An intimacy coordinator is a workplace safety person. It seems like a mistake to me to put it on the actors to say they want one or they don’t, any more than you’d ask them if they want a stunt coordinator.
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Straight white men with power cannot stand anyone telling them what to do. “How dare you suggest I need someone to tell me how to do my job? Do you know who I am?! I’m brilliant.” Total 50 shades of BS.
We use an intimacy coordinator any time we have actors touching one another — not just in what someone might think of as a sexy or romantic scene! The same way we have a dance captain or fight captain or a choreographer for straight plays with lots of movement!
Yes yes yes. This is why, in live theater, they hire a fight director (to choreograph) and choose a fight captain (to supervise) whenever there's violence onstage. And practice the fight before EVERY performance. It's a union safety rule - improvising physical contact is how people get hurt.
Especially since there's a power imbalance! If a showrunner or filmmaker strongly implies that an intimacy coordinator isn't needed, how is an actor supposed to respond--especially if they're newer and have less power? It's sloppy use of power at best and dangerous at worst imho
I've never understood the Maher-esque rants against these employees as some "woke" "overreaction" to MeToo. If I had a son, daughter, sibling, spouse, friend performing an erotic scene, uhh, I'd want them as safe as possible...? Or maybe the Mad Men workplace era was right--who can say!
*I'm slightly disturbed at the way some other people have been discussing this. Madison made the comments, but there were two people in those scenes, and they both would have benefited from a safer workplace.
Right, that's why "we can have one if you want one" might turn out okay -- but it also might not, and there's no way to shut off the power imbalance so you can know for sure.
One of the nicest Hollywood stories I read was Emily Mead asking David Simon for an intimacy co-ordinator on The Deuce, him saying he had no idea what that was but doing it anyway because she asked, then hiring her for the rest of the series once she was on set.
All workplace safety practices also protect the employer. I think you're thinking I said "worker safety." Of course it protects everybody, including the employer. That's the point.
It opens you up to an actor thinking they wouldn’t benefit and realizing too late that they would. It opens you up to them feeling like they should save the production time and money and not be a problem. It opens you up to people other than the actors needing support they don’t get.
It also seems to me that Intimacy Coordinators aren't solely there for the actors but also for the comfort of the crew. Obviously the actors are the most vulnerable, but for many people it's not comfortable to watch and interact with someone in a state of undress while at work.
I also just don’t like the sense it communicates that an intimacy coordinator is a resource for fragile people, which it’s not. You shouldn’t have to categorize yourself as sensitive, or not tough, or not ready, in somebody else’s eyes to avail yourself of basic best practices.
Not only that, but actors as a group tend to work better when they feel like they’re in safe, comfortable, and trustworthy hands. Having an intimacy coordinator on hand is a great way to tangibly show that you care about cultivating that. It speaks to a larger culture of giving a damn.
This makes absolute sense to me. It does call for a kind of openness and focus that I’m sure doesn’t come naturally to everybody at all times. Why not say “Hey, here’s a place where we really REALLY don’t want to make a mistake, so we’ve got a resource person”?
Totally. Stunt coordinator is a great comp. Lots of actors are prepared to do stunts fine. Maybe the director isn't as comfortable and the coordinator bridges that gap. The first time I worked with a stunt coordinator, I was taken with how he talked like a teacher who met everyone at their level.
Yes, 100% this. I also think there's this idea that an IC is the "sex police." They're not, they ensure the safety of cast AND crew while filming intimate scenes, but they also help choreograph them so they look the best they can on camera. It is a lot like having a stunt coordinator.
I made an erotic thriller that came out this November and bringing on an intimacy coordinator was never a question but an absolute definite from a production standpoint. It's also just good practice to have, just like getting production insurance.
But also, because we had one, not only did the cast and crew feel safe (we're all still really good friends now), but the intimacy looks so much more intense because they new how to explain certain things in ways that you don't know if you're not an IC
I suspect it's couched in terms of budget like "we can get this for you, but it'll be an added expense that's your fault," which scares some off. Also, curious if newbies are nudged to pay for it out of their salaries. Studios can afford safety, they just usually don't wanna. See also: reality TV
As an AD who is involved in this process, I've never heard of an actor being asked to pay for this. I'm sure that doesn't happen or that an intimacy coordinator who wasn't employed by the production would be allowed on set. Really, the cost is a non factor; intimacy coordination is shockingly cheap
That's good! In my experience, some people are still happy to try and eliminate even low cost elements in production, so I hope what I said never happens!
And, I mean, a young actress who has never starred in a movie and doesn't know "normal" from "abnormal" production process and might, therefore, not want to or know they need to make waves would seem like the person MOST in need of a little protection.
Hear me out: So, FALL GUY movie, same plot, but intimacy coordinator.
And have it star Emily Blunt and Ryan Goslings because that was fun and they had great chemistry. I'd love Hugh Grant for the aged, sleezy star/villain.
Seems like the only reason you would think about not having one is if you’re trying to skimp on the budget and you don’t think it’s important. Which kinda wouldn’t give me confidence in the production being a safe working environment.
I follow an IC over at Instagram & it has been eye-opening to learn the depth of care & attention that goes into her approach to rapport, choreography, safety, and consent.
She's such a wealth of information, especially fot someone (er, me) who is not involved in the making of movies, theatre, or TV shows but who can see just how protective an IC is for the whole production.
If I ever did any of the above, I'd def want an IC on my production!
No, I don't think that's adequate. There's a power differential in many cases. You can't reliably expect an actor who has very little experience or clout to say "oh, yes, please spend the money" if the director and the other actor have already said "oh, let's not."
And respectfully, it's not really anything like a stunt double at all, PLUS in many cases it's not even left up to actors whether they want to do their own stunts.
It’s also for the safety and comfort of people other than the cast. And again, the stunt comparison doesn’t make your point, because actors do not get the option to do every stunt themselves — and they aren’t in charge of deciding whether they need a harness or just will try not to fall.
It's not a decision for the actors or any other creatives on set; it's a decision for the first assistant director - they are pretty much the boss of the set, and in particular for the current discussion, they have ultimate responsibility for all issues concerning the *safety* of everyone on set.
Director views aren't relevant; this is specifically a 1st AD issue. It's a set safety issue, exactly as the OP said - and that buck absolutely stops with the 1st AD.
I’m not an expert but it seems like they should just always have one! Like, there is no real downside to it besides having to pay another employee I guess and plenty downsides to the other way
and older actors saying they don’t like them because it takes away from the authenticity or whatever awful rambling should be ignored just as much as someone not wanting someone in charge of stunt safety
"Older actors" are likely to be male. If it's a scene where people take clothes off, chances are the female actor will be (much) younger and thus have less clout.
I don’t know if this is in reference to Anora, but it could be. I know I felt uncomfortable with how the story of skipping the IC in that movie is being told on the media tour.
Also wouldn’t it potentially help protect someone from accusations of impropriety? Just have a pro there to make sure everything is above board and everyone is comfortable? Because different actors and actresses have different things they’re personally not ok with ?
Exactly. Leaving it up to the actors strikes me as an implicit message that it’s not really needed or that there aren’t any real dangers to be aware of if we’re all friends.
In my experience, an intimacy coordinator not only makes the set safe for the actors, they also help with choreography. Actors who have come of age more recently truly appreciate them. The only folks who bristled (and not much) were actors who were doing these scenes before they became standard
Right. And there might be people who genuinely don’t want them who just think it’s embarrassing to talk about. But the more people have them, the more normal it will be. Sometimes you don’t get to pick what workplace precautions are in place. You get used to things.
I was just listening to a podcast about the sopranos and Michael imperioli said that one of the bada bing strippers with a perfect body was totally cool with being topless on screen but got uncomfortable with her butt being filmed from behind b/c it made her incredibly anxious. they worked around it
Exactly! And not all of those things will be obvious necessarily to an actor before filming starts! That’s another good reason to have a person who’s trained to have those conversations.
*if anyone is interested if was the scene in season 1, episode 3 or 4 where Tony brings one of the bing girls to surprise a dying Jackie Aprile. She does a little strip tease for him dressed as a nurse. Lots of boob, no butt, per her request. And the scene is great!
There's something fantastically funny (and touching!) about the show with maybe the most regressive, sexist characters on TV having a thoughtful, respectful discussion with an actress about her safety and comfort 20 years before it was even remotely common
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Madison is 25 and has 8 years of film credits. Eidelstein* is 22 and has 3. It's the biggest career opportunity either has had.
And have it star Emily Blunt and Ryan Goslings because that was fun and they had great chemistry. I'd love Hugh Grant for the aged, sleezy star/villain.
Takes a lot of work to build that kind of trust.
She's such a wealth of information, especially fot someone (er, me) who is not involved in the making of movies, theatre, or TV shows but who can see just how protective an IC is for the whole production.
If I ever did any of the above, I'd def want an IC on my production!
If one of them expresses wanting it at any point tho, there should be no further questions nor debate.
It's like a stunt double. Safer to have one, but some just want to do their own stunts. :)
For highly intimate movies, an intimacy coordinator is often not a choice either depending on the studio.
I say cast broadly to refer to everyone working on set. "Staff" might be better but some people think that excludes the main cast.
You ask everyone if they want it. For nude scenes, no one wants to see your junk. 💀
You can also cast a large vote and just say "who here wants an intimacy coordinator" after explainingwhat it is. 1 hand raise and you get one.
None and it's not necessary.
Director shouldn't decide it's not needed without discussing with everyone or at the very least the actors meant to do the scene.
1st AD should either have it or ask the staff before deciding not to have it.
He makes the final decision but that doesn't mean he can't ask for advice.
It exemplifies what you’re saying.