IDC Trauma-Informed Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An actor discloses a history of sexual assault before rehearsing an intimacy scene. What is the intimacy coordinator's FIRST priority?
- Reassure them the scene will be fine and proceed
- Acknowledge the disclosure, pause planning, and collaboratively assess readiness and boundaries (Correct answer)
- Inform the director immediately so the scene can be recast
- Document the disclosure and continue with standard choreography
Correct answer: Acknowledge the disclosure, pause planning, and collaboratively assess readiness and boundaries
Acknowledging disclosure and pausing to collaboratively assess is the trauma-informed first step, centering the actor's agency.
Question 2: Which trauma response is often misread as an actor being 'difficult' or 'uncooperative' on set?
- Method acting immersion
- Freeze or shutdown response (Correct answer)
- Improvisation instinct
- Character motivation conflict
Correct answer: Freeze or shutdown response
The freeze/shutdown response is a physiological trauma reaction that can appear as resistance or disengagement.
Question 3: The concept of 'titration' in trauma-informed intimacy work refers to:
- Grading scene difficulty by rating system
- Introducing challenging material in small, manageable increments (Correct answer)
- Measuring chemical exposure on prosthetics
- Dividing scenes into timed segments
Correct answer: Introducing challenging material in small, manageable increments
Titration means exposing performers to difficult content gradually so the nervous system can integrate without overwhelm.
Question 4: A performer visibly trembles and their speech becomes halting mid-rehearsal. A trauma-informed coordinator should:
- Continue to build momentum so the actor can push through
- Call 'cut,' create space, and gently check in without demanding explanation (Correct answer)
- Ask the director to offer encouragement from the sidelines
- Remind the actor of their professional contract obligations
Correct answer: Call 'cut,' create space, and gently check in without demanding explanation
Stopping and offering non-pressuring check-in respects possible somatic trauma activation without forcing disclosure.
Question 5: Why is the phrase 'just pretend' potentially harmful when coaching intimacy with trauma survivors?
- It undermines character authenticity
- It dismisses physiological reality and pressures dissociation from genuine distress signals (Correct answer)
- It confuses method actors about their motivation
- It is considered unprofessional industry jargon
Correct answer: It dismisses physiological reality and pressures dissociation from genuine distress signals
Telling someone to 'just pretend' invalidates real somatic responses and may encourage performers to override important distress signals.
Question 6: In trauma-informed practice, 'pendulation' describes:
- Swinging between overly explicit and overly restrained choreography
- Rhythmically moving between activating content and resourcing/calming states (Correct answer)
- Alternating between on-camera and off-camera rehearsal
- Shifting between character perspectives in a scene
Correct answer: Rhythmically moving between activating content and resourcing/calming states
Pendulation is a somatic technique of moving attention between distress and a safe resource to build tolerance.
Question 7: Which element is most critical to include in a pre-scene intimacy meeting with a trauma-affected performer?
- Detailed story of the director's artistic vision
- Clear description of exactly what will happen on set so there are no surprises (Correct answer)
- A review of the actor's past roles involving intimacy
- A list of all crew members who will be present
Correct answer: Clear description of exactly what will happen on set so there are no surprises
Predictability reduces hypervigilance; clearly outlining what will happen respects the performer's need for control and informed consent.
IDC Trauma-Informed Practice 2
An actor discloses a history of sexual assault before rehearsing an intimacy scene.
What is the intimacy coordinator's FIRST priority?