Faye Driscoll’s Weathering begins with voices. Singing, “teeth, skin, mouth,” the performers develop a harmony around the repetition of the word “skin.”
Friday, 5th February 2021 at 1:49 pm
During a time when people can’t get closer than two metres to each other, it’s unsurprising that TV shows depicting intimacy have racked up phenomenal success – from Normal People to Bridgerton. The triumph of those steamy sex scenes, however, has been hugely reliant on a behind-the-scenes crew member: the intimacy coordinator.
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Similar to a stunt director, the intimacy coordinator is responsible for aiding in the creation of sex scenes and, most importantly, ensuring actors are comfortable and consent to what they’re being asked to do. Last week, Keira Knightley made headlines when she stated she’d no longer film sex scenes with male directors. In a similar vein, Netflix’s Bridgerton has been heralded for its portrayal of sex scenes through the female gaze; with leading actors Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page speaking out about the importance of having an intimacy coordinator on set.
Let’s Talk About Simulated Sex: Intimacy Coordinators Two Years On
by Emily Hilton
December 10, 2020, 6:00am PST
The field is booming, yet still faces resistance from some skeptical creators as well as representation and credentialing issues: Anybody can come off the street and say I m an intimacy coordinator. I love those moments when you start shooting and the director says, OK, I think we got it, and then everyone, including the actors, starts laughing, says intimacy coordinator Yarit Dor (
Carnival Row), who worked in fight and movement direction before training in intimacy. We re obviously very serious and professional, but there s also a need for that moment of realization that we re playing pretend sex, we re wearing these weird garments on our bits and it s funny. And when you see actors having a bit of a laugh, it just relieves this tension around a very sensitive scene.