Intimacy coordinators emerged from the Me Too movement to protect actors by ensuring informed consent, choreographing intimate scenes for authenticity, and providing independent advocacy on set. The role requires specialized training (minimum 75 hours via SAG-AFTRA guidelines) and involves practical tools like modesty barriers and action figures to communicate positioning without actors needing to draw on personal experience.
Key Moments
Brooke
“the position came out of the Me Too movement, where all of a sudden the awareness of some of the abuses in Hollywood became very apparent and as a result producers started being willing to pay for someone to be there both for uh guaranteeing that actors can consent to what's being asked of them”
Explaining the origin and core function of intimacy coordinators in the post-Me Too era
“Are there devices or kinds of garments that people wear because you can't really have uh people's you know, touch touching each other certain parts, right?”
Conan asking about physical barriers used during intimate scenes
“You're correct that sometimes filming these scenes is the least sexy thing you'll ever do. This is a modesty garment with a barrier. It's made by Covair in New York. And basically, this is for someone with external genitalia. Some might call that a penis.”
Demonstrating and explaining the specific barrier device used on SAG-AFTRA sets
“Well, two things actually I would say. One, um a like very fast orgasm where it's like we started touching and now we're all orgasming together at the same time. Um but the other I would say is we often don't see the moment of like insertion where, you know, like all of a sudden they're just having sex. But in real life, it takes some effort for the penis to find a vagina, for example.”
Discussing the most inaccurate depictions of sex in film compared to reality
“Walt Whitman, you know. And you realize that Oh Jesus Christ those are the sounds Conan makes and then when he reaches his climax he shouts the name of one of our great poets Walt Whitman. I mean I've just revealed to you and I think I just did right now to the world everybody listening what my jam is.”
Conan humorously illustrating why actors shouldn't improvise personal details during intimate scenes
Brooke is an intimacy coordinator who works on film and TV productions to choreograph and oversee intimate scenes while ensuring actor consent and safety. She began her career as a theater actor with an MFA in performance, then created warm-down techniques for actors processing emotional roles before transitioning to intimacy direction during the pandemic. Her work emerged from the post-Me Too movement, when awareness of abuse in Hollywood prompted producers to hire professionals who could advocate for actors outside the chain of command.
Takeaways
1
Intimacy coordinators require formal training and SAG-AFTRA credentials The field now has standardized requirements: minimum 75 hours of training and 60 days on a SAG set to be listed on the SAG-AFTRA registry. While schools now offer certification, credentials matter because not every IC is right for every project—producers should ask about an IC's specific process and experience.
2
Choreography replaces improvisation to protect actor boundaries Rather than asking actors to draw on personal experience, ICs now choreograph intimate scenes in advance—including specific breaths, vocal sounds, and movements. This allows actors with boundaries to propose alternatives that serve the story while keeping them off-balance and able to focus on acting rather than managing the physical scene.
3
Physical barriers prevent contact and reduce sensation on set SAG-AFTRA sets prohibit actual sex acts. ICs use modesty garments with built-in barriers (like those made by Covair) designed to prevent fluid transmission and reduce sensation. These are standard tools, not improvised solutions, and are taped to the body to maintain positioning throughout filming.
4
Accurate intimate scenes require showing reaction moments and fumbling Most filmed sex scenes skip the unglamorous but realistic moment of insertion or repositioning. ICs coach actors to include brief reactions—a breath, a pause—when something new happens physically, making scenes more authentic and providing better sexual education via media rather than perpetuating impossible Hollywood versions.
5
Independent advocates prevent power imbalance during intimate scenes A critical function of ICs is providing a confidential advocate actors can talk to without fear of being fired—unlike directors or producers who control hiring. This separation of power is essential because informed consent requires a safe space to voice concerns outside the command chain.
6
Closure practices help actors separate character from self Because the body responds automatically to physical touch and eye contact regardless of intent, ICs use closure practices (warm-downs) to help actors mentally transition out of character after intimate scenes. This is especially important in theater, where the same choreography repeats nightly and prevents off-stage relationships from accidentally changing the scripted scene.