Half of Netflix wouldn’t survive without Intimacy Coordinators, so who are those? They are the unhonoured and forgotten heroes of the Hollywood agency. Many believe that an intimacy coordinator does nothing more than orchestrate sex scenes. Although it is a component of their work, it is not the whole picture. They are essential to upholding a courteous atmosphere on set, particularly in private sequences. Their work goes beyond the lens of the camera, protecting the performers’ physical and mental well-being.
Stories of humiliation, bewilderment, exploitation, and occasionally even violence during intimate scene filming have been reported, especially since the #MeToo movement became well-known in Hollywood.
HBO was the first network to hire intimacy coordinators, or choreographers for sequences involving nudity, simulated sex, or sexual content, as a result of that pivotal occasion. Soon after, Netflix, Hulu, Starz, and Amazon produced 23 Emmy-winning narrative shows in 2020 that give credit to intimacy coordinators. These shows include less sexual content than shows like Watchmen, Succession, and Euphoria.
One of the experienced intimacy coordinators took to Reddit to describe the process of an intimate scene, “Before a rehearsal of an intimate scene or moment, I meet with the director and hear their vision. I offer any insight into how to make it safer, and encourage everyone involved to use desexualized and gender free, but still clear and proper language when blocking. “Breast” or “boob” becomes upper chest, butt or bum becomes backside. Instead of using casual words for sex acts we use proper terms or discuss the movement instead of what the illusion is- for example instead of “pretend to go down on him” we would use “simulated felatio” or “you’ll bring your head near their lap, they will place their hand on the back of your neck for 15 seconds and then raise your head” (via behn1984)
An intimacy coordinator is “an advocate, a liaison between actors and production… in regard to nudity and simulated sex,” according to SAG-AFTRA. They arrange intimate action, keep an eye on closed sets, and work with costume on modest clothing and prosthetics during the majority of the production. However, coordinators also work with filmmakers during pre-production, organizing the kinds of touching and exposure that will be allowed as well as handling actor concerns and nudity clauses.
Some directors hold preconceived notions, like Ed Guiney, executive producer of Normal People, who hired an intimacy coordinator, stated that he was “concerned that an intimacy coordinator might interfere in the creative relationship between the cast and the director.” He was pleasantly surprised by the event, nevertheless. “It takes a lot of the awkwardness out of shooting these scenes and really frees the actors up to properly be in the moment,” he joked.
They fervently encourage the artists, putting up endless effort to guarantee that their limits are upheld, their voices are heard, and their creative visions are fully realized. They go above and beyond with unshakable passion to establish a secure and empowering space where artists may flourish and shine.
