IDC Intimacy Direction & Choreography Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An intimacy coordinator is asked to work on a production where a performer is a minor. What additional safeguards must be in place?
- The coordinator may proceed with standard adult protocols if the scene is non-explicit
- A parent or legal guardian must be present, and content must comply with child labor laws and age-appropriate content standards (Correct answer)
- Only union productions require additional safeguards for minors
- The minor's agent approval is the only additional requirement
Correct answer: A parent or legal guardian must be present, and content must comply with child labor laws and age-appropriate content standards
Working with minors requires parental or guardian presence, strict compliance with child labor laws, and heightened content restrictions regardless of scene explicitness.
Question 2: What is 'closed set protocol' and when should an intimacy coordinator advocate for it?
- A protocol requiring all dialogue to be pre-approved in writing
- Limiting set access to only crew members essential to filming an intimate scene to protect performer privacy (Correct answer)
- A procedure for sealing the set against outside noise during sensitive recordings
- A contractual clause negotiated before production begins
Correct answer: Limiting set access to only crew members essential to filming an intimate scene to protect performer privacy
Closed set limits personnel to essential crew only, reducing the number of observers during intimate scenes and protecting performers' dignity and sense of safety.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the role of 'choreographic notation' in intimacy coordination?
- Musical scoring adapted for movement sequences
- A written or diagrammatic record of all negotiated physical choreography so scenes are repeatable and boundaries are documented (Correct answer)
- A legal contract replacing verbal consent agreements
- Director's notes on performance quality
Correct answer: A written or diagrammatic record of all negotiated physical choreography so scenes are repeatable and boundaries are documented
Notation records the exact agreed-upon choreography so that every take is executed consistently and any deviation from the agreed plan is immediately identifiable.
Question 4: A director asks performers to 'find it organically' during an intimate scene rather than following choreography. How should the intimacy coordinator respond?
- Step aside and allow the director's creative vision to guide the scene
- Intervene and explain that organic improvisation bypasses established consent agreements, then work with the director to achieve the creative goal within a choreographed framework (Correct answer)
- Ask performers privately if they are comfortable before informing the director
- Note the request in the production report and continue
Correct answer: Intervene and explain that organic improvisation bypasses established consent agreements, then work with the director to achieve the creative goal within a choreographed framework
Improvisation in intimate scenes violates the consent framework; the coordinator must redirect the director toward creative solutions that honor negotiated boundaries.
Question 5: What is the purpose of establishing a 'safe word' or 'safe signal' during intimate scene rehearsals?
- To signal to the director that a performer is ready for a take
- To give performers an immediate, non-judgmental mechanism to pause the scene if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable (Correct answer)
- To indicate to camera operators when to cut
- To alert the intimacy coordinator that choreography is complete
Correct answer: To give performers an immediate, non-judgmental mechanism to pause the scene if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable
A safe word or signal gives performers unilateral power to stop the scene instantly without explanation, reinforcing that their wellbeing takes priority over production flow.
Question 6: In film production, what distinguishes the intimacy coordinator's responsibilities from those of a stunt coordinator when both are present?
- Stunt coordinators handle all physical scenes; intimacy coordinators focus only on dialogue
- The intimacy coordinator focuses on consent, psychological safety, and sexual or romantic content, while the stunt coordinator focuses on physical safety for action sequences (Correct answer)
- They have identical responsibilities and can be interchanged on set
- The intimacy coordinator reports to the stunt coordinator in all physical scenes
Correct answer: The intimacy coordinator focuses on consent, psychological safety, and sexual or romantic content, while the stunt coordinator focuses on physical safety for action sequences
While both prioritize safety, the intimacy coordinator's unique domain is the emotional and consent framework around sexual and romantic content, not general action choreography.
Question 7: When reviewing a script during pre-production, what is the most critical element an intimacy coordinator identifies first?
- The budget allocated for intimate scene coverage
- All scenes involving nudity, sexual content, or romantic physical contact to begin early consent conversations with the production (Correct answer)
- The casting decisions for roles with intimate content
- The shooting schedule to determine how many days are available for intimacy rehearsal
Correct answer: All scenes involving nudity, sexual content, or romantic physical contact to begin early consent conversations with the production
Early identification of all intimate content allows the coordinator to initiate consent conversations, negotiate limits, and plan choreography before rehearsals begin.
IDC Intimacy Direction & Choreography Techniques 3
An intimacy coordinator is asked to work on a production where a performer is a minor.
What additional safeguards must be in place?