Storytelling, Emotional Continuity, Queer Coding

Storytelling is integral to Intimacy Coordination and Intimacy Coordinators (ICs) are storytellers in our own right. Connor Storrie has mentioned the storytelling aspect of Intimacy Coordination in interviews and how important this is within the making of intimate content. We are artists who come from a range of backgrounds: some of us are, or were, Film Directors, Writers, Producers, Assistant Directors, or other various crew. We might come from Theatre or other Artistic pursuits. We might come from Gender Studies, Queer Studies, Psychology or Counselling fields, Sex Therapy, or Sex Work. There are many fields and skills which are highly valued in Intimacy Coordination. Queer and/or trans ICs are highly sort after in the field as we can offer a different perspective on intimacy and sex through lived-experience.

The reason I have listed Shane and Ilya meeting for the first time at the International Prospect Cup in 2008, even though it’s not a sex scene (a traditional intimate scene), is because it is an emotionally intimate scene and a key scene for an IC to know the ins and outs of in order to understand Ilya and Shane’s relationship. There are the beginning of intimacy here; there is a lot of storytelling even though there isn’t much dialogue and this scene includes what we call foreshadowing (giving hints, clues, or insight into future character developments and actions). There is some beautiful acting from Hudson Willaims (Shane Hollander) and Connor Storrie (Ilya Rozanov).  

One of the key points for me in this scene is that it is queer-coded. Without going into detail about queer coding, you can research it yourself, in short it wasn’t always safe to be gay or bisexual or queer and out/public. It still isn’t always safe even though attitudes and laws have changed a lot over the decades. In order for queer folks to communicate in public spaces or spaces where someone else might see queer people communicated through queer coding. A classic example of this that is still used and discussed by gay and MLM men today is “look then look again” or “the look back”. This is where two men may catch each other’s eye, if they both look back again, this is a first an indication that they both might be gay (or queer). It’s not just the act of looking; it’s the way in which two men are looking at each other. They are using subtext and coding to ask a question and communicate an answer. It’s unlikely a straight man is going to look back at another man in the same way two gay (or queer) men will. This is just one example of queer coding, and it is present in this scene where Shane goes to find Ilya to introduce himself. Ilya is quite gruff and closed off when Shane is introducing himself. Part of this is his Slavic background and childhood trauma (which we find out about in later episodes but is something that would inform how Storrie approaches Ilya’s character development). The other part is that it is not safe to be a queer hockey player in your rookie season, or before your rookie season, in 2008 North America and definitely not 2008 Russia. So, we see a bit of queer coding here. Shane hangs around a bit longer and keeps trying to make conversation. Even though Shane is shy he does keep glancing at Ilya who glances back. There is a wonderfully nuanced shot in this scene where Ilya finally smiles a little. This is the point where Ilya has sussed Shane out and can tell he’s likely queer and possibly attracted to or interested in Ilya. It’s a knowing look from Ilya that gives off an, “I have you,” vibe, when really, it’s when Shane who has Ilya.

We see in the next selection of short scenes how often Ilya watches Shane and how often he puts himself in proximity to Shane. We also see Shane paying attention to Ilya and looking at him, but we don’t see the same intention and focus that we see in Ilya’s behaviour. This culminates in Ilya setting up a photoshoot where he asks to do the shoot with Shane. Not only does Ilya do this but he makes sure he tells Shane he set up the shoot and asked for Shane. Of course, there is the “yeah, but I don’t look pretty” line which initially could be interpreted as rivalled quip or an insult, but this is further foreshadowing and also sets up a pattern which we will see later on in the series. Ilya makes the comment seem ambiguous, but he is genuinely and straightforwardly telling Shane that he thinks he’s attractive. This can be viewed as another example of queer coding, giving a compliment that seems to outsiders as ambiguous or mean/insulting.

All of these seemingly small interactions between Ilya and Shane are crucial in working through the intimate scenes that will quickly follow. This is the foundational text. The fertile soil from which their romance will blossom. Rewatching and paying specific attention to Storrie’s performance in these scenes is really something special. It is nuanced enough to not really register on a first or even second watch but once you see it it’s impossible to ignore. Even though an IC would not need to be present on set for this scene, it would be included in preproduction meetings with the actors (scene partners) and is a foundational scene that an IC would call back to for emotional continuity in future scenes, particularly the first shower scene in the locker room in episode 1.

Paying attention to all these parts of the script and the characters’ performance in these scenes is part of the ICs purview. Scenes are not usually filmed chronologically for film and tv. Depending on what kind of show it is, will depend on when scenes are filmed. Law and Order SVU for example shoots episode by episode. Streaming service shows or limited series usually shoot more like a film with multiple scenes from different episodes being filmed based on location and/or actors’ schedules. This is why the emotional continuity along with the relationship progression is part of the IC’s job.

Now that we have a firm grasp on some of the basics like emotional continuity, character development, foreshadowing, and queer coding, we have a great foundation to dive into the sexier scenes.

Next post will be Ilya and Shane in their first encounter in the locker room showers (ep 1). Followed by their first encounter in Shane’s hotel room (ep 1), Ilya’s hotel room in Nashville (ep 1), and then Shane’s house in Montréal (ep 2).

I’m not entirely sure about my posting schedule. I’ll try to get a few more posts out before work starts getting crazier next week. I might settle into a weekly posting schedule but want to get stuck into the steamy scenes which I know we’re all here for. Love y’all so much for wanting to learn about IC work and this angle of the show.

See y’all at the Cottage!

Amber Rose