Intimacy coordinator

Last updated

An intimacy coordinator is an occupation in the film and television industries. They are "an advocate, a liaison between actors and production, and a movement coach and/or choreographer in regards to nudity and simulated sex, and other intimate and hyper-exposed scenes." [1]

Contents

Intimacy coordinators are distinguished from intimacy directors who are associated with live performance roles, such as: theatre, dance, circus, performance art, and fashion shows. [2]

History

While intimacy coordinators already existed in the realm of live theater, demand for their role gained significant traction within Hollywood and television and streaming platforms after the 2017 Weinstein scandal and the subsequent rise of the #MeToo movement. [3] These events highlighted the often routine nature of sexual harassment and misconduct that actors, particularly women, routinely faced within the industry. Actresses such as Emily Meade began to demand professional safeguards for their well-being on set. [3] They pointed out the imbalanced power dynamics often seen in productions, which could leave actors—particularly young and inexperienced ones—feeling too powerless to speak up if directors, staff members or other actors disregarded their consent or previous agreements regarding intimate scenes. [4]

Hollywood

With the popularization of the #MeToo movement, numerous Hollywood-based actors joined the movement and fostered a new environment where actors began coming forward to share their stories about sexual assault while filming. [5] This large-scale movement unearthed many instances of sexual harassment throughout Hollywood, most notably shedding light on the producer Harvey Weinstein, who had 80 allegations of sexual harassment against him. [5] Following this time, the calls for the film industry to take charge and protect its actors became more pronounced, and it became apparent that changes needed to be made in the industry.

Television and streaming platforms

In 2017, the London talent agency Carey Dodd Associates fronted a campaign for an industry standard in handling scenes of intimacy using guidelines developed by Ita O'Brien. [2] In October 2018, television network HBO adopted a policy of using intimacy coordinators for all its series and films with intimate scenes. [6] Soon after, other networks such as Netflix, Starz, Hulu, and Amazon began exploring the use of intimacy coordinators, and by 2020 there were 23 Emmy-nominated scripted programs that worked with intimacy coordinators. [7] In January 2019, Netflix released Sex Education, its first production that used an intimacy coordinator, Ita O'Brien. [8]

During HBO's filming of Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke often spoke of feeling like she was too inexperienced of an actress to fight the nudity requirements on the show. [3] With this, multiple other actresses in the Game of Thrones cast spoke of similar discomfort when filming nude scenes on the show. [3] Since then, HBO has adopted the use of intimacy coordinators in all intimate scenes, including with the newest series in the franchise like House of the Dragon. [6] [3] Actress Emily Carey, who played young Alicent Hightower in the series, recalled how nervous she was to film an intimate scene with Paddy Considine during production. [3] But, she credited the series intimacy coordinator, Miriam Lucia, for helping her feel safe and calm while filming these intimate scenes. [9]

Function

According to Intimacy Directors International, a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by Alicia Rodis, Tonia Sina, and Siobhan Richardson [10] that advocates for the function, an intimacy coordinator is expected to ensure that: [11]

Implementation of intimacy coordinators

There are many different instances in which a production set would require an intimacy coordinator. The job of an intimacy coordinator is not to ruin creativity, but rather to help produce that creativity in a way that is safe for all those involved. [12] Scenes involving simulated sex and/or kissing, power dynamics, suggestive movements, and sexual trauma among other things would be instances where an intimacy coordinator would be necessary during filming. [13] Following the #MeToo Movement and the recent changes to laws surrounding intimacy filming standards, the use of an intimacy coordinator has become an accepted industry standard. [14]

SAG-AFTRA lists a series of expertise and training expectations, as well as additional requirements for intimacy coordinators. [1]

Expertise and training

Additional requirements

Backgrounds of intimacy coordinators

Intimacy coordinators come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have roots as fight and movement directors, others as stage-combat teachers and stunt-people, or are experienced as aerialists, choreographers, and dancers. For others, their creative practice is in acting or as acting coaches. Furthermore, some have groundings as sex and relationship coaches or as psychotherapists. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Nudity, simulated sex, and physical contact

Nudity

The PACT Equity TV Agreement 2019—2020 describes nudity as the "display of any part of the body, which would be revealed if the artist was not wearing a bathing suit." It clarifies this to mean a Speedo for male performers and a bikini for female performers. [21]

Furthermore, intimacy coordinator Amanda Blumenthal states that this is a definition that Showtime uses and that anything that would typically be underneath a bathing suit and is shown on-screen requires a nudity rider. [22]

Semi-nudity is where the performer is nude either from the waist up or from the waist down. [21]

Types of nudity

Amanda Blumenthal explains that "there are several types of nudity" and that the levels of acceptability and comfortability of a performer are stipulated in nudity riders. This can include: filmed angle perspective—from the side, from the front, from the back, etc or body part exposure—full chest nudity or side-profile nudity. As would any hand-to-genital or genital-to-genital contact be specified. [22]

Nudity riders

Nudity riders are referred to under a variety of different titles. Most start with terms, including: nudity, simulated sex, or intimate scene and finish with terms, including: rider, clause, or waiver. [23]

Industry reactions

Negative industry reactions

Actors and filmmakers have criticized the implementation of intimacy coordinators. Actor Sean Bean in an interview with Variety criticized the practice stating "I think the natural way lovers behave would be ruined by someone bringing it right down to a technical exercise." [24] French film director and screen writer Mia Hansen-Løve has also spoken against the use of intimacy coordinators calling them "some kind of virtue police" [25] British actor Michael Caine has questioned the need for the use of intimacy coordinators on set, stating how he feels that they interfere with the shooting of intimate scenes between actors. [26] Additionally Australian actress Toni Collette has said that the use of intimacy coordinators on set have made her feel "more anxious" [27] but has said that it would depend if she would work with them again, stating that they bring a "new energy" to set. [27] American actor and producer Michael Douglas and Argentine-Italian filmmaker Gaspar Noé have also spoken out against the practice.  

Sam Levinson's 2023 TV series The Idol satirized the use of intimacy coordinators. [28]

Positive industry reactions

Actors and filmmakers both in the UK and the United States have supported the implementation of intimacy coordinators. In 2019, the US actor’s association SAG-AFTRA created an official agreement with Intimacy Coordinators International in hopes of raising awareness of the importance of intimacy coordinators when filming. [29] In addition, Equity, a British actors’ union, created a support network called Safe Space in 2019. Safe Space was designed to help increase the number of sexual harassment cases that are being reported to British authorities and to ensure that everyone feels safe reporting these incidents. [29] The addition of these organizations to filming in both the US and UK has made the industry safer and more comfortable for actors, while also lessening the legal risk that certain films may face surrounding the production of intimate scenes. [29] Following this movement, intimacy coordinators have been successfully utilized in a number of popular productions including Bridgerton , Euphoria , and I May Destroy You . [29]

The fourth season of the TV series High Maintenance featured a storyline on an intimacy coordinator, portrayed by Abigail Bengson. Series co-creator and director Katja Blichfeld spoke in support of the profession, noting it was "a relief to be able to turn to a person for these moments that, in the past, we've had to navigate to our best ability." [30]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Producers Guild of America</span> Trade association in the United States

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests television producers, film producers and emerging media producers in the United States. The PGA's membership includes over 8,400 members of the producing establishment worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Weinstein</span> American sex offender and former film producer (born 1952)

Harvey Weinstein is an American former film producer and convicted sex offender. In 1979, Weinstein and his brother, Bob Weinstein, co-founded the entertainment company Miramax, which produced several successful independent films including Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989); The Crying Game (1992); Pulp Fiction (1994); Heavenly Creatures (1994); Flirting with Disaster (1996); and Shakespeare in Love (1998). Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing Shakespeare in Love and also won seven Tony Awards for plays and musicals including The Producers, Billy Elliot the Musical, and August: Osage County. After leaving Miramax, Weinstein and his brother Bob founded The Weinstein Company (TWC), a mini-major film studio. He was co-chairman, alongside Bob, from 2005 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casting couch</span> Soliciting sex for employment in entertainment

The casting couch is a euphemism for the practice of soliciting sexual favors from a job applicant in exchange for employment in the entertainment industry, primarily acting roles. The practice is illegal in the United States. Predominantly male casting directors and film producers use the casting couch to extract sex from aspiring actors in Hollywood, Bollywood, Broadway, and other segments of the industry. The term casting couch originally referred to physical couches in the casting office, but is now a metonym for the phenomenon as a whole. Depictions of casting couch sexual encounters have also become a genre of pornography.

In film, nudity may be either graphic or suggestive, such as when a person appears to be naked but is covered by a sheet. Since the birth of film, depictions of any form of sexuality have been controversial, and in the case of most nude scenes, had to be justified as part of the story.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erotic thriller</span> Film and literary sub-genre

The erotic thriller or sexual thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or sexual fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain in close proximity and equally important to the plot." Most erotic thrillers contain scenes of softcore sex and nudity, though the frequency and explicitness of those scenes can differ from film to film.

<i>Tell Me You Love Me</i> (TV series) American drama television series

Tell Me You Love Me is an American drama television series that premiered on HBO on September 9, 2007.

Sexual consent is consent to engage in sexual activity. In many jurisdictions, sexual activity without consent is considered rape or other sexual assault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Meade</span> American actress

Emily Meade is an American film and television actress. She has appeared in films such as Twelve (2010), My Soul to Take (2010), Gimme Shelter (2013), That Awkward Moment (2014), Money Monster (2016), and Nerve (2016), and the television series Boardwalk Empire, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Leftovers and Broad City. She also portrayed a future version of the character Ella Blake in the third season finale of Fringe, and had a leading role in the HBO series The Deuce (2017–2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex in film</span> Sex in mainstream film

Sex in film, the presentation of aspects of sexuality in film, especially human sexuality, has been controversial since the development of the medium. Films which display or suggest sexual behavior have been criticized by religious groups or have been banned or censored by governments, although attitudes have changed much along the years and a more permissive social environment has developed in certain parts of the world, notably in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. In countries with a film rating system, films which contain explicit sex scenes typically receive a restricted classification. Nudity in film may be regarded as sexual or as non-sexual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexposition</span> Narrative technique in visual media

In visual media such as television and film, sexposition is the technique of providing exposition against a backdrop of sex or nudity. The Financial Times defined sexposition as "keeping viewers hooked by combining complex plot exposition with explicit sexual goings-on". Its purpose, according to James Poniewozik, is to divert the audience and give characters something to do while exposition is being delivered, which is what distinguishes sexposition from merely gratuitous titillation.

An acting coach or drama coach is a teacher who trains performers – typically film, television, theatre, and musical theatre actors – and gives them advice and mentoring to enable them to improve their acting and dramatic performances, prepare for auditions and prepare better for roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases</span> Criminal and civil cases since 2017

In October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that dozens of women had accused the American film producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse over a period of at least 30 years. Over 80 women in the film industry eventually accused Weinstein of such acts. Weinstein himself denied "any non-consensual sex". Shortly after, he was dismissed from The Weinstein Company (TWC), expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other professional associations, and retired from public view.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MeToo movement</span> Social movement against sexual abuse and harassment

#MeToo was a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape culture, in which women publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017 as a way to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem. "Me Too" is meant to empower those who have been sexually assaulted through empathy, solidarity and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace.

The Weinstein effect is a trend in which men and women come forward to accuse other famous or powerful men and women of sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct. The term Weinstein effect came into use in October 2017, when media outlets began reporting on alleged sexual abuse against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

There have been many reported cases and accusations of sexual abuse in the American film industry reported against people related to the medium of cinema of the United States.

Ita O’Brien is a British movement director and intimacy co-ordinator for film, TV and theatre. She has taught at some of Britain's leading drama schools, has published research and devises her own work. In 2017, O'Brien introduced the "Intimacy On Set Guidelines", to protect performers during scenes that involve sex or nudity, which gained significant industry and public interest in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandals. She has worked for Amazon, BBC, HBO, and Netflix.

Euphoria is an American teen drama television series created and principally written by Sam Levinson for HBO. It is based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin. The series stars an ensemble cast of Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney, Colman Domingo, Javon "Wanna" Walton, Austin Abrams and Dominic Fike in main roles. The series follows Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a troubled teenage drug addict who struggles to get sober, find her place in the world, and adjust to her relationships after rehab. Though Rue is the central focus of the show, the beginning of most episodes provides backstories for the rest of the main characters.

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

<i>On the Record</i> (film) 2020 documentary film

On the Record is a 2020 American documentary film directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. It centers on allegations of sexual abuse and harassment against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Executive producer Oprah Winfrey publicly withdrew from the film shortly before it was released, citing "creative differences", severing a production deal with Apple TV+. The film premiered at Sundance on January 25, 2020, and was acquired by HBO Max, which released it digitally on May 27, 2020.

Jessica Steinrock is an American intimacy coordinator.

References

  1. 1 2 "Standards and Protocols for the Use of Intimacy Coordinators" (PDF). SAG-AFTRA. February 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Call for new 'intimacy director' role to safeguard actors in sex scenes". The Stage. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zageris, Larissa (1 November 2022). "Intimacy Coordinators: The New Group Of Experts Poised To Change Hollywood Forever". Looper . Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  4. ↑ Kerr, Breena (24 October 2018). "How HBO Is Changing Sex Scenes Forever". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 agatewood1 (10 January 2023). ""No Surprises": Intimacy Coordinators on Film and Theater Sets, and What They Mean For All of Us". Women's Center at UMBC. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 Martinelli, Marissa (29 October 2018). "HBO Sex Scenes Will Be Monitored by "Intimacy Coordinators" From Now On". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  7. ↑ Hilton, Emily (10 December 2020). "Let's Talk About Simulated Sex: Intimacy Coordinators Two Years On". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (21 June 2020). "'Sex Education' Star Asa Butterfield Says Working With Intimacy Coordinator Helped Cast "Find Our Boundaries"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (19 September 2022). "'House of the Dragon' Intimacy Coordinator: We're Sensitive to 'Thrones' Bad Rap for 'Gratuitous' Sex". IndieWire . Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Meet The 'Intimacy Directors' Who Choreograph Sex Scenes". HuffPost . 2018. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Pillars of safe intimacy: Rehearsal and performance practice" (PDF). Intimacy Directors International. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  12. ↑ Michele Manelis (29 March 2023). "The Rise and Necessity of Intimacy Coordinators". Golden Globes . Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Wickins, Laura Bailey (29 January 2023). "The Role of the Intimacy Coordinator". NYFA. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  14. ↑ Sørensen, Inge Ejbye (18 August 2022). "Sex and safety on set: intimacy coordinators in television drama and film in the VOD and post-Weinstein era". Feminist Media Studies. 22 (6): 1395–1410. doi:10.1080/14680777.2021.1886141. ISSN   1468-0777.
  15. ↑ "Yarit Dor".
  16. ↑ "Lizzy Talbot".
  17. ↑ "Mam Smith".
  18. ↑ "Miriam Lucia".
  19. ↑ "AMANDA BLUMENTHAL".
  20. ↑ "Rosanna Normanton".
  21. 1 2 "GUIDELINES FOR ENGAGING INTIMACY COORDINATORS IN TV/FILM" (PDF).
  22. 1 2 Mary Hilalian (16 August 2023). "The Fi Hall of Fame: Making Onscreen Sex Safe". Film Independent.
  23. ↑ "TERMINOLOGY TUESDAY: NUDITY RIDER".
  24. ↑ Yossman, K. J. (8 August 2022). "'Games of Thrones' Star Sean Bean Says Intimacy Coordinators 'Spoil the Spontaneity,' Decries Censorship". Variety. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  25. ↑ Hogan, Michael (16 April 2023). "Mia Hansen-Løve: 'I'd rather not film sex scenes than have virtue police on set'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  26. ↑ Gearan, Hannah (26 September 2023). ""We Never Had That In My Day": Michael Caine Questions The Need For Intimacy Coordinators On Set". ScreenRant. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  27. 1 2 Walker, Clay. "Toni Collette says intimacy coordinators actually make her 'more anxious' on set and once 'asked them to leave'". Business Insider. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  28. ↑ Hailu, Selome (16 June 2023). "An Intimacy Coordinator Reacts to 'The Idol' Pilot: 'I Felt Betrayed' That HBO 'Used Us as the Butt of the Joke'". Variety.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Sørensen, Inge Ejbye (18 August 2022). "Sex and safety on set: intimacy coordinators in television drama and film in the VOD and post-Weinstein era". Feminist Media Studies. 22 (6): 1395–1410. doi:10.1080/14680777.2021.1886141. ISSN   1468-0777.
  30. ↑ Lutes, Alicia (28 February 2020). "High Maintenance's Katja Blichfeld Will Never Run Out of Stories That Restore New Yorkers' Humanity". Elle.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.