After the peak of the #MeToo movement, intimacy coordinators — professionals who ensure actors and others on set are comfortable while filming intimate scenes — became more common. From Sex Education to Babygirl, these experts play a crucial role in making sex scenes safe to film and captivating on screen.
However, not everyone is on board with this trend. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, actress Gwyneth Paltrow revealed that she nearly rejected the intimacy coordinator for her upcoming movie Marty Supreme alongside Timothée Chalamet.
“I had no idea there was such a thing as an intimacy coordinator,” Paltrow admitted to Vanity Fair. Despite the coordinator’s presence, Paltrow and Chalamet requested to handle the intimate scenes on their own terms. Paltrow expressed her hesitance, stating, “I don’t know how it is for kids who are starting out, but…if someone is like, ‘Okay, and then he’s going to put his hand here’…I would feel, as an artist, very stifled by that.”
Paltrow’s resistance to the intimacy coordinator may stem from her past experiences. As a key witness in the 2017 expose on Harvey Weinstein’s misconduct, Paltrow has firsthand knowledge of the industry’s dark side. This revelation played a significant role in the widespread impact of the #MeToo movement and the rise of intimacy coordinators in today’s productions.
Intimacy coordinator Allie Oops emphasized the importance of these professionals in creating a safe environment on set. Like a stunt coordinator for fight scenes, intimacy coordinators ensure that actors’ boundaries are respected and facilitate open communication between cast and crew. While Paltrow’s concerns about creativity are valid, Oops believes that establishing trust and safety can actually enhance actors’ performances.
Ultimately, the role of intimacy coordinators goes beyond protecting actors; they also serve to disrupt power dynamics on set and promote a collaborative and respectful work environment. By fostering a sense of security and mutual understanding, intimacy coordinators enable actors to fully engage in their roles and explore creative possibilities within a safe framework. Tidak merasa seperti keterampilan berciuman pribadi Anda dinilai ketika Anda telah berbicara tentang bagaimana karakter akan berciuman pada saat itu.
“Anda dapat bersantai dalam peran itu, dan bersenang-senang lebih, dan menjadi lebih kreatif, dan benar-benar jatuh ke dalam ruang karakter,” katanya.
“Seorang IC yang baik juga dapat membuat adegan seks jauh lebih baik,” Oops berkata.
Komentar seperti milik Paltrow buruk untuk alasan pers, karena peran koordinator intim sangat tentang keamanan, tetapi pada akhirnya baru bagi dia, Oops mengatakan. Tetapi Oops telah melihat reaksi yang sangat positif terhadap karyanya, yang membuatnya terus termotivasi dan senang berada di lokasi syuting.
Karena Marty Supreme kemungkinan besar adalah produksi Screen Actors Guild (SAG, serikat aktor) , lebih mungkin daripada tidak memiliki koordinator intim karena SAG sekarang memiliki standar dan protokol untuk memiliki koordinator intim di set. Dan, dari sudut pandang tanggung jawab, lebih baik memiliki satu daripada tidak, kata Oops.
Tahun lalu, SAG memperketat aturannya tentang koordinator intim di set, terutama tentang kerahasiaan. Koordinator hanya dapat berbicara tentang apa yang terjadi selama pembuatan adegan intim jika aktor dan produksi memberikan izin atau jika mereka berbicara kepada penegak hukum. Jika mereka tidak mematuhi ini, mereka bisa dihapus dari daftar SAG setelah penyelidikan.
Jadi, terlepas dari komentar Paltrow, jangan berharap koordinator intim akan menghilang dalam waktu dekat.