WATCH THE BIG OLE FREAK – MEGAN THEE STALLION
HEATED RIVALRY EDIT

THE CONCEPT

I had known “Big Ole Freak” by Megan Thee Stallion long before the Heated Rivalry adaptation aired. After reading the novel, I already suspected that if the show translated the chemistry of Shane and Ilya faithfully, there would be enough visual material to pair with that track. The unapologetic sexuality and confidence of the song felt like a good fit for the dynamic between the characters.

Heated Rivalry tells the story of a secret relationship between two professional hockey players navigating queer desire within a hyper-masculine environment. The show treats that relationship with emotional intensity and vulnerability, but the erotic tension between the characters is also a central part of the story.

Instead of framing the relationship through secrecy or conflict, I wanted to highlight desire itself. My goal was to use the physical confidence embodied in Megan Thee Stallion’s music to underline this magnetic pull between the two main characters.

In many ways, the edit reframes the relationship through a more playful lens. In the show, Shane and Ilya’s relationship (especially in the beginning) is often represented as something fragile or risky. The edit instead leans into the bold and sexy nature of the show.

Watch the Long Cut on Twitter/X →

CREATIVE APPROACH

My editing process usually begins in one of two ways: either I start with a visual concept and search for the right music, or I begin with a song and build the entire narrative around it.

For this project, the song came first. As soon as I watched the first two episodes when they first aired in November 2025, I could already imagine specific moments aligning with particular lyrics and the visual structure of the edit unfolded naturally.

When that kind of alignment happens, the editing process becomes very intuitive. Instead of searching for the story, I’m simply translating something I already see clearly in my head.

EDITING STYLE

For Big Ole Freak, the goal was to focus on the lyrics and keep the visuals clean.

Because the text overlays are central to the piece, the editing avoids overly complex transitions or visual tricks that would compete with the words on screen. The rhythm of the song guides each cut, and the selected scenes reinforce the meaning of specific lyrics (for example, when Megan raps “I text him when I’m ready to go,” I used a scene where Shane is texting Ilya specifically about meeting up.)

Typography plays a key role. I often use bold text overlays to emphasize rhythm and narrative, and for this edit I used my usual bright orange type treatment that has become associated with some of my high-energy edits. The color choice complements the aggressive, playful tone of the track and helps anchor the visual identity of the piece.

The final result is an edit with fast cuts, strong lyric emphasis, and visuals that highlight the sexy, playful tone of the song.