Intimacy Coordinator Training: My Journey
- The evolution of intimacy on screen has taken a notable turn with the rise of intimacy coordinators.
- In the wake of the James Franco allegations, Emily Meade, the lead actress in HBO's "The Deuce," felt the need for an objective party to ensure everyone's comfort...
- That request led to Lauren Rodis meeting with each actor individually, relaying their concerns to the director, a practice now common.Rodis even assisted with practical matters, like providing...
The rise of intimacy coordinators is reshaping Hollywood’s sex scenes, ensuring both safety adn artistic expression. This pivotal role, highlighted in News Directory 3, is moving from a niche service to a standard practice, influencing everything from choreography to actor well-being. Discover how the James Franco allegations sparked the need for objective parties on set, and how HBO mandated intimacy coordinators on all productions. Learn about the establishment of SAG-AFTRA protocols and the evolving vocabulary used in on-screen intimacy. Explore the challenges and varying perspectives surrounding this new profession. How will the standardization of practices and training influence the future of on-screen storytelling? Discover what’s next …
Intimacy Coordinators Take Center Stage in Hollywood Sex Scenes
Updated June 10, 2025
The evolution of intimacy on screen has taken a notable turn with the rise of intimacy coordinators. What started as a niche role is now becoming a standard practice in Hollywood, shaping how sex scenes are conceived, choreographed, and executed.
In the wake of the James Franco allegations, Emily Meade, the lead actress in HBO’s “The Deuce,” felt the need for an objective party to ensure everyone’s comfort during sex scenes. “It was a sliding-doors moment that I don’t think would have happened at any other time and place,” Meade said, reflecting on the network’s surprising agreement to her request.
That request led to Lauren Rodis meeting with each actor individually, relaying their concerns to the director, a practice now common.Rodis even assisted with practical matters, like providing kneepads for an actress during a scene.
By October 2017,HBO mandated intimacy coordinators on every production. Amanda Blumenthal, a graduate of Somatica, was hired for “euphoria” after her mother, an HBO executive, mentioned the need for an “intimacy coordinator.” Mam Smith, a former stunt performer, joined “Westworld,” where she managed the well-being of two hundred naked extras painted blue and made sure they had warming tents and robes.
The role even extended to actors portraying intimacy coordinators, as seen in HBO’s “High Maintenance.” Abigail Bengson’s character, Kym, choreographed a sex scene between Nick Kroll and Rebecca Hall. Though, “The Idol” depicted a pop star locking an intimacy coordinator in a closet, highlighting potential friction.
Rodis expressed concerns about the rapid growth of the profession, fearing that the wrong person could jeopardize its progress. One aspiring coordinator suggested providing masturbation rooms after sex scenes, which Rodis quickly dismissed.
In 2019, Gabrielle Carteris, then president of SAG-AFTRA, convened meetings to establish official protocols for intimacy coordinators.These included safeguarding “closed sets” and reviewing final cuts for compliance with nudity riders. A registry was created to identify qualified candidates with at least sixty days of experience on a SAG-AFTRA set.
However, some viewed the registry as gatekeeping, fearing that producers would favor those with expensive SAG-approved training. Chelsea Pace, an intimacy coordinator and former professor, worried about a “certification gold rush.”
Professionalization also shifted the job’s tone. Duenyas, who worked as a “sex choreographer” in 2015, expressed nostalgia for the term, noting the shame surrounding sex.
Going back further, in 1980, Francis Ford Coppola hired Constance Penley to research erotic scenes for “One from the Heart.” Penley identified two key criteria: the characters are not supposed to have sex, and one or both are under threat of death. She cited the sex scene in “The Terminator” as an example.
Penley’s formula highlights the erotic energy in unexpected scenes, such as the hotel bar encounter between Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney in “Out of Sight.”
Intimacy coordinators use a specific vocabulary to enhance erotic tension through sex choreography. Terms like “distance” and “shapes” guide actors in creating compelling narratives through movement.
What’s next
As intimacy coordinators become more integrated into Hollywood, the industry will likely see further standardization of practices and training. The ongoing dialog between unions,coordinators,and productions will shape the future of on-screen intimacy,ensuring both artistic expression and actor well-being.