping that it will capture the essence and charm of the first installment.

Caroline Siede, a writer and critic who recently gained attention for her in-depth character analysis of the show, expresses concern that it may be impacted by the pressures of a larger streaming platform.

In an interview with the BBC, Siede notes that the show defies conventional norms, unlike some streaming services, such as Netflix, which often require explicit dialogue to accommodate distracted viewers, including those watching on smaller screens.

According to Siede, the show demands a viewer's full attention, as its nuances are conveyed through subtle cues, including unspoken interactions and dialogue in Russian, making it impossible to fully appreciate while multitasking on social media platforms like TikTok.

Up Next

Prince William’s Saudi Arabia trip poses diplomatic challenges

Don't Miss

Nigerian singer’s death highlights snakebite epidemic

Entertainment And Arts

Major film studios target advanced AI video generation technology

A new AI-powered video editing tool called Seedance has generated clips depicting fictional fights between celebrities, including Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, which have quickly gained widespread online attention.

Social media platforms have been inundated with clips generated using Seedance 2.0, a cutting-edge AI video tool. These clips feature reimagined scenes, such as Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt engaging in a rooftop brawl, or characters from Friends depicted as otters, showcasing the tool's capabilities.

A still from the AI-generated clip of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting — An AI-generated clip of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting has gone viral

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has introduced Seedance, touting it as a means to deliver "an ultra-realistic immersive experience" to users.

The emergence of Seedance has sparked concerns in the entertainment industry, with Rhett Reese, writer of the Deadpool series, expressing his unease, stating that the rise of this technology may signal the end of traditional creative roles.

Many of the clips created using Seedance are based on copyrighted materials, including films and TV shows featuring well-known actors. As a result, major US studios have demanded that the platform immediately stop infringing on their intellectual property rights.

Seedance allows users to generate highly realistic clips from simple text prompts, and users have been creating scenes inspired by popular franchises such as The Lord of the Rings, Seinfeld, and Avengers.

Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, stated that Seedance 2.0 has engaged in widespread unauthorized use of US copyrighted works in a short span, highlighting the need for the platform to respect intellectual property laws.

According to Rivkin, by launching a service without adequate safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding established copyright laws that protect creators' rights and support millions of American jobs.

The MPA has called on ByteDance to cease its infringing activities immediately, emphasizing the need to respect intellectual property rights.

The Motion Picture Association represents prominent US studios, including Netflix, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros Discovery, among others.

TikTok has acknowledged that some videos created using its pre-launch model have been shared, and the company claims to respect intellectual property rights and take potential infringement seriously.

In response to concerns, the company has suspended the ability for users to upload images of real individuals and is working to implement robust policies and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with local regulations.

A review by Forbes noted that Seedance 2.0 offers users a level of creative control similar to that of a human director, enabling them to produce high-quality content without requiring complex production tools.

While many users are excited about the creative possibilities offered by Seedance, Rhett Reese has expressed his concern about the implications of this technology on the entertainment industry.

Reese stated that he is worried about the potential loss of careers for many people in the industry, including his own, as a result of the rise of AI-generated content.

Reese clarified that his initial statement about the impact of Seedance was not meant to be flippant, but rather a genuine expression of his fear about the potential consequences of this technology on the entertainment industry.

Reese believes that the emergence of Seedance could revolutionize the entertainment industry, but also potentially lead to significant job losses, and he is concerned about the impact on his own career and those of his colleagues.

Heather Anne Campbell, a writer for Saturday Night Live and Rick & Morty, has noted that the content generated using Seedance is often similar to fan fiction, and that original ideas are still essential for creating engaging content.

Campbell observed that many users of AI visualization engines like Seedance are using them to create content based on existing franchises, rather than coming up with entirely new ideas.

Campbell suggested that having access to advanced AI tools like Seedance does not necessarily make it easier to create original content, as the hardest part of the creative process is often coming up with new and innovative ideas.

Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards — James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026 — Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

Entertainment And Arts

Bookstore Seeks to Revitalize Romance Genre

In Leamington, a bookstore caters specifically to adults, offering a selection of literature that focuses on the genres of dark romance and romantasy with mature themes.

This weekend, a bookstore claiming to be Europe's largest specialty store for adult romance novels is set to open its doors.

A woman with long blonde hair is wearing a black long sleeved top and is standing in front of shelves of books. — Visiting independent romance bookshops in the US inspired the creation of The Spicy Librarian

With over 2,500 titles in stock, The Spicy Librarian in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, aims to shine a light on various romance sub-genres, providing a welcoming space for book enthusiasts to unwind.

The bookstore's founder, who prefers to remain anonymous, cited her lifelong passion for reading, which began at the age of 14, and her experiences shopping at independent stores in the US as the inspiration behind the venture.

Recounting her visit to an independent romance shop in the US, the founder said, "I spent an hour browsing and left with seven new books, having also made a new friend – it was a truly memorable experience."

The Spicy Librarian has planned a range of events, including monthly book clubs, community nights, and a subscription service featuring works by independent authors.

According to the founder, her goal is to create a sense of familiarity and comfort for customers, making them feel like they've been to the store many times before, even on their first visit.

Ali Maynard-James, a member of the store's team, highlighted the unique nature of their offerings, which differ from traditional romance novels, focusing instead on the "spicy romantasy" and "dark romance" sub-genres.

Two dark-green bookshelves are stocked with books and a green circular rug is placed on wooden floor. There are chairs placed by a window to the left. — The Spicy Librarian has more than 2,500 titles stocked in-store

Maynard-James noted that the characters in these stories are empowered, driving the narrative forward, making their own decisions, and navigating complex worlds, setting them apart from traditional romance protagonists.

She added that readers can relate to the female characters in these stories because they are multidimensional and flawed, reflecting the complexities of real-life individuals.

Indie author J Rose expressed her gratitude for having her work featured in the store, acknowledging that independent authors often lack the recognition afforded to traditionally published writers.

A woman with short blonde hair is wearing a black top and a brown blazer. She is holding a book that says 'Blackwood Institute'. — Author J Rose has "stopped counting" her book releases which happen several times a year

Rose described the experience of having her books in the store as "incredibly fulfilling," knowing that readers are engaging with her work, which she considers pieces of herself.

Rose emphasized the importance of independent bookstores, praising The Spicy Librarian for being "curated by readers, for readers," providing a platform for sharing passions and connecting with like-minded individuals.

Romance novelist Florence Keeling, a Coventry native, writes under her own name, as well as the pen names Charlie Dean and Tanya Mounts, specializing in darker romance material.

A collection of the covers of some of the books written by Florence Keeling, either under her own name or under one of her pen-names Charlie Dean — Florence Keeling writes romance novels under three different names, including spicy romance as Tanya Mounts

With a decade of experience writing romance novels, Keeling has observed a growing interest in the genre, particularly in "spicy" books, as readers become more confident in their preferences.

Keeling attributed her decision to explore the romance genre to a desire to tap into the universal human experiences of affection and connection, saying, "I thought, 'why not give it a try?'"

In her Tanya Mounts series, Keeling focuses on creating strong, older female characters who take charge of their lives, defying traditional romance novel tropes.

These characters, according to Keeling, are not passive or submissive, but rather empowered individuals who drive the narrative forward, taking control of their own lives.