What is an intimacy coordinator?
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What is an intimacy coordinator? ♡
intimacy coordinators support safe, collaborative, and creatively aligned story telling in scenes involving nudity & simulated sex
Keeping things running smoothly.
IC’s provide script breakdowns for Directors, advise on appropriate modesty garments for actors, facilitate nudity riders, write risk assessments & closed set memos. Supporting productions in following best practices for industry and union guidelines.
Working collaboratively across departments.
IC’s liaise with teams like Costume, Hair & Makeup, Art Department and ADs to coordinate the practical needs of scenes involving nudity, intimacy or hyper-exposure — ensuring everyone is aligned behind the scenes.
Supporting performance, not policing it.
IC’s offer clarity and support around intimate action so performers can focus on giving their best performance, knowing their boundaries are respected and safeguarded.
Navigating sensitive content with care.
Whether it’s simulated sex, sexual violence, or emotionally exposed material, IC’s support performers through preparation, debriefing, and closure practices as needed.
Providing consent-based guidance.
IC’s advise cast, crew and employers on current standards and language around consent, power dynamics and communication — always adapted to the unique needs of each production.
Intimacy Coordinators are trained to navigate sensitive content with care and awareness.
While some ICs hold qualifications in Mental Health First Aid, we are not a substitute for a mental health professional when one is required due to the nature or intensity of a scene. We also do not replace HR or legal personnel where those roles are needed on a production. Importantly, our role is not to sanitise scenes, but to help make them achievable, creatively fulfilling, and sustainable through clear communication, structured support, and care for everyone involved.
An Intimacy Coordinator is a trained professional who supports the safe, respectful, and creative depiction of intimate content in film, TV, and theatre. This includes scenes involving kissing, physical touch, simulated sex, nudity, or emotionally vulnerable material.
Our role is to advocate for performers' physical and emotional wellbeing, support clear communication around consent and boundaries, and collaborate with directors and crew to ensure intimate scenes are choreographed with intention, care, and clarity.
Much like a stunt coordinator ensures safety in action sequences, an Intimacy Coordinator brings structure, guidance, and a collaborative process to scenes of intimacy, creating space for comfort, creativity, and accountability on set.
How Ic’s support productions
Creating clarity and trust from the start, ICs facilitate early conversations with performers and directors so that everyone has a shared understanding of what’s being asked, what’s negotiable, and what’s off-limits.
