Actors' Union Issues Standards for Supervisors of Sex Scenes
The guidelines for so-called "intimacy coordinators" include one-on-one meetings with actors to be clear about what they're consenting to in sex scenes
By Associated Press •
Theater seats are seen at a movie theater in Hollywood.
The union that represents actors and television performers issued a series of standards and guidelines Wednesday for crew members who supervise scenes involving sex and nudity. The goal is to combat on-set sexual harassment.
The framework announced by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists provides a common set of policies and practices for so-called "intimacy coordinators" to help productions and actors navigate sexually sensitive scenes.
Under the guidelines, intimacy coordinators should have pre-production meetings with producers, directors and writers to establish the exact degrees of nudity expected and the specifics of simulated sex as established in scripts. They should have one-on-one meetings with actors to be clear about what they consent to.
"These protocols and guidelines will help to normalize and encourage the use of intimacy coordinators in productions, therefore ensuring the safety and security of SAG-AFTRA members while they work," union President Gabrielle Carteris said in a statement.
The guidelines say that on set, intimacy coordinators should review the so-called "modesty garments" and physical barriers used during simulations of onscreen sex, and be familiar with ways to help directors choreograph the scenes in ways that can keep them believable and artistic without sacrificing the dignity or safety of performers.
Phil Harris/AP
From left, Britain’s Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge leave the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London Monday March 9, 2020. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family along with various government leaders and guests are attending the annual Commonwealth Day service, which is also the last event for Meghan and Harry as senior royals before they break from Buckingham Palace.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 05, 2020 in London, England.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Citi
Harry Styles performs onstage during Citi Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 26, 2020 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin, and SUGA of the K-pop boy band BTS visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 21, 2020, in New York City. The band’s newest album, “Map of the Soul: 7” released today.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
J-Hope, SUGA, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, V and Jin of the K-pop boy band BTS visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 21, 2020, in New York City. The band’s newest album, “Map of the Soul: 7” released today.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Fans of the K-pop boy band BTS, nicknamed the “Army,” hold up posters in support of the band as they visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Feb. 21, 2020, in New York City. The band’s newest album, “Map of the Soul: 7” released today.
Mike Marsland/WireImage
Lizzo poses in the winners rooms at The BRIT Awards 2020 at the O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020 in London, England.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Lizzo performs during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Harry Styles performs during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, left, and Hans Zimmer, right, perform during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart perform during The BRIT Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena, Feb. 18, 2020 in London, England.
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music
Melanie C attends the Universal Music BRIT Awards after-party 2020 hosted by Soho House at The Ned, Feb. 18, 2020, in London, England.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson performs during the 69th NBA All-Star Game at United Center on February 16, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
A tribute to Kobe Bryant is shown during the half time performance during the 69th NBA All-Star Game on February 16, 2020 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Kim Kardashian, rapper, Kanye West, and rapper, J. Cole attend the 69th NBA All-Star Game on February 16, 2020 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Siba, best in show winner of Westminster Kennel Club dog show, poses for a picture at the Empire State Building in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
John Minchillo/AP
Siba, the standard poodle, competes for Best in Show during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho poses with his engraved awards as he attends the 92nd Oscars Governors Ball at the Hollywood Highland Center in Hollywood, Feb. 9, 2020. “Parasite,” Bong’s latest work, made Oscar history when it became the first foreign language film to win the “Best Picture” award on Sunday.
Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/APF via Getty Images
Renee Zellweger, flanked by producers David Livingstone, right, and director Rupert Goold, left, holds her Oscar for Best Actress for “Judy” as she attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd Oscars at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Feb. 9, 2020.
Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/APF via Getty Images
Greta Gerwig, center, and Noah Baumbach, second-right, attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Feb. 9, 2020.
Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/AFP via Getty Images
Billy Porter attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Feb. 9, 2020.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
New Zealand director/actor Taika Waititi waits as his award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Jojo Rabbit” is engraved at the 92nd Oscars Governors Ball at the Hollywood Highland Center in Hollywood, California on Feb. 9, 2020.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel arrive at the premiere of USA Network’s “The Sinner” on Feb. 3, 2020, in West Hollywood, California.
Rachel Luna/WireImage
From left: Matt Bomer, Jessica Biel, Bill Pullman, Chris Messina and Parisa Fitz-Henley attend the premiere of USA Network’s “The Sinner” at the London West Hollywood on Feb. 3, 2020, in West Hollywood, California.
JC Olivera/Getty Images
From left: Janel Parrish, Lana Condor, John Corbett, Emilija Baranac, Sarayu Blue, Ross Butler, Anna Cathcart, Noah Centineo, Madeleine Arthur, Jordan Fisher and Trezzo Mahoro attend the Premiere of Netflix’s “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” at the Egyptian Theatre on Feb. 3, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
JC Olivera/Getty Images
Lana Condor attends the Premiere of Netflix’s “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” at the Egyptian Theatre on Feb. 3, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
Maddie Meyer/FilmMagic
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami, Florida.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Emme Maribel Muñiz and Jennifer Lopez perform onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami, Florida.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Shakira performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2020.
Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Kodak
From left: ‘Auteur Award’ winners Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach and the ‘Maverick Award’ winner Tyler, the Creator, seen at the Fourth Annual Kodak Film Awards at ASC Clubhouse on Jan. 29, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Kodak
From left: ‘Maverick Award’ winner Tyler, the Creator, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ winner Quentin Tarantino and ‘Auteur Award’ winners Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach pose backstage during the Fourth Annual Kodak Film Awards at ASC Clubhouse on Jan. 29, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell pose with the awards for Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Best New Artist, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album during the Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles.
The guidelines, drawn up by a team of leaders from the union, actors and intimacy coordinators, directly address the problem of sexual harassment on sets, the union's National Executive Director David White said in a statement.
Deviations from the standards do not carry enforcement penalties.
Amanda Blumenthal, founder of the Intimacy Professionals Association, helped create the guidelines and said in a statement that they "strike the right balance between describing the roles and responsibilities of intimacy coordinators while still allowing for flexibility from show-to-show."
The move is the latest of several made by SAG-AFTRA during the #MeToo era in an attempt to fight sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct aimed at actors. They include the adoption in 2018 of a code of conduct, which says among other things that auditions and similar professional meetings should not be held in hotel rooms or homes.
