Intimacy
“I would have benefited from an intimacy coordinator every single time I had to do a love scene or be partially naked or even a kissing scene. It would have been nice to have had someone in my corner, because I always had to stand up for myself.”
Kate Winslet
The New York Times, March 2024
What is an Intimacy Coordinator (IC) / Intimacy Director (ID)?
Intimacy Coordinators (Film/TV) & Intimacy Directors (Theatre) are:
- Movement coaches for scenes involving a variety of intimacy
- A liaison and mediator between actors and production
- Advocates for mental/physical health and safety
What is the purpose of an IC/ID?
ICs & IDs ensure that all scenes involving intimacy are rehearsed and performed with the utmost care and consideration of those involved. They take time to learn the needs/boundaries of performers so they may uphold them while also supporting the artistic vision of the project.
What kind of duties does an IC/ID have?
Duties can vary depending on the content of the project and the needs of the actors involved. They may include:
- Rehearsing and choreographing scenes involving kissing, implied sexual acts (consensual or non-consensual), kink/BDSM and/or other niche activities.
- Consulting on modesty wear for scenes involving nudity (implied, partial or full) as well as prosthetics or sexual devices (toys or wearable items).
- Providing supporting documentation for riders between performers and production.
- Upholding closed rehearsal/closed set protocols.
- Support actors in de-masking/de-rolling from their characters.
- Liaising and planning with other departments such as wardrobe, hair & make-up and stunts as needed for intimate scenes.
Testimonials
“Ashley is just the best to work with and I’m so grateful for everything she did during the shoot. Any hesitations I felt were replaced with confidence and excitement to get to portray this story because of how she anticipated our needs, communicated our boundaries and offered suggestions for anything that felt uncomfortable. Very grateful for all of Ashley’s compassion and care.”
Jessica Wong, Actor, 2 Days of Danny
“Working on-set with Ashley was such a pleasure. Her experience as an actor combined with her expertise in intimacy coordination created such a safe and comfortable environment to approach scene work.”
Anthony Curtis, Actor, Free Movies