IDC Communication & Consent Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an actor hesitates but does not verbally object during an intimacy rehearsal, what is the IDC-recommended response from the intimacy coordinator?
- Continue the scene and address concerns afterward
- Pause immediately and check in with the actor using open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Ask the director whether to proceed
- Assume consent unless the actor uses their safe word
Correct answer: Pause immediately and check in with the actor using open-ended questions
Non-verbal cues of hesitation require an immediate pause and open-ended check-in, because consent must be active and ongoing, not assumed from silence.
Question 2: Which communication model best describes the IDC approach to negotiating intimacy choreography before filming?
- Top-down directive from director to cast
- Bilateral negotiation between actor and intimacy coordinator with director input (Correct answer)
- Unilateral decision by the intimacy coordinator
- Verbal agreement recorded only in the shooting script
Correct answer: Bilateral negotiation between actor and intimacy coordinator with director input
IDC practice centers on bilateral negotiation where both the actor and intimacy coordinator collaborate, with the director providing creative context.
Question 3: A 'boundary conversation' in IDC practice is BEST described as:
- A legal deposition about on-set incidents
- A structured pre-scene dialogue where actors articulate personal limits and comfort zones (Correct answer)
- An informal chat between actors without the coordinator present
- A producer-led meeting about insurance liability
Correct answer: A structured pre-scene dialogue where actors articulate personal limits and comfort zones
A boundary conversation is a structured, coordinator-facilitated dialogue allowing actors to identify and communicate their personal limits before any intimacy work begins.
Question 4: In the context of IDC consent protocols, 'informed consent' specifically requires that actors:
- Sign a waiver releasing the production from liability
- Understand the full scope of choreography before agreeing to perform it (Correct answer)
- Consent only once at the start of the production contract
- Defer to the director's creative vision without modification
Correct answer: Understand the full scope of choreography before agreeing to perform it
Informed consent means actors have complete, accurate information about what intimacy work entails before they agree, enabling a genuinely voluntary decision.
Question 5: When should an intimacy coordinator formally re-obtain consent from an actor?
- Only if the actor requests a renegotiation
- Whenever the choreography changes significantly from what was previously agreed upon (Correct answer)
- At the start of each production week regardless of changes
- Only after the director requests a new take
Correct answer: Whenever the choreography changes significantly from what was previously agreed upon
Any significant change to agreed choreography voids prior consent, requiring a fresh consent conversation before proceeding.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of 'coercive communication' that an intimacy coordinator must recognize and interrupt?
- A director asking an actor how they feel about a scene change
- A producer implying an actor's job security depends on performing an unagreed intimacy act (Correct answer)
- A coordinator suggesting a modesty garment option
- A co-star offering to rehearse privately to save time
Correct answer: A producer implying an actor's job security depends on performing an unagreed intimacy act
Linking job security to compliance with unagreed requests is a coercive tactic that undermines free consent and must be interrupted by the coordinator.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'check-out' conversation at the end of an intimacy scene?
- To document the scene for the production report
- To give actors space to decompress, ask questions, and flag any concerns that arose (Correct answer)
- To obtain the director's approval for the next day's schedule
- To review footage with the actors for continuity purposes
Correct answer: To give actors space to decompress, ask questions, and flag any concerns that arose
A check-out conversation supports actor well-being by creating a safe space to decompress and surface any concerns after completing intimacy work.
IDC Communication & Consent Practices 2
When an actor hesitates but does not verbally object during an intimacy rehearsal, what is the IDC-recommended response from the intimacy coordinator?