New "Profession" in Hollywood is "Intimacy Coordinators," Overseeing Nude Scenes

**Findcandor** · April 24th, 2024, 04:33 PM

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Seems a new "profession" in Hollywood, that of "Intimacy Coordinators," got started around 2019. This guide put out by the acting union (SAG-AFTRA) defines the term as "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."

I have never heard of this expression, but a 2021 article in Backstage (from which the photo below was lifted) started off with, "Intimacy coordinators have become so common on film and television sets that 'Saturday Night Live' even had a skit about it."

This 2021 article in Variety hints at how the new field has become big enough to have a registry of such "specialists." Evidently, it's a product of the #MeToo movement, and a way to combat sexual harassment, and to make sure actors feel safe.

The "Intimacy Coordinator" comes in whenever there are scenes involving nudity or simulated sex. For the last few decades, since female nudity in films and TV shows is already largely downplayed (the details frequently lost in shadows or quick cuts; productions often substitute with male nudity, in an attempt to show how "daring" they can be — while disregarding how no one wants to see naked men), the first thought that entered my mind is, great! Another attempt to further minimize the showing of female flesh, and/or raw sexuality.

Indeed, there have been instances where a male actor has taken advantage of the situation, or a director springs the nudity idea on an unsuspecting actress and she feels pressured to comply, but how often do such incidents occur? I believe most sets are civilized to the point of bending over backwards to make sure the actress is comfortable. Shouldn't people be expected to be mature enough to handle such scenes responsibly without some interloper on the sidelines anxious to prove how necessary "intimacy coordination" is?

This 2019 article that appeared in Cosmopolitan (where the above image came from) put it this way: “When you’re doing any stunt on-set, there’s a stunt coordinator... When there’s an animal, there’s an animal handler. And yet, when we’re doing sex scenes, there’s no protection in place. In my head, I was like, there should be some sort of liaison to oversee this.” (Hoo-boy.)

An actor was quoted as opining what this amounts to is a “'censorship of creativity' and suggested actors and directors arrive at solutions on their own." In defense of this new "profession": "We’re not there to police... We are another presence in the room to help coordinate the conversations.” Quite the contrary, I can imagine how this third wheel may watch the proceedings while eagerly awaiting an opportunity to pipe in, "You can't do that."

This 2023 New York Times article focuses on the CEO of a company that handles these "professionals," and "she makes sure that the actors are safe throughout the process, and that the scene looks believable." (Double hoo-boy.) This woman started out in improvisational comedy, and in an attempt to justify her new role, explains, "In the improv world, I was picked up a lot or kissed or grabbed, or jokes were made about me that I didn’t consent to.”

We are living in such terribly sensitive, and sometimes ridiculous, times.

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**vo1v0d** · April 24th, 2024, 06:37 PM

I never knew of this till I saw 'Episodes'. and I thought it was a joke from english scriptwriters about american foibles. Quoting my father and his generation "Ya couldnt fukkin make it up"

**Sir Honkers** · April 24th, 2024, 11:13 PM

Given Harvey Weinstein and his ilk, this just makes sense.

**vo1v0d** · April 25th, 2024, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Honkers

Given Harvey Weinstein and his ilk, this just makes sense.

Not really. He didnt do it with a camera crew and twenty technicians watching.

**Gruenspecht** · April 25th, 2024, 09:58 AM

Movies and television series are dead to me for about two decades so i could care less what they conjure up.

**Sir Honkers** · April 25th, 2024, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vo1v0d

Not really. He didnt do it with a camera crew and twenty technicians watching.

Having worked in the industry for thirty something years, I can tell you a lot of the brazen shit I saw was hard to believe. People thought they were untouchable. Sad that Weinstein's appeal was successful. It will embolden the scuzz.

**vo1v0d** · April 26th, 2024, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Honkers

Having worked in the industry for thirty something years, I can tell you a lot of the brazen shit I saw was hard to believe. People thought they were untouchable. Sad that Weinstein's appeal was successful. It will embolden the scuzz.

Appeal that will lead to a retrial under the same charges, so no escape.
Your point about the movie industry is perfectly valid but consider the other side of the coin. There are young hopefuls flooding into Hollywood every day and some of them would be happy to do triple anal if it got them a role.
I would never attempt to defend the scumbag but with his history in the business he probably got bored with girls throwing themselves at him to the point where reluctance or resistance turned him on.
Also how many are now famous because they let him fuck them?
Jail may give him a new sexual awakening.

**Sir Honkers** · April 26th, 2024, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vo1v0d

Appeal that will lead to a retrial under the same charges, so no escape.
Your point about the movie industry is perfectly valid but consider the other side of the coin. There are young hopefuls flooding into Hollywood every day and some of them would be happy to do triple anal if it got them a role.
I would never attempt to defend the scumbag but with his history in the business he probably got bored with girls throwing themselves at him to the point where reluctance or resistance turned him on.
Also how many are now famous because they let him fuck them?
Jail may give him a new sexual awakening.

My experience was you can be right about that part, but I'm more referring to the colossal egos and the the sense of entitlement. I once went to a wrap party where it was rumored Tom Cruise might put in an an appearance. The word was, if he did show (he didn't) no one was too approach him, or talk to him unless he engaged first. And then it was to be respectful and to address him as Mr Cruise.
The entitlement was a big factor in me eventually quitting.

**Motorboater** · April 27th, 2024, 01:33 PM

Michala Banas is one. She was an inspiration for intimacy when I was younger.

April 24th, 2024, 04:33 PM	#1
Findcandor Vintage Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 776 Thanks: 629 Thanked 13,444 Times in 776 Posts	New "Profession" in Hollywood is "Intimacy Coordinators," Overseeing Nude Scenes . Seems a new "profession" in Hollywood, that of "Intimacy Coordinators," got started around 2019. This guide put out by the acting union (SAG-AFTRA) defines the term as "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." I have never heard of this expression, but a 2021 article in Backstage (from which the photo below was lifted) started off with, "Intimacy coordinators have become so common on film and television sets that 'Saturday Night Live' even had a skit about it." This 2021 article in Variety hints at how the new field has become big enough to have a registry of such "specialists." Evidently, it's a product of the #MeToo movement, and a way to combat sexual harassment, and to make sure actors feel safe. The "Intimacy Coordinator" comes in whenever there are scenes involving nudity or simulated sex. For the last few decades, since female nudity in films and TV shows is already largely downplayed (the details frequently lost in shadows or quick cuts; productions often substitute with male nudity, in an attempt to show how "daring" they can be — while disregarding how no one wants to see naked men), the first thought that entered my mind is, great! Another attempt to further minimize the showing of female flesh, and/or raw sexuality. Indeed, there have been instances where a male actor has taken advantage of the situation, or a director springs the nudity idea on an unsuspecting actress and she feels pressured to comply, but how often do such incidents occur? I believe most sets are civilized to the point of bending over backwards to make sure the actress is comfortable. Shouldn't people be expected to be mature enough to handle such scenes responsibly without some interloper on the sidelines anxious to prove how necessary "intimacy coordination" is? This 2019 article that appeared in Cosmopolitan (where the above image came from) put it this way: “When you’re doing any stunt on-set, there’s a stunt coordinator... When there’s an animal, there’s an animal handler. And yet, when we’re doing sex scenes, there’s no protection in place. In my head, I was like, there should be some sort of liaison to oversee this.” (Hoo-boy.) An actor was quoted as opining what this amounts to is a “'censorship of creativity' and suggested actors and directors arrive at solutions on their own." In defense of this new "profession": "We’re not there to police... We are another presence in the room to help coordinate the conversations.” Quite the contrary, I can imagine how this third wheel may watch the proceedings while eagerly awaiting an opportunity to pipe in, "You can't do that." This 2023 New York Times article focuses on the CEO of a company that handles these "professionals," and "she makes sure that the actors are safe throughout the process, and that the scene looks believable." (Double hoo-boy.) This woman started out in improvisational comedy, and in an attempt to justify her new role, explains, "In the improv world, I was picked up a lot or kissed or grabbed, or jokes were made about me that I didn’t consent to.” We are living in such terribly sensitive, and sometimes ridiculous, times. .

April 24th, 2024, 06:37 PM	#2
vo1v0d Hideous By Nature Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: sarf eeeest lunden Posts: 8,763 Thanks: 45,250 Thanked 65,481 Times in 7,979 Posts	I never knew of this till I saw 'Episodes'. and I thought it was a joke from english scriptwriters about american foibles. Quoting my father and his generation "Ya couldnt fukkin make it up" __________________ But then again, I am a complete moron

April 25th, 2024, 09:58 AM	#5
Gruenspecht ♥♥♥ Lara ♥♥♥ Join Date: May 2021 Location: ◄ NL ► Posts: 2,099 Thanks: 24,978 Thanked 45,067 Times in 2,106 Posts	Movies and television series are dead to me for about two decades so i could care less what they conjure up. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

April 24th, 2024, 11:13 PM	#3
Sir Honkers Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Land Of Glorious Leader Posts: 30,790 Thanks: 291,167 Thanked 392,290 Times in 30,743 Posts	Given Harvey Weinstein and his ilk, this just makes sense.

April 27th, 2024, 01:33 PM	#9
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,367 Thanks: 42,271 Thanked 39,530 Times in 4,341 Posts	Michala Banas is one. She was an inspiration for intimacy when I was younger.