Intimacy coordination, diversity coaching, script coaching, and training

Intimate scenes can often put performers in a very vulnerable position. In addition, discussing these scenes and the levels of consent of the actors can sometimes be complicated and lead to misunderstandings.

When shooting action scenes in the audiovisual industry, professionals are always on hand to help with the choreographic design and to manage the logistics and technical details of the scenes. They guarantee the protection of the actors and ensure that the quality of the content is as desired, with the possibility of creating very realistic results without anyone taking a real punch.

Until now, however, intimate scenes often lacked the space and time necessary to discuss, rehearse and shoot these scenes, and the responsibility for them usually fell on the actors. This meant that on many occasions situations occurred on set that were very uncomfortable for many artists (not to mention violence such as that suffered by María Schneider in The Last Tango in Paris). Other times, this emptiness was also felt on screen, resulting in unrealistic scenes or repeatedly falling into the same commonplaces and stereotypes when it came to representing sexuality.

Thus, following the same logic as action coordinators, intimacy coordinators are professionals specialised in the filming of intimate scenes and the representation of sexuality in fiction who, starting from the protection of the performers, elevate the directors' vision by collaborating with them in the choreography and creative vision of these scenes, achieving a more authentic and inclusive representation of intimacy.

Intimacy coordinators should be hired during the pre-production of audiovisual projects as the pre-production work of the role (conversations, rehearsals, design of intimate scenes, preparation of material, risk assessments...) is highly/extremely important for them to be able to carry out their functions in an optimal way. This will make it possible for all the work to be done on the day of filming and will speed up the filming time and improve the atmosphere on set.

It is recommended that intimacy coordination be hired when there are scenes of the following types in the script:

• Scene in which there is physical interaction of an intimate nature between two or more performers, whether sexual in nature (kissing, simulated sex, BDSM...) or not, e.g. a gynaecological consultation.
• Scenes involving nudity or semi-nudity of the performers (regardless of whether the context is sexual or not).
• Intimate interaction of a performer with himself (masturbation, striptease, a mother breastfeeding, scenes of a scatological nature...).
• Scenes containing explicit or implicit sexual violence.
• Other scenes involving particular exposure of the performer, e.g. the depiction of childbirth or abortion, or dialogue that has a high sexual content even if it does not involve physicality.
• When minors are involved in intimate scenes or scenes involving close physical contact with adults even if the content is not of a sexual nature, e.g. a parent bathing a child.
• Other scenes with perhaps a lower level of intimacy, but involving minors or very young actors, or with non-professional actors to carry them out.

In all these cases it is highly recommended to have intimacy coordination, both for the peace of mind and comfort of the production, as well as for the safety and confidence of the actors in the process. 

We understand the consent expressed by the artists as valid provided that:

• Be given freely, without coercion or threat.
• Is given after the artist has been informed of the details relating to the shooting of the scene.
• It has been expressed in a specific way for each intimate scene required, taking into account the particularities of each one.
• It has been expressed in a responsible manner, with confidence and conviction on their part.
• There is a possibility that they may withdraw* their consent if for some circumstance they need to do so to safeguard their emotional, physical or psychological well-being, provided that the scene has not yet been filmed. In this case, the production may have the possibility to make use of body doubles or digital technology to maintain what was previously agreed with the artist. The intimacy coordinator would help to find creative solutions so that the narrative vision of the scene is not compromised. 

*In our experience, it is very rare that artists decide to withdraw their consent, because if they have been properly informed and have felt that there is a security framework that protects the filming of these scenes, they tend to face them with a lot of confidence, security and greater creative freedom. But, of course, we at intimacy coordination advocate that this possibility be respected.

It should be taken into account that the work of intimacy coordinators is highly sensitive and delicate as they are heads of department who take on a great deal of responsibility. For this reason, training in intimacy coordination is very rigorous and follows international standards in order to be able to carry out the complexity of the role satisfactorily. If you would like to know more, do not hesitate to write to us.

To date, certified training is only available in the UK, USA, Canada and South Africa.

In our experience, if the actors have been properly informed of the requirements of the script during the casting and recruitment phase and we have been involved during the pre-production phase, the result is that the intimate content of the fictions is enhanced on an expressive and narrative level.

Being able to talk openly about the scenes, the artists being provided with a safe framework, the physical and psychological protection, the intimacy rehearsals, ..... They make actors much more relaxed and confident about filming intimate scenes, feeling much more confident about the intimate content and therefore achieving much more realistic and interesting on-screen results. The examples of well-known series where there has been intimacy coordination speak for themselves: I May Destroy You, The Deuce, Sex Education, Euphoria, Normal People…

We work with each director in a different way, adapting to their methodology and needs, but of course, our contribution always takes place hand in hand with them and with the intention of enhancing their vision of the scenes, collaborating with them in the choreography of the scenes, making the cast feel comfortable, ensuring that the desired realism is achieved and taking care of the logistics necessary for the shooting to take place as smoothly as possible.

There is nothing that generates more insecurity for actors than not knowing what they have to do or what limits they can cross when shooting intimate scenes. Being in that place of insecurity often causes anxiety and nervousness, lack of concentration, forgetting the narrative sense of the scene... and the results often lack detail, unwanted situations or misunderstandings.

From intimacy coordination we help, together with the directors, to dynamise the intimate interaction between the partners on stage, providing a space in which the joint playing field and the limits of the physical interaction that will take place are agreed upon. Within these limits, we help to generate a creative exchange that is always linked to the narrative sense of the scene: what each character wants at each moment in the story, who is taking the initiative, what rhythms help the most, what turning points or changes taken place within the scene, what sound expressiveness is needed... Finding together the path that the scene will take, ensuring that when the actors face the shooting of the scene, they do so in a calm and secure way, that allows them to concentrate on the fiction. The results, in this way, usually allow much more detail and expressiveness, and also a more specific visual planning of the scene.