After running into award-winning creators Callum and Cole at an industry event in Amsterdam, Falcon/NakedSword president and CEO Tim Valenti called up Ben Rush in Los Angeles with an idea: to make an international rom-com starring the real-life boyfriends.
“I immediately got to work on the script,” Rush recalls, “We began putting the pieces together, with cast, crew, schedules and locations. We’d just signed Madrid-based superstar Sir Peter as an exclusive performer and wanted him to have a featured role, and Alter Sin, who lives in Barcelona, and I had been wanting to work together for quite some time.”
While we were shooting, Alter Sin and I looked at each other several times, knowing that we were making something really special.
Considering all the moving parts, they decided Spain would be the ideal place to shoot — not to mention, the Grabbys Europe would be happening in Torremolinos around the same time.
“I’d already written that event into the narrative, so being able to have a scene filmed in the actual environment was fantastic,” Rush notes.
The premise, Rush explains, centers on Callum and Cole having just graduated from Oxford University, enjoying a summer of travel and freedom before real life takes over. Their first stop is Barcelona, where out-and-proud Callum sees every situation as a buffet of hot Spanish men. Cole, on the other hand, has not yet come to terms with his sexuality and is tentative about exploring that part of himself.
Sin explains, “Spending time together ultimately brings Cole’s simmering attraction to men to the surface, and he discovers that his feelings for Callum may go well beyond a college friendship.”
The film sets out to be charming, playful and emotionally charged. When it came to casting, that meant that first and foremost they needed two young actors who could turn out emotional and convincing performances, with a presence that could carry the weight of an entire scripted film.
“They appear in absolutely every scene of the movie, which is a lot to shoulder,” Rush says. “Alter Sin and I set up Zoom meetings — Callum and Cole live in the U.K. — to discuss the commitment that would be necessary to pull off this kind of project. Not surprisingly, we were met with amazing enthusiasm and energy.”
Sin lauds how much prep work the duo put in, participating in daily calls to fine-tune their performances before they even landed on set. And then there is the supporting cast.
“We wanted the hottest and most beautiful European men who could also act and would mix well with our U.S.-based models Derek Kage, Drew Valentino and Beau Butler,” he adds.
Filling out the rest of the cast is Dean Young from Ireland, Damon Heart from Belgium, the above-mentioned Sir Peter, Nik Fros, Manuel Reyes, Allen King and Lobo Carreira. Rush describes this combination of talent as “the recipe for NakedSword Original’s next big thing.”
When it came time to capture the scenic and steamy environs of Spain as Callum and Cole embark on their trip, Rush says, Sin’s keen eye and distinct vision made him a force of nature.
“He knocked it out of the park, finding the best places to shoot in Barcelona and Torremolinos,” he recalls. “Whether it was the VIP hotel lobby in which Callum and Cole watch Sir Peter, Allen King and Lobo Carreira engage in a hot and sweaty three-way, or a beloved Spanish cinema, he was integral in making a story with very specific set pieces come to life.
“We also spent a great deal of time around the cities, including historic sites such as La Sagrada Familia and the Arc de Triomf – which I learned was built for Spain’s first international World’s Fair in 1888,” he continues. “The more you know!”
Once the cast and settings were established, Rush says, the entire production of “Heart On” could not have gone more smoothly.
“It was truly a gift,” he says. “I know that sounds corny, but everything went according to schedule, and the cast really nailed it. Working with Alter Sin was a dream come true, and there were so many laughs along the way. One special moment was Cole’s birthday, which was the same day we shot the scene in the movie theater. Sin helped us find one of the best cake shops in Barcelona, and we had a nice afternoon stuffing our faces with some of the most delicious baked goods. If I could capture and save the entire experience, I would be grateful to do it all again.”
Sin is likewise effusive in his praise for how it all turned out, especially given the months spent prepping the film. He says working with top talent from across the world “in one of Europe’s most beautiful countries” was an idyllic experience, and compares watching the completed film to paging through a scrapbook — a testament to the hard work, dedication, talent and new friendships that elevated the production.
Asked to highlight a few standout sexual pairings and performances from the movie, Rush insists that would be impossible. Thanks to the stellar performances by the cast, he says, there is not a single clunker of a scene in “Heart On.”
“Every pairing turned out beautifully, but particularly notable is Callum and Cole’s sensational finale,” Rush says. “I don’t think I’ve ever been witness to that level of intimacy and connectedness. While we were shooting, Alter Sin and I looked at each other several times, knowing that we were making something really special.”
Sin concurs, adding, “It was amazing to see it all culminate in the final scene. Callum and Cole were electric. As a viewer, you can almost feel what you’re watching.”
“Callum and Cole added immensely to the quality of the movie; you would never believe that this is their first studio project, let alone their first scripted endeavor,” Rush marvels.
Both members of the starring duo shared similar excitement and satisfaction over the project.
“From the very beginning, talking about it with Tim, to seeing it come to life in Ben Rush’s script, which was better than I ever imagined; getting to create something so special with the boy I love was an amazing experience,” Callum says. “We also worked very closely with Ben from the start, which helped us deliver our first-ever porn narrative performances. It was also magical to work with Alter Sin and his team and fascinating to see how he creates what he does.”
Cole describes the experience of working with Rush and Sin — being “hooked up with the best team right from the beginning” — as a blessing.
“I loved seeing Ben’s vision come to life in the film,” he says. “Alter Sin was also a pleasure to work with; his creativity speaks for itself. We were honored to work with both of them! In addition, getting to work with Tim Valenti and his team at NakedSword was a wonderful experience. Callum and I are really grateful for the opportunity.”
Another main ingredient in creating sizzling scenes of high-chemistry sex, Rush notes, is ensuring consent.
“Consent is something we take very seriously at Falcon/NakedSword, and we’re always checking in with talent to ensure that they are comfortable and happy during the entirety of every shoot,” Rush says. “Each performer knows who their scene partner will be long before coming to set, and as often as possible, we canvas our models about other performers they’d like to work with. With their participation, we can create pairings that make them happy and, at the same time, light up the screen.”
Even beyond the onscreen chemistry, cast and locales, Rush shares, what makes “Heart On” a standout feature for him is the sheer scope of the production, which he describes as “extremely grand” and “an ambitious undertaking that paid off.”
Sin found it helpful that Valenti was so clear about his vision for the movie. This made the screenwriting easier for Rush, who sat down to create a story that was tender and warm, but also free-spirited and seductive. Sin then brought it to life in ways that fulfilled that vision.
“Sin is masterful at not only pulling standout performances from actors but also capturing sex in a perfectly paced framework and context,” Rush says. “I’d seen his work through the years and always admired his skill and art; I mentioned to Tim every other day that I’d love to have an opportunity to work with and learn from someone so revered in the industry.
“The experience did not disappoint,” he adds. “Together, we organized and executed the shoot seamlessly with a cast and locations that are unparalleled in my experience. Alter Sin pays as much attention to detail as I do — it’s often the little things that elevate a film — which made the partnership even more fruitful and exciting.”
Sin returns the praise in kind.
“Ben and I have similar work ethics and sensibilities, as well as a shared commitment to quality and storytelling,” he says.
After such a creatively invigorating collaboration, the two are already considering what their next collaboration will bring.
“The locations and energy of this project were very inspiring, and we’ve been cooking up some concepts for our follow-up feature,” Sin says.
“We’re looking to start shooting in the fall,” reveals Rush. “Also, the European backdrop was essentially a character in ‘Heart On,’ and I’d like to explore more production opportunities outside of the United States.”
Rush is unequivocal about his plan to stick with the winning formula by continuing to team up with Sin.
“He is stuck with me for life,” Rush says, only half joking. “Whether he likes it or not!”
