Breaking Barriers: Unveiling the Unspoken Realities of the Intimacy Coordinator in Sex Education

Summary

Intimacy coordination in Hollywood, although often contested, is a vital tool to ensure the safety and comfort of actors during intimate scenes.

Initially, there were doubts and concerns surrounding intimacy coordination as it was believed to interfere with the acting and directing process. However, it has been proven that this practice not only improves the level of detail but also promotes open communication and consent. Despite some actors, such as Sean Bean and Michael Caine, expressing resistance, it is important to view intimacy coordination as a necessary standard in order to prioritize the well-being of actors on set.

Sex Education's intimacy coordinator, David Thackeray, addresses the criticisms surrounding the use of intimacy coordination on the show. Since its inception in 2019, Sex Education has been recognized as a leading example of implementing intimacy coordination in television. Given the show's focus on various aspects of sex, great attention was placed on ensuring the actors' consent, safety, and comfort by employing intimacy coordinators behind-the-scenes. Recently, the final season of Sex Education was released on Netflix, signaling the end of the beloved series.

In an interview with RadioTimes, Thackeray responds to the criticisms directed towards intimacy coordinators. He begins by acknowledging the dissenting opinions, expressing his understanding by stating that he fully comprehends their perspective. Thackeray goes on to share his own initial reservations about the role, questioning whether it would interfere with the creative process. However, he ultimately discovered that intimacy coordination is an invaluable and effective process that alleviates actors' concerns about their scene partners.

I completely understand and empathize with their concerns. Prior to the establishment of intimacy coordinators, there was a fear that it would primarily focus on health and safety measures, potentially hindering the creative processes of acting and directing.

However, after experiencing working with an intimacy coordinator and witnessing the benefits of a well-planned process, I realized that it actually adds depth to the work. It allows me to still respect and value the creative processes of the actors and directors involved, while providing useful tools and guidance to make the scene execution easier.

Moreover, through open communication and consent facilitated by the intimacy coordinator, we can push boundaries and explore even further in our performances. This eliminates the need for me to worry about my scene partner and enables me to focus fully on my character, knowing that the presence of an intimacy coordinator has fostered a safe and collaborative environment.

So for me, I think, find out what it's about and hopefully you have a great process with a great intimacy coordinator, and hopefully you will change your mind.

Why Intimacy Coordination Is Often Contested

After the emergence of the #MeToo movement, there has been a significant shift in Hollywood's recognition of the need to prioritize the sexual safety of actors, both during and outside of filming. HBO took the lead in 2018 by introducing a groundbreaking requirement for all shows featuring intimate scenes to have an intimacy coordinator on set. As a result of this progressive step, Sex Education became the first Netflix series to adopt the practice of employing an intimacy coordinator.

Intimacy coordination, although a nascent field, has often been misunderstood. Actor Sean Bean from Game of Thrones and Snowpiercer criticized intimacy coordinators for ruining the spontaneity of sex scenes on screen. Similarly, legendary British actor Michael Caine questioned the necessity of intimacy coordinators. These instances of actor pushback reveal that intimacy coordination is not universally embraced and is deemed unnecessary by those accustomed to the status quo.

However, as Thackeray points out, intimacy coordination is an essential tool to facilitate the filming of intimate scenes. Shows like Sex Education, House of the Dragon, and Heartstopper have recognized this and are committed to ensuring the safety of actors. It is hoped that influential figures in Hollywood can heed voices like Thackeray's and make intimacy coordination a more standard practice on set.

Source: Radio Times