IDC Boundary Setting & Advocacy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes 'boundary creep' in the context of intimacy coordination?
- Gradual escalation of physical or emotional demands beyond agreed-upon limits over time (Correct answer)
- A performer voluntarily expanding their comfort zone during rehearsal
- The IC updating the boundary agreement after each shoot day
- A director reducing the intimacy content after principal photography
Correct answer: Gradual escalation of physical or emotional demands beyond agreed-upon limits over time
Boundary creep refers to incremental normalization of requests that collectively exceed established limits, which ICs must actively monitor and interrupt.
Question 2: An intimacy coordinator notices that an actor's body language signals discomfort despite verbal agreement. What is the correct action?
- Continue the scene since verbal consent was given
- Call a brief break and privately check in with the actor (Correct answer)
- Alert the camera operator to zoom out to reduce pressure on the actor
- Inform the director that the actor is not performing adequately
Correct answer: Call a brief break and privately check in with the actor
Non-verbal cues are valid signals of distress; the IC must respond to the whole person, not just their words, by creating a private space to reassess consent.
Question 3: Which document formalizes a performer's specific physical limits and is typically reviewed and updated before each shoot day involving intimacy?
- Call sheet
- Intimacy agreement or boundary agreement form (Correct answer)
- SAG-AFTRA general release
- Production design brief
Correct answer: Intimacy agreement or boundary agreement form
An intimacy agreement or boundary agreement form is the standard IDC-recommended tool that captures each performer's specific limits for the scenes being filmed that day.
Question 4: When a performer says 'I'll do whatever the scene needs,' how should the IC interpret and respond to this statement?
- Accept it as blanket consent and plan the scene accordingly
- Recognize it as an open-ended statement and facilitate a structured conversation to identify specific limits (Correct answer)
- Document it as informed consent and proceed without further discussion
- Advise the director that no IC oversight is needed
Correct answer: Recognize it as an open-ended statement and facilitate a structured conversation to identify specific limits
Open-ended statements do not constitute informed consent; the IC must guide the performer through a specific discussion to surface any hidden limits or concerns.
Question 5: A production asks the IC to skip the pre-scene intimacy check-in to save time. The IC's appropriate response is to:
- Agree if the scene is short and the actors seem comfortable
- Decline and explain that the check-in is non-negotiable for performer safety (Correct answer)
- Conduct a shortened two-minute check-in as a compromise
- Delegate the check-in to the first assistant director
Correct answer: Decline and explain that the check-in is non-negotiable for performer safety
Pre-scene check-ins are a foundational safety protocol; the IC must hold this boundary even under time pressure, as skipping it undermines the entire consent framework.
Question 6: In IDC methodology, 'active bystander intervention' refers to:
- Crew members ignoring inappropriate behavior to avoid conflict
- A third party stepping in to interrupt harmful dynamics before they escalate (Correct answer)
- The IC filing a report after witnessing a boundary violation
- The director addressing misconduct during post-production reviews
Correct answer: A third party stepping in to interrupt harmful dynamics before they escalate
Active bystander intervention is the proactive act of interrupting a potentially harmful situation in real time, a skill the IDC trains coordinators to model and encourage in crew.
Question 7: A performer expresses that a kissing scene triggers trauma from their personal history. Which response aligns with IDC best practices?
- Advise the performer to seek therapy before the shoot
- Acknowledge the disclosure, affirm their limits, and collaborate on choreography that achieves the scene's narrative goal without triggering contact (Correct answer)
- Report the disclosure to the casting director as a performance risk
- Replace the performer with someone who has no such history
Correct answer: Acknowledge the disclosure, affirm their limits, and collaborate on choreography that achieves the scene's narrative goal without triggering contact
The IC's role is to create safe conditions by honoring disclosed trauma-related limits and finding creative solutions, not to evaluate or escalate a performer's personal history.
IDC Boundary Setting & Advocacy 3
Which of the following best describes 'boundary creep' in the context of intimacy coordination?