IDC Intimacy Direction & Choreography Techniques 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'ladder of escalation' concept as applied to intimacy coordination?
- A union grievance procedure for on-set complaints
- A graduated framework for introducing physical intimacy in rehearsal from least to most vulnerable, building performer confidence at each step (Correct answer)
- A method for increasing dramatic intensity across multiple takes
- A protocol for escalating safety concerns to production management
Correct answer: A graduated framework for introducing physical intimacy in rehearsal from least to most vulnerable, building performer confidence at each step
The ladder of escalation structures rehearsal so performers move from non-contact work toward more vulnerable physical contact incrementally, with consent reaffirmed at each rung.
Question 2: An on-camera intimate scene involves a performer who is also the production's executive producer. How does this power dynamic affect the intimacy coordinator's approach?
- The performer's executive role reduces the need for a coordinator since they have production control
- The coordinator must be especially vigilant that the performer's producing role does not pressure co-performers to acquiesce to contact they would otherwise decline (Correct answer)
- Standard protocols apply without modification
- The coordinator defers all decisions to the performer given their authority
Correct answer: The coordinator must be especially vigilant that the performer's producing role does not pressure co-performers to acquiesce to contact they would otherwise decline
Significant power imbalances require the coordinator to create protected channels for co-performers to express limits without fear of professional consequences.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of 'boundary creep' in an intimate scene rehearsal?
- A performer asking for an additional run-through of choreography
- Gradual, incremental requests that push beyond originally negotiated limits, sometimes without performers realizing their boundaries are being exceeded (Correct answer)
- A director expanding the scene to include additional dialogue
- A coordinator updating the choreographic notation mid-rehearsal
Correct answer: Gradual, incremental requests that push beyond originally negotiated limits, sometimes without performers realizing their boundaries are being exceeded
Boundary creep occurs when small successive requests slowly push past negotiated limits; coordinators must recognize and halt this pattern before it compounds.
Question 4: What does 'informed consent' specifically mean in the professional context of intimacy direction?
- Performers signing a general contract that includes all scene types
- Performers agreeing to specific choreographic acts with full knowledge of what will happen, with the freedom to decline without professional penalty (Correct answer)
- Directors briefing performers on the scene's emotional arc before filming
- Producers disclosing nudity requirements during initial casting calls
Correct answer: Performers agreeing to specific choreographic acts with full knowledge of what will happen, with the freedom to decline without professional penalty
Informed consent requires that performers know exactly what physical actions are planned and freely agree to each element without coercion or fear of losing the role.
Question 5: In theatre, how does the repeated performance of an intimate scene across multiple shows create unique challenges compared to a single film shoot?
- Theatre requires more camera angles, increasing choreographic complexity
- The choreography must remain consistent and performers must maintain consent alignment across weeks or months of performances, including with understudies (Correct answer)
- Lighting constraints in theatre make intimacy coordination less necessary
- Union rules eliminate the need for an intimacy coordinator in long-run productions
Correct answer: The choreography must remain consistent and performers must maintain consent alignment across weeks or months of performances, including with understudies
Nightly repetition and cast changes with understudies require ongoing consent conversations and strict adherence to choreography to prevent drift or normalization of boundary violations.
Question 6: What is 'de-roling' and why do intimacy coordinators facilitate it after intense intimate scenes?
- A costume department process for removing modesty garments after filming
- A psychological transition practice that helps performers separate their personal identity from a role they just inhabited in a vulnerable scene (Correct answer)
- A director's technique for resetting performer energy between takes
- A script supervisor process for logging completed scenes
Correct answer: A psychological transition practice that helps performers separate their personal identity from a role they just inhabited in a vulnerable scene
De-roling uses physical or verbal rituals to help performers psychologically exit a character after intimate work, protecting their mental health and sense of self.
Question 7: When a script describes an intimate scene as 'passionate' without specific physical direction, what is the intimacy coordinator's responsibility in pre-production?
- Accept the vague description and allow performers to interpret it spontaneously
- Work with the director to translate the emotional intention into specific, negotiated choreographic actions before performers arrive on set (Correct answer)
- Advise the director to cut the scene if it lacks specificity
- Rely on performers' experience to determine the physical parameters on the day
Correct answer: Work with the director to translate the emotional intention into specific, negotiated choreographic actions before performers arrive on set
Vague emotional descriptors must be converted into concrete, choreographed physical actions through pre-production collaboration so performers know exactly what to consent to.
IDC Intimacy Direction & Choreography Techniques 4
What is the 'ladder of escalation' concept as applied to intimacy coordination?