This is an interesting subject matter for the modern day director, which could easily have been posted in the Acting Lounge. However, I’m a Director and wanted a discussion about this with my fellow directors.
Stephen Follows knows how to crunch the numbers. For this article he scrutinised the data of “385,723 live-action fiction movies made worldwide”.
“As a quick primer, an Intimacy Coordinator is a professional advocate responsible for choreographing and overseeing scenes of intimacy in film and theatre, ensuring the well-being, safety, and consent of the actors involved.”
Here are my thoughts.
The role of the Intimacy Coordinator is to “[ensure] the well-being, safety and consent of the actors involved.” This seems like it should be the role, not of a third-party consultant, but the Director, who by the time they get to ‘those scenes’ in the film will/should already have developed a relationship of trust with the actors. If not, then there are greater concerns about the production. If you can’t work together with your actors on ALL scenes, then want are you doing?
But isn’t this the same as having a Stunt Coordinator for the action scenes? In a word, No.
Action sequences are high-risk environments and need the expertise of someone who can deliver on the safety and well-being aspect of those scenes. To then consider an intimacy scene as just another ‘action sequence’ is a concern to me and ultimately devalues the whole notion of intimacy and character development.
What are your thoughts about this, my fellow directors?
https://stephenfollows.com/how-many-films-employ-an-intimacy-coordinator/?
2 people like this
Stephen has done amazing work for years. Love the guy.
Richard "RB" Botto me too, RB. What are your thoughts on Intimacy Coordinators?
1 person likes this
They are crucial to making sure actors feel safe, secure, and comfortable while filming very close scenes. We hired one for a short film i produced a few years ago and they were perfect in helping curate the exact right vibes in what can often be a bit of an awkward scenario! Especially with actors who've only recently met!
I think intimacy coordinators play a vital production role. In a perfect world should it be the Director who makes an actor feel perfectly safe and comfortable in those moments? Maybe. I'm not saying I don't get your thoughts on it, I do. But I would offer another perspective. Directors are the boss and even bosses need HR departments to make sure that the balance of power and authority are not standing in the way of people feeling safe. A lot of unacceptable behavior has been allowed to take place on set over the years that left performers traumatized by the experience. Intimacy coordinators exist to help with that balance and make sure that someone is present with the sole purpose and training of avoiding those issues.
Depends on the set and the people involved. A director has a lot to worry about, so sharing the responsibility can be a good idea. Similar to letting 1st or 2nd ADs handle extras and scheduling of actors.
With Taranteno as intimacy coordinator, Uma Thurman intimate relationship with her cabrio ended after crashing it against a tree because of a unexpected turn in the road Tarantino didn't warn her about -- I can imagine that there was no love lost between Thurnman and Tarantino the rest of the Kill Bill: Vol 2 shoot either.
1 person likes this
I listened to the Fresh Air interview with Emma Stone. They had an intimacy coordinator on Poor Things. In the interview she said that she had at first also wondered about the usefulness, especially since, she said, she has excellent trust etc. with Lanthimos and everyone else on the film. But in the end, she found it really helpful, even in ways she hadn't considered ahead of time.
2 people like this
Mike Boas but Mike, this is not handling extras, or the administration of schedules, this is handling the director’s cast. It’s the director’s job to protect the actors on set and no one, I believe, should come between that relationship.
1 person likes this
I ask actresses to plan and layout how to execute the scene. I do this outta respect for my team. I also do this so I can never be accused of anything later. There is zero coercion, weird power plays or obligation. You called the shots for that scene. I shoot what you choreographed the way you felt it best be done. This has resulted in passion scenes being cut entirely. After working with the male actor for a period she felt uncomfortable being physically intimate. Expressed this to me in private and the scene was cut. Easy. This has also led for some very natural and passionate moments. Sadly, we've got people being taking advantage of on set and we have people taking advantage after the shoot for power and attention.
Ashley Renee Smith Personally, I don’t think this is an HR issue, it’s about the integrity of the director/actor relationship. It seems that we are creating a rule for an exception, which is never a good thing. We aren’t talking about the casting couch of Harvey Weinstein here, which I think has coloured the view of the director/actor relationship, but a professional alliance. As Stephen Follows records - and who are we to doubt his statistical eloquence and accuracy - only 1.9% of films had a credited Intimacy Coordinator in 2023.
If there is doubt about a scene’s necessity, then that comes out at the read, or before that, when the director is talking about the role with the actor, one-to-one. Or like Jae Taylor has just written (Hi Jae!) it is assessed and choreographed by the actor in discussion with the director.
2 people like this
I’m not saying every production with intimacy needs a coordinator, but I like this quote from the article: “If you’re wondering if you need to hire an Intimacy Coordinator for your next production, then you probably do.”
2 people like this
A director has a conflict of interest-- wanting the best scene and best movie possible. That could, and probably often does, cloud judgment. Such scenes may not be 'action' scenes but they are rife with risk.
1 person likes this
I've directed more than my share of intimate scenes over the years. Most everything I write tends to include erotic elements and love scenes. The only issues I've confronted were with actors who have emotional/mental issues that create barriers to trusting the director. However, trust is key between actors and directors, regardless of what type of scene is being filmed. I need my cast to feel like I'm in the trenches with them and that I have their backs no matter what. The one time I hired someone to ensure the actors were handling everything well actually created more problems for me. But I'm open to trying it again if needed.