Dana Gee for the Vancouver Sun

Publishing date: Jul 29, 2022

On-set support a growing field, helping actors throw back the covers in intimate scenes

Love scenes are not that lovely for actors.

It’s the job of the intimacy co-ordinator to make those manufactured moments less nerve-wracking — and to ensure the safety of the performers.

As "an actor's advocate," intimacy coordinators help with intimate scenes on set. They also do so much more, including supporting young performers and babies and answering questions from families.

Before intimacy coordinators were an official title, parts of the work was often done by a combination of the wardrobe department, directors, and even stunt coordinators.

Last month, four B.C.-based intimacy coordinators made SAG-AFTRA's intimacy coordinator registry for film and television.

The Blue Hour, SkirtsAfire’s main stage production for 2020, is notable for bringing an emerging job description to a theatre stage in Edmonton.

The job is that of intimacy director (also known as intimacy coordinator, particularly in film and television). The position — which has gained prominence since the #MeToo movement — sees trained professionals ensuring that scenes involving nudity or sex, or other forms of touching, are done following rules of communication and conduct to ensure the safety and comfort of performers.

We sat down with Samantha Jeffery, one of our 2020 Nordic & Cloutier Family Innovation Award recipients. This annual award provides one local artist, group, or company with up to $2,500 in funding towards professional development, training, innovation, and/or special project development.

Sharing a first kiss with a stranger can be unnerving. Sharing that kiss in front of a captive audience can be truly daunting.

For decades, theatre and film scenes involving sex or intimacy were staged by directors with little experience in establishing safe boundaries for the performers. Or actors were left to their own devices.

Now there is a new player behind the scenes.

Since the "Me Too" movement, there's been growing demand for "intimacy directors" in stage and film productions. We talk to one about her work in the local theatre scene…