Alicia Rodis

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Alicia Rodis is an American intimacy coordinator, director and actress.

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Career

Rodis grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and acted in regional and classical theatre. [1] Growing up, Alicia was often cast in more adult roles. She was aged 15 when she had an on-stage kiss, and faked an orgasm aged 18. She had mixed experiences of adult scenes, with some causing mental distress later. [2]

She moved to New York City in 2008, and became involved with the New York Shakespeare Exchange, becoming the fight director for several productions, and directing a Shakespeare-themed pub crawl in the city. [1] She has also worked with the Yale School of Drama and the Juilliard School. [3] She worked as intimacy coordinator on Season 2 of HBO's The Deuce and was the first such hire by a mainstream television network; demand for intimacy coordinators, who are tasked to ensure the well-being of actors performing in sex scenes or other intimate sequences, rose following the emergence of the Me Too movement in 2017. [4] [5] [6] She was recommended for the role based on her reputation, and her help was described as "a successful, positive, experience". [7]

Intimacy Directors International

Rodis is a founding member of Intimacy Directors International, an organization working towards developing standards of safety and performance for intimacy in film and on stage. [6] Along with her co-founders, Tonia Sina and Siobhan Richardson, she has witnessed inappropriate behavior on set or mishandling during scenes involving close intimacy. [2] [8] Her role is to watch the scenes closely, making notes, and making sure actors are comfortable with the work required, and that nobody is physically or mentally harmed. [9] Rodis has said that there is an increased demand for this type of work. [10] In early 2020, the US actors' union SAG-AFTRA publicized a policy mandating the inclusion of intimacy coordinators. [6]

In 2018, the group performed an exhibition, #MeToo Shakespeare, explaining the importance of Intimacy Choreography. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Meet The Team – Alicia Rodis – Intimacy and Fight Director". New York Shakespeare Exchange. September 8, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 Duberman, Amanda (May 30, 2018). "Meet The 'Intimacy Directors' Who Choreograph Sex Scenes". Huffington Post.
  3. ↑ "Alicia Rodis". Society of American Fight Directors. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  4. ↑ "How Do You Play a Porn Star in the #MeToo Era? With Help from an 'Intimacy Director'". New York Times. August 24, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  5. ↑ "'The Deuce' Star Emily Meade Is Helping Actors Feel More Comfortable On Set". US Magazine. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Perasso, Valeria (March 7, 2020). "The women helping Hollywood shoot safer sex scenes". BBC News. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  7. ↑ "The Deuce's Emily Meade Shares the Value of Intimacy Coordinators". E! Online. September 21, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Theaters Turn To 'Intimacy Directors' To Guide And Protect Actors On Set". www.wbur.org.
  9. ↑ "For Local Theaters, 'Intimacy Directors' Could Help Foster Safer Workplaces". 89.3 WFPL. February 23, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Theatre world calling in intimacy coaches to guide actors through sex ..." CBC. January 9, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  11. ↑ "SHAKESBEER by New York Shakespeare Exchange this Fall on Saturdays". Broadway World. September 9, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
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