IDC Intimacy Direction & Choreography Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When choreographing a simulated kiss for stage, what is the primary purpose of establishing 'anchor points'?
- To mark blocking positions on the stage floor
- To define specific body parts that may or may not make contact, creating clear physical boundaries (Correct answer)
- To identify camera angles for the director
- To indicate where lighting cues should occur
Correct answer: To define specific body parts that may or may not make contact, creating clear physical boundaries
Anchor points specify exactly which body parts are permitted to touch and which are off-limits, giving performers concrete physical boundaries to rehearse safely.
Question 2: An actor discloses during a pre-rehearsal check-in that a scene reminds them of a personal trauma. What is the intimacy coordinator's first step?
- Immediately replace the actor with an understudy
- Acknowledge the disclosure, pause the session, and privately discuss the actor's needs and limits before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Inform the director and continue rehearsal on schedule
- Document the disclosure and address it after rehearsal ends
Correct answer: Acknowledge the disclosure, pause the session, and privately discuss the actor's needs and limits before proceeding
The coordinator must first acknowledge the actor's experience and create a private space to assess whether and how to continue, prioritizing their wellbeing over schedule.
Question 3: Which rehearsal technique allows performers to practice an intimate scene at reduced emotional and physical intensity before full execution?
- Cold reading
- Modular or 'off-the-top' run-through (Correct answer)
- Intimacy stunt doubling
- Italian run or dry tech
Correct answer: Modular or 'off-the-top' run-through
A modular run-through breaks the scene into isolated choreographic units rehearsed at low intensity so performers can build confidence incrementally.
Question 4: What does 'contact improvisation' mean in the context of intimacy coordination, and why is it generally discouraged for intimate scenes?
- A structured partner-weight technique encouraged to build trust between performers
- Unscripted physical exploration between performers, discouraged because it bypasses consent agreements and choreographic clarity (Correct answer)
- A technique where performers improvise dialogue while maintaining blocked physical positions
- A method for the director to adjust blocking during performance
Correct answer: Unscripted physical exploration between performers, discouraged because it bypasses consent agreements and choreographic clarity
Unscripted physical improvisation in intimate scenes bypasses pre-negotiated consent boundaries and makes the choreography unrepeatable, creating safety risks.
Question 5: When a production uses prosthetic genitalia or modesty garments, who is primarily responsible for ensuring performers are comfortable with these items before filming?
- The costume designer, independently of the intimacy coordinator
- The intimacy coordinator, in collaboration with costume and the performer (Correct answer)
- The director of photography, as a technical camera decision
- The studio legal team, as a contractual matter
Correct answer: The intimacy coordinator, in collaboration with costume and the performer
The intimacy coordinator facilitates conversations between the performer and costume department to ensure modesty garments are acceptable and functional before the scene.
Question 6: In a scene requiring simulated intercourse, which choreographic framing technique creates the illusion of explicit action while protecting performers?
- Using wide master shots that capture full body movement
- Strategic use of angles, body positioning, and camera placement so no actual intimate contact occurs (Correct answer)
- Replacing performers with body doubles for all physical moments
- Shooting in a single continuous take to avoid editing ambiguity
Correct answer: Strategic use of angles, body positioning, and camera placement so no actual intimate contact occurs
Careful choreography of body angles and coordinating camera placement allows scenes to read as sexually explicit on screen while performers maintain agreed physical boundaries.
Question 7: What is the significance of a 'debrief' session following an intimate scene rehearsal or shoot?
- It is an optional bonus used only when time permits
- It provides performers a structured opportunity to voice concerns, process the experience, and reset before leaving the set (Correct answer)
- It is used solely by the director to give performance notes
- It documents completed work for the production report
Correct answer: It provides performers a structured opportunity to voice concerns, process the experience, and reset before leaving the set
A post-scene debrief creates a protected space for performers to transition out of the emotional and physical experience and raise any unresolved concerns.
IDC Intimacy Direction & Choreography Techniques 2
When choreographing a simulated kiss for stage, what is the primary purpose of establishing 'anchor points'?