Safe spaces: intimacy coordinators

Sex is no stranger to the stage or screen. Intimate moments between couples, teenagers gently sharing their first kiss: to neglect these moments in storytelling would be to overlook a major part of what makes up the rich tapestry of life. But what happens to the actors that bring those moments to life? In movie studios, if it takes part in a closed set, with chaperones and consent given at every turn, those scenes can simply be part of the filmmaking process. The same goes for theatre: if the actors are comfortable with one another and there is a safe space created between actors, directors and the audience in the room, intimate scenes can merely be part of the story being told. So often, however, that isn't the case. With the rise of the #MeToo movement and the growing conversations around sexual misconduct and problematic power dynamics between men and women, directors and actors, studios and individuals, we are hearing more about the intimate scenes that have been poorly managed. The fallout can be devastating.