A Hamilton residence owned by Monika Rejnowicz, a bridal makeup artist, served as the setting for key scenes in the popular series “Heated Rivalry,” despite being portrayed as a Montreal apartment. Rejnowicz’s home, featuring the iconic orange sectional couch, spiral staircase, and a notable bed, became the on-screen love nest for lead character Shane Hollander. The unexpected transformation of her house into a romantic backdrop amused Rejnowicz, who had previously hosted various film productions but was surprised by the adult nature of this particular love story.
Location scouts approached Rejnowicz in May last year to scout her house for the series, which centers on the clandestine relationship between rival hockey players, portrayed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Following approval from writer-director Jacob Tierney, the production team occupied the residence for approximately five days in June. Rejnowicz mentioned that her family received fair compensation and lodging during the filming period, as is customary for productions utilizing their home for shoots.
“Heated Rivalry” has gained immense popularity since its premiere in November, becoming Crave’s most-viewed original series and a fixture on HBO Max’s top 10 shows in the U.S. Rejnowicz noted that the show’s set design largely incorporated her existing furniture, such as a Mobilia couch and bed with a Sleep Country mattress. Notably, the pile of pillows on the bed, teased by one character in the series, was a addition by the show’s creators. The Montreal skyline visible in the scenes was digitally inserted using CGI effects.
Despite the intimate scenes filmed in her home, Rejnowicz and her husband have no qualms about sleeping in the same bed. She emphasized that the actors were professionals portraying a scripted love story, and the experience was part of the production process. Rejnowicz mentioned receiving numerous inquiries from fans interested in visiting her home, particularly the famous orange couch, and expressed a willingness to potentially host future filming for “Heated Rivalry” if the opportunity arises for a second season.
