The Process

Prior to filming, an intimacy coordinator will first meet with the director to discuss their vision for the project, level of nudity, details of simulated sex, and any other important details. The intimacy coordinator then meets one-on-one with the actor to discuss the work, answer questions, address concerns and determine what the actor's boundaries are. Dialogue is then facilitated between the actors and the director to agree on a plan for filming that are within the actor's comfort zone and will fulfill the director's creative vision.  This agreement is written into the nudity rider, ensuring the actor's boundaries are clearly understood and documented.

The intimacy coordinator also facilitates communication between the actors so that each scene partner is clear about their own and each other's boundaries. When requested by the director, the intimacy coordinator can assist with choreography, movement coaching and masking techniques to help with believability of simulated sex scenes. With each actor knowing exactly what they have agreed to do and what their partner's boundaries are, they are able to relax into the process, focus on their work, and perform at the top of their game.  

On Set

The intimacy coordinator also works closely with the costume and makeup departments to assist with modesty garments, barriers, and prosthetics. The intimacy coordinator is available as a resource for the actors to help determine the best and most comfortable modesty wear and barrier solutions for their level of physicality and movement. On set, the intimacy coordinator ensures continued consent and makes sure that closed set guidelines and SAG-AFTRA Standards and Protocols are followed.  If a scene is emotionally intense, as with a simulated sexual assault, the intimacy coordinator is available as a source of support for the performer and for emotional aftercare if needed.

Results

Throughout filming, the intimacy coordinator is a resource for the director and producers. The intimacy coordinator can help reduce the number of takes necessary to cover a scene, and also make sure that what goes into the final cut is legally consistent with the riders and contracts. By working closely with every department involved in the performance of an intimate scene, the intimacy coordinator ensures that filming is as efficient and smooth as possible. By creating an emotionally and physically safe environment for the actors, where communication has been clear and boundaries well established, the performers are free to fully focus on their work and deliver their most passionate performance.

Click here for more information on SAG-AFTRA’s Standards and Protocols for the Use of Intimacy Coordinators

  “My first thought was that I was worried that maybe it was going to be something between the director and the actor, that it was going to feel like an extra voice in a way, but it was not like that at all. In fact, it made it feel like all the stuff was just handled so we could just focus on the scene. We knew that the partner was taken care of and felt safe and you could just walk on and feel completely comfortable and safe and good.”

— Kathryn Hahn