IDC Safety Protocols & Risk Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'three R's' framework sometimes referenced in intimacy coordination?
- Review, Rehearse, Record
- Recognize, Respond, Report
- Rights, Respect, Responsibility (Correct answer)
- Risk, Remedy, Resolution
Correct answer: Rights, Respect, Responsibility
Rights, Respect, and Responsibility form a foundational ethical framework guiding how intimacy coordinators approach performer safety and set culture.
Question 2: An actor is cast as a replacement three days before filming an intimate scene. What modified protocol should the intimacy coordinator prioritize?
- Waive the intimacy rider requirement given time constraints
- Conduct an expedited but thorough intimacy consultation, establish limits, and adapt choreography before filming (Correct answer)
- Rely on the previous actor's boundaries as a baseline for the new actor
- Delay the scene until full standard preparation time is available
Correct answer: Conduct an expedited but thorough intimacy consultation, establish limits, and adapt choreography before filming
Even under time pressure, the IC must conduct proper consent and limits discussions and adapt choreography—safety procedures cannot be skipped for new cast members.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the purpose of 'pillar' language in intimacy choreography notes?
- Identifying structural supports on set that can be used as scene furniture
- Using neutral, anatomically precise language to clearly describe physical choreography without ambiguity (Correct answer)
- Establishing which elements of a scene are non-negotiable for creative purposes
- Documenting scene parameters to prevent actors from improvising
Correct answer: Using neutral, anatomically precise language to clearly describe physical choreography without ambiguity
Pillar language uses clear, neutral, anatomically accurate terms to describe choreography so all parties have an unambiguous shared understanding of what is planned.
Question 4: A production company asks the intimacy coordinator to also serve as an on-set therapist for distressed performers. Why should the IC decline this dual role?
- It violates union regulations regarding scope of work
- Conflating the IC role with therapy undermines both functions and may harm performers by blurring professional boundaries (Correct answer)
- Therapy is covered under the production's insurance, making IC involvement redundant
- The IC role is limited to choreography and does not include emotional support
Correct answer: Conflating the IC role with therapy undermines both functions and may harm performers by blurring professional boundaries
The IC role includes pastoral support but must not be conflated with clinical therapy, as doing so harms performers and compromises the IC's professional effectiveness.
Question 5: What risk does 'scope creep' present in an intimacy coordinator's engagement?
- The IC may be asked to coordinate scenes beyond their technical skill level
- Gradually expanding responsibilities without proper negotiation can compromise the IC's ability to maintain appropriate focus on performer safety (Correct answer)
- The production may increase the IC's workload without additional compensation
- Directors may begin directing performers through the IC, undermining direct communication
Correct answer: Gradually expanding responsibilities without proper negotiation can compromise the IC's ability to maintain appropriate focus on performer safety
Scope creep dilutes the IC's focused attention on safety and consent by adding responsibilities that were not part of the original engagement agreement.
Question 6: An actor approaches the intimacy coordinator privately and reveals they feel pressured by the director to perform contact beyond their agreed limits. What is the IC's next step?
- Advise the actor to document the incident and contact their agent
- Immediately intervene to reset the scene parameters and address the power dynamic with the relevant parties (Correct answer)
- Report the director to HR before taking any on-set action
- Ask the actor if they want to proceed before taking any action on their behalf
Correct answer: Immediately intervene to reset the scene parameters and address the power dynamic with the relevant parties
When an actor reports that agreed limits are being exceeded due to pressure, the IC must immediately intervene to restore the established safety parameters.
Question 7: Why is it problematic for an intimacy coordinator to rely solely on a performer's verbal agreement on the day of filming to establish consent for intimate scenes?
- Verbal agreements are not legally binding and may not hold up in court
- On-set power dynamics and performance pressure can compromise genuine free consent, making advance discussion essential (Correct answer)
- Production insurance requires written consent documentation for all intimate scenes
- Verbal agreements are too informal for the professional standards of the industry
Correct answer: On-set power dynamics and performance pressure can compromise genuine free consent, making advance discussion essential
Set power dynamics—involving directors, producers, and the filming environment—can inhibit truly free consent, which is why consent must be established in advance, outside that pressure.
IDC Safety Protocols & Risk Management 3
What is the 'three R's' framework sometimes referenced in intimacy coordination?