Baby Reindeer’s Intimacy Coordinator on Sex and Trauma on Screen
Jul 2, 2024
42:54
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Elle McAlpine, intimacy coordinator for projects like Baby Reindeer, discusses choreographing orgasms and navigating workplace dynamics. The role of intimacy coordinators post #MeToo, setting boundaries in filmmaking, and their importance in ensuring actor safety are explored.
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Quick takeaways
Intimacy coordinators enhance on-screen intimacy by focusing on details like motion and touch, ensuring actors' clarity and specificity in performances.
Establishing clear boundaries and promoting consent in intimate scenes by intimacy coordinators contributes to a respectful and professional working atmosphere on set.
Deep dives
Evolution of Sex Scenes in Cinema
Sex scenes in cinema have evolved over time, with directors approaching them differently since the 1930s. From closed sets to improvised scenes, directors had varied methods. Intimacy coordinators now bring guidelines to ensure actors' comfort and understanding during intimate scenes, creating a safer environment on set.
Role of Intimacy Coordinators
Intimacy coordinators like Elle McAlpine play a crucial role in choreographing intimate content on movie and TV sets. They focus on details like the motion and touch involved, ensuring clarity and specificity in actors' performances. By guiding actors through intimate scenes, coordinators assist in enhancing the authenticity and effectiveness of on-screen portrayals.
Navigating Boundaries and Consent
Setting boundaries is key in intimate scenes, with actors establishing 'hard no' limits to protect their comfort and well-being. Intimacy coordinators help create a structured environment where actors can feel creatively vulnerable yet safe. Ensuring clear communication and consent during intimate moments is crucial for a respectful and professional working environment.
Impact of Intimacy Coordination
The presence of intimacy coordinators has brought a significant shift in handling intimate scenes post-Me Too movement. Although initially met with skepticism on sets, their role in supporting actors through vulnerable scenes has been acknowledged. Coordinators like Elle McAlpine offer valuable insights and guidance, fostering a more respectful and empowering atmosphere in the filming industry.
Since the #MeToo movement, the presence of intimacy coordinators have become more common on movie and TV sets. In this episode, Elle McAlpine the intimacy coordinator for many projects including Poor Things and Baby Reindeer, talks about what her job entails, from choreographing the perfect orgasm to navigating tricky workplace dynamics.
Podcast production by Zoe Azulay
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