With the six-part series produced by UFA Serial Drama, which is based on an e-book series, TVNOW shows a different program than is often possible on linear TV: Here, viewers are captivated with impressive dance performances and immerse themselves deeply into the lives of the characters in intimate scenes with natural, aesthetic eroticism. Producer and creator Helga Löbel was supported in the project by erotic expert Paulita Pappel, who supervised the filming as Intimacy Coordinator.

In the interview, they both talk about their work and experiences on set:

In addition to themes such as eroticism and sexuality, dancing also plays a central role – why does this go so well together?

Helga Löbel: “When I presented the topic on TVNOW, my first sentence was: ‘Dancing is like sex, only with clothes on’. Anyone who has ever danced (even at a party) knows how quickly we can express emotions with movements and our bodies. The same thing happens during sex. Physicality and emotion connect people in both areas – and where people are connected, there are also stories to tell.”

The actors get really close to each other in the format – how close really? Do they have real sex in front of the camera?

Paulita Pappel: (laughs) “The sex scenes are all simulated sex. That’s exactly the difference to pornography. It’s a depiction of sex, but not reality. In order to make the scenes look authentic, we went beyond the usual visual boundaries.”

To the content of EVEN CLOSER – HAUTNAH:

It’s sizzling in Hamburg! Feli is new to the big city and wants to realize her dream of making it big here. But what is dedicated work on stage leads to big feelings and wild affairs…

Feli (Vivien König) shares a love of dancing, singing and acting with her roommates Lucie (Mareike Zwahr), Klara (Maéva Marie Mathilde Roth), Ben (Hans Gurbig) and Lucie’s boyfriend Nils (Vinzenz Wagner). We accompany them all through their training at the stage and experience how hard they work on their dreams – and at the same time are constantly distracted by them. On her very first evening in the new city, Feli makes a momentous acquaintance at a party: mysterious, sexy and outrageously arrogant, the stranger plays a dangerous game with her…

We are there when Feli, Lucie, Klara, Ben, Nils and Jonas (Lion Wasczyk) – the only flatmate who is pursuing other goals with his medical studies – inhale small and big successes. When they feel their first big, deep loves. When Klara enjoys hot but insignificant sex, Nils is devastated and when Feli realizes that there is one great love.

When they learn to love, when it tingles and they encounter true feelings… then we are EVEN CLOSER – HAUTNAH.

The first three episodes of the series will be available to stream from February 14, 2021, with the remaining episodes available from February 21.