IDC Choreography for Stage & Screen 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The term 'intimacy choreography' differs from 'blocking' primarily because it:
- Specifically addresses the consensual negotiation and precise movement design of vulnerable physical contact (Correct answer)
- Refers only to dance sequences in musical theater
- Is performed exclusively by the director rather than a specialist
- Applies only to scenes involving nudity
Correct answer: Specifically addresses the consensual negotiation and precise movement design of vulnerable physical contact
Intimacy choreography encompasses the consent process, collaborative movement design, and performer safety protocols that standard blocking does not address.
Question 2: Which document should an intimacy coordinator review before designing choreography for a screen production?
- The nudity rider or personal appearance rider attached to each performer's contract (Correct answer)
- Only the shooting script, without reference to contracts
- The production budget to assess costume costs
- The marketing plan for the film's promotional materials
Correct answer: The nudity rider or personal appearance rider attached to each performer's contract
Nudity riders and personal appearance riders legally define what each performer has consented to, forming the non-negotiable baseline for all choreography decisions.
Question 3: A director requests that an intimacy scene be 'spontaneous' and unrehearsed to capture authentic emotion. The intimacy coordinator's response should be to:
- Explain that choreographed intimacy can still appear organic, and that unrehearsed contact violates performer consent protocols (Correct answer)
- Agree to the director's request since artistic vision takes priority
- Let performers decide without coordinator involvement
- Film the scene without intimacy coordinator oversight
Correct answer: Explain that choreographed intimacy can still appear organic, and that unrehearsed contact violates performer consent protocols
Spontaneity in intimate contact without prior choreography and consent is a safety violation; skilled coordinators help achieve organic-looking results through thorough preparation.
Question 4: When working with minors on productions that include scenes of simulated affection (non-sexual), the intimacy coordinator must additionally:
- Ensure a parent or guardian is present, follow child labor laws, and apply stricter movement limitations (Correct answer)
- Treat the work identically to adult performer choreography
- Defer all decisions to the minor's parent without coordinator involvement
- Avoid working with minors entirely and recommend rewriting the scene
Correct answer: Ensure a parent or guardian is present, follow child labor laws, and apply stricter movement limitations
Minors require additional safeguards including parental/guardian presence, adherence to child labor protections, and even more conservative choreography standards.
Question 5: The 'check-in, check-out' protocol in intimacy work refers to:
- Brief conversations before and after each intimate scene rehearsal to assess performer wellbeing (Correct answer)
- Sign-in sheets performers complete when entering and leaving the set
- The process of reviewing footage before and after editing
- Costume fittings conducted at the start and end of production
Correct answer: Brief conversations before and after each intimate scene rehearsal to assess performer wellbeing
Check-in and check-out conversations bookend each intimate work session, giving performers a structured opportunity to voice concerns or debrief.
Question 6: An intimacy coordinator notices that the same two performers are repeatedly scheduled for intimate scenes without rest days. The appropriate action is to:
- Raise a scheduling concern with the producer or AD, citing cumulative emotional labor and performer wellbeing (Correct answer)
- Continue without comment since scheduling is outside the coordinator's scope
- Advise performers to manage their own fatigue privately
- Request that one performer be replaced to break up the pairing
Correct answer: Raise a scheduling concern with the producer or AD, citing cumulative emotional labor and performer wellbeing
Intimacy coordinators advocate for performer wellbeing, which includes flagging scheduling patterns that create cumulative physical or emotional strain.
Question 7: In a multi-camera television production, how does intimacy choreography need to adapt compared to single-camera film?
- Choreography must be designed to read consistently from multiple angles simultaneously, limiting certain angle-dependent workarounds (Correct answer)
- Multi-camera productions require no intimacy coordination because scenes are filmed live
- Single-camera film requires more restrictive choreography than multi-camera TV
- Multi-camera setups allow complete improvisation because no close-ups are used
Correct answer: Choreography must be designed to read consistently from multiple angles simultaneously, limiting certain angle-dependent workarounds
Multi-camera setups capture the scene from several angles at once, meaning techniques that rely on hiding body placement from a single camera angle may not work.
IDC Choreography for Stage & Screen 3
The term 'intimacy choreography' differs from 'blocking' primarily because it: