Coordinating intimate scenes in cinema and TV is indeed a job! Behind these erotic scenes there is real work to ensure that the actors are protected. We’ll explain it to you.
As realistic as certain movie scenes may seem, movie actors are only acting. They therefore obviously do not no sexual relations during filming. But for the scene to look as realistic as possible while preserving the privacy of the actors and actresses, coordinators are necessary. Jessica Steinrock is a coordinator of intimate scenes in film and television. The CEO of Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Inc tells Cosmopolitan behind the scenes of his job on his TikTok account @intimacycoordinator.
The goal of his job? “Choreographing sex scenes and defending the physical and psychological safety of actors.” It starts with conversations about consent with the actors. A job that is not always glamorous, as Jessica Steinrock indicates. “You can’t imagine the number of genital barriers that I have distributed over the years. But what is a genital barrier? “So one of the protocols is that the actors have what’s called a barrier between their genitals,” explains the coordinator.
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Behind the scenes of intimate scenes at the cinema
“These barriers are at least the thickness of a yoga mat and prevent any sensation. If someone starts to have a vascular reaction, the partner will feel some pressure at most.” A detail we would never have imagined! And in addition to these genital barriers, the actors are wearing makeup regularly, especially to simulate drops of sweat. “The sex scenes are both sexy and not sexy.”
“As I said, the actors are excellent at their work, but there is total silence on the set, except for a few breaths, everyone is glued and makeup and fake sweat are reapplied every five minutes,” says Jessica Steinrock. A job that seems essential to avoid any risk of sexual violence on set. And ensure that the consent of actors and actresses is respected. However, as surprising as it may seem, this profession has only existed since 2017.
Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…