IDC Industry Standards & Best Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The IDC (Intimacy Directors and Coordinators) organization was co-founded by which pioneering figure in the field?
- Ita O'Brien
- Aly Stoia (Correct answer)
- Claire Warden
- Amanda Blumenthal
Correct answer: Aly Stoia
Aly Stoia is a co-founder of IDC (Intimacy Directors and Coordinators), one of the leading credentialing organizations in the field.
Question 2: When choreographing an intimate scene, the intimacy coordinator should treat physical contact with the same rigor as which of the following?
- Dialogue memorization
- Stunt choreography (Correct answer)
- Costume fittings
- Camera blocking for action sequences
Correct answer: Stunt choreography
Intimate scene choreography is considered analogous to stunt choreography — each movement is precisely planned, rehearsed, and documented for performer safety.
Question 3: A production asks an intimacy coordinator to work without pay on a student film as 'exposure.' According to professional standards, the IC should:
- Accept if the project has strong artistic merit
- Decline, as professional ICs should not devalue the field by working for free (Correct answer)
- Accept only if the student agrees to credit them prominently
- Consult the director's guild for guidance on unpaid work
Correct answer: Decline, as professional ICs should not devalue the field by working for free
Professional standards discourage unpaid work as it devalues the profession and can undermine the perceived importance of the role.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT a standard phase in an intimacy coordinator's workflow on a film production?
- Script breakdown and content assessment
- Approval of final scene cuts in the editing room (Correct answer)
- Pre-production meetings with cast and director
- On-set coordination and post-scene check-ins
Correct answer: Approval of final scene cuts in the editing room
Intimacy coordinators do not typically have editorial authority in the editing room; their role ends with principal photography and actor support.
Question 5: An actor tells an intimacy coordinator they are uncomfortable with a scene but says 'it's fine, I can push through it.' Best practice is to:
- Take them at their word and proceed with filming
- Gently explore whether the discomfort can be addressed or the scene adjusted (Correct answer)
- Report the discomfort to the producer immediately
- Halt production and require a full script revision
Correct answer: Gently explore whether the discomfort can be addressed or the scene adjusted
An IC should create space for performers to express genuine needs rather than accepting surface-level reassurances that mask real discomfort.
Question 6: What does 'aftercare' refer to in the context of intimacy coordination best practices?
- Post-production review of intimate scenes for content rating purposes
- Emotional and psychological support offered to performers after filming difficult scenes (Correct answer)
- Cleaning and returning intimacy barriers and modesty garments after use
- Filing documentation with the studio's HR department after an intimacy scene is completed
Correct answer: Emotional and psychological support offered to performers after filming difficult scenes
Aftercare involves checking in with performers following emotionally or physically demanding intimate scenes to support their wellbeing.
Question 7: Which of the following best characterizes the intimacy coordinator's relationship to the director?
- Subordinate — the IC implements the director's vision without question
- Collaborative — the IC provides safety expertise while supporting the director's creative vision (Correct answer)
- Supervisory — the IC has final approval authority over all intimate scene content
- Advisory only — the IC makes recommendations but has no standing to intervene
Correct answer: Collaborative — the IC provides safety expertise while supporting the director's creative vision
The IC works collaboratively with the director, contributing specialized safety expertise while supporting the creative vision of the production.
IDC Industry Standards & Best Practices 3
The IDC (Intimacy Directors and Coordinators) organization was co-founded by which pioneering figure in the field?