intimacy professional
what does an intimacy professional do?
“I know what it is like to shoot without an intimacy director. The messy, embarrassing feeling for the crew. The internal devastation for the actor. Intimacy direction was essential to my show and I believe essential for every production company that wants to make work exploring themes of consent.”
Michaela Cole in her 2021 Bafta acceptance speech
In the wake of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, Intimacy Coordination has emerged to the front of the professional film and TV scene. Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime, BBC, Sky TV and Channel 4 have been quick to respond by leading the charge to safeguard their sets.
An intimacy professional is an advocate, a liaison between actors, creative teams and production, and a movement coach and/or choreographer in regards to nudity, simulated sex, other intimate scenes and storytelling.
I am an Intimacy Professional who works as an Intimacy Coordinator (Film & TV)
and Intimacy Director (Live Performance).
And my role is to;
Act as an advocate who serves as a liaison between a production and its actors.
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Consult with the director and the executive producer/writer to discuss details of script breakdown and intimate scenes* to determine: 1) degree of nudity, 2) specifics of simulated sex (as applicable), and 3) any other pertinent details.
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Ensure clear communication with actors regarding any intimate scenes they are involved in.
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Meet one-on-one with actors prior to the rehearsal and filming of an intimate scene and confirm consent for the descriptive language to be used in the nudity or simulated sex rider/waiver, and any other consideration for the filming of the scene.
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Communicate and, as needed, collaborate with departments such as assistant directors, costumes, props and makeup to ensure that the actors are provided with appropriate nudity garments, barriers, and prosthetics to reflect rider/waiver details.
Ensure that actors and other production personnel adhere to proper safety protocols.
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Offer a close-set guideline and ensure that proper implementation is in place.
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Offer health & safety guidelines & measurements.
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Offer risk assessment on set.
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Ensure continued consent throughout the filming of scenes while minimizing interference in production flow.
Serve as a resource in realizing a director’s vision.
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Offer support and collaboration in serving the vision and story.
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Assume the role of a movement choreographer if requested by the director to fulfil the visual believability & physical storytelling.
And I am available for post-filming support if actors have questions or concerns.
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I understand that filming intimacy scenes could be a highly vulnerable and triggering experience for actors. I am happy to offer any necessary support needed for those individuals as a certified Mental Health First Aider.
*intimate scenes are scenes that involve nudity, simulated sex and/or other intimate elements.
The Woods @ Southwark Playhouse by Pamela Raith
My journey as an IP has just begun, and I am truly excited to be the advocate of creating safe, inclusive and creative spaces on sets, in rehearsal spaces and class rooms for everyone involved.
credits
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich | Romeo & Juliet | 2024 | Intimacy Director *also as the Fight Director | Dir: Douglas Rintoul
National Theatre | Jykell & Hyde | 2023 | Intimacy Director | Dir: Kirsty Housley
ITV | Protection | 2023 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: Simen Alsvik/ Sasha Ransome
ENO | La Traviata | 2023 | Intimacy Director *also as the Fight Director | Dir: Ruth Knight
Hope Mill Theatre | To Wong Foo the Musical | 2023 | Intimacy Director *also as the Fight Director | Dir: Douglas Carter Beane
Sheffield Crucible | Miss Saigon the Musical | 2023 | Intimacy Director * also as the Fight Director |
Dir: Robert Hastie & Anthony Lau
Royal Exchange Manchester & Young Vic, London | untitled: f*ck m*ss s**gon play | 2023 |
Intimacy Director *also as the Fight Director | Dir: Roy Alexander Weise
Riverside Studio | How to Break Out of a Detention Centre | 2023 |
Intimacy Director * also as the Fight Director | Dir: Nico Vacarri (BÉZNĂ Theatre Company)
Shakespeare's Globe | Titus Andronicus | 2023 | Intimacy Director * also as the Fight Director |
Dir: Jude Christian
BBC | Silent Witness | 2022 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: Bindu de Stoppani
Southwark Playhouse | The Lesson | 2022 | Intimacy Director | Dir: Max Lewendel
Sky | Real Friend | 2022 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: Rachel Stubbings
Hulu | History of a Pleasure Seeker | 2022 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: Julie Ann Robinson
Wilton Music Hall | Starcrossed | 2022 | Intimacy Director * also as the Fight Director | Dir: Philp Wilson
Southwark Playhouse | The Woods | 2022 | Intimacy Director * also as the Fight Director | Dir: Russell Bolam
Queens Theatre, Hornchurch | All My Sons | 2022 | Intimacy Director * also as the Fight Director |
Dir: Douglas Rintoul
Disney + | Culprits | 2022 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: J Blakeson
BBC | Strike: Troubled Blood | 2022 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: Susan Tully
BBC | Life After Life | 2021 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: John Crowley
BBC | Sherwood | 2021 | Intimacy Coordinator | Dir: Lewis Arnold, Ben A. Williams
BBC | Superhoe | 2021 | Intimacy Coordinator (cover) | Dir: Dawn Shadforth
Ghosts @ The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare's Globe
by Marc Brenner
Starcrossed @ Wilton Music Hall by Pamela Raith
Training & Certificates
Moving Body Arts | Intimacy Coordination Mentoring Scheme for Under Represented Group (UK) Instructor: Yarit Dor
MHFA England | Mental Health First Aider
Emergency First Aider at work place
CPD Certified in;
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Sexual Harassment Awareness
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Bullying and Harassment
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Conflict Management
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Equality and Diversity
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LGBTQ+ Awareness
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Unconscious Bias