Sex Scenes Are Awkward and Dangerous - Intimacy Directors Are Trying To Fix That
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- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2020
- The theater world is finally catching up to society’s # metoo cultural reckoning, by employing full-time intimacy directors. Intimacy directors are like stunt directors, for simulated sex scenes.
This year, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival- a regional repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon - announced that it hired its first resident Intimacy Director, in a move that acknowledges this position as an essential, salaried position.
VICE News profiles OSF’s Intimacy Director, to see what her role entails. We also speak with the original creator of the intimacy directing method, Tonia Sina, who created the method to fill a massive and immediate void in theater production.
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VICE News speaks with the original creator of the intimacy directing method, Tonia Sina, who created the method to fill a massive and immediate void in theater production.
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Interesting video, guys! And sorry on behalf of this comment section. The snap judgements are rampant.
I’ve never seen a pinned comment get so few likes
I absolutely hate when people say, “How do actors not fall in love with each other during kissing or sex scenes?” They don’t realize how stressful it is to do those scenes. The actors are focusing on making it scene look natural and real, not worrying about falling in love.
I mean I don't think the question is asked due to ignorance or insensitivity, it's just for non actors or most people when we imagine ourselves in that position we think that's how we'd react, so that's why I think that question is asked.
@@Kimi-uk6lf exactly
Also, there are actors who fall for other actors while playing...
Probably an ignorant comment here, but I've heard actors who "fall in love" with each other, then to discover they liked the character and not the actor him or herself.
Well... My high school boyfriend actually fell for someone he had to kiss as the lead in Singing in the Rain :) so it is possible. But hopefully you're right and it's unlikely.
This should not only apply to theatre. Asking for consent should be taught in high-schools as part of sex education classes.
It is, and its also taught in middle school. But not very effectively...
In the US? With all the Bible banging, “abstinence only” Karens running school districts? Fat chance.
Is it not taught now?
I live in Northern Ireland they don’t teach it here
This is a amazing idea sir.
The fact that this wasn't already a thing before r e a l l y bothers me
Why? It's not like you'll be acting anytime in your life. Other than acting like you actually care, you're just here to seek social approval and emotional attention.
@@FarmerFpv bro chill
Farmer Fpv have you ever heard of empathy or?
Farmer Fpv
Why do I get the feeling that the closest thing to sex you’re getting is a stained, smelly body pillow with a picture of a prepubescent anime cat girl on it?
Lew Archer 1949 don’t give him too much credit.
I think maybe 10% of sex scenes further the plot, or even complement the story -
70% are just to give you a “look” at the actors bodies and 20% are totally unconvincing and awkward.
That's your opinion. Most scenes of people eating or walking or sitting don't further the plot as isolated elements, but they are parts of reality. Sex is an exciting human experience, so it deserves time in film.
*netflix shows joined the chat*
Have you watched Bridgerton and if so how did you feel about this. I Think it was a bit much
@@Avratin Eating a sandwich doesn't require consent and has no risk of abuse.
@@T1Oracle Okay? What is your point?
Why can't sex scenes be as fun to choreograph as fight scenes?
I feel like so many problems in media step from the fact that western culture is so comfortable with violence and so uncomfortable with sex (while being obsessed with it). This is a great step in the right direction.
Edit: grammar
So agree! My mom never really cared about me seeing boobs as a kid, but she didn’t let me watch things were people were killed until she thought I was emotionally mature enough.
Now i’m wondering what a epic fight style sex scene would look like, or how someone would even write that. Like what if the old kung fu movies were done with sex instead of fighting? What would Number 5’s Toad Style look like?
@@thomas7247 omg
If someone punches you in a fight scene by accident, that's one thing. If someone slips their hand into an orafice of yours "by accident" that is another level of violation. These two are not equivalent.
@@T1Oracle fair, and that's why intimacy directors are important - to make sure that doesn't happen
I like the body mapping exercise, and those two actors are so precious!
Yes that’s so good
Right?? I feel like I should use the body mapping in real situations! My partner has sexual trauma as well like the actor mentioned and it’s so nice that they’re making people more comfortable ❤️😭
...Wasn't that done in 50 shades of Grey?
The reporters reaction is fantastic as well!
@@TheoCynical it was for the first film. Sam Taylor Johnson emphasized comfort for the actors due to the nature of the plot.
When I watch sex scenes from old movies I now wonder if the actress felt protected and safe during the scene.
Not a snowballs chance... 😒 Sadly
From the many behind the scenes/biographies I've seen, most did not feel agency over their own bodies while filming, and not filming. We need to demand this as an audience.
What about the men? Did they feel protected during a scene? This is just not about the women. Stop acting like a victim.
@@bigherm70068 I would agree with that but the "stop acting like a victim" at the end is pretty rude.
@@spawnofthelavendermenace4756 he's right though. It's all about equality so no need to play victim
Body mapping needs to be a thing in real life not just in the acting industry especially for those who have suffered from sexual abuse, assault, raped, etc. This is an amazing thing to learn
@Danny Archer What are you trying to say? Consent isnt important?
@Danny Archer And yes romance novels are bought on the basis of consent. Women buy them because they WANT to read erotica. Duh.
@Danny Archer WHATDIDHESAY?!?!?!
@Danny Archer As a girl, I don't ever want to read 50 shades of gray and I find it much better when the characters show express consent. I don't know about you, but if I was reading romance and the love interest said "Can I kiss you?" I'd get butterflies. Maybe some women do like this fantasy, but it is just that. They don't actually want to get with a guy who will not stop when they say no. Either way the comment was shedding light on the importance of this to people who've suffered from sexual abuse, who are much more likely to have trouble with their SOs touching them.
@Danny Archer First of all, you haven’t addressed some of my arguments. The whole reason why you left your comment was because you thought it was stupid to set boundaries everyday especially for people who’ve gone through sexual assault. The only thing you’ve provided to disprove that is “Women like dominance cuz feminism bad wahhh!!” Feminism is about choice. If a woman wants to have a relationship with a dominant guy then that’s her choice, idgaf. I can’t tell you exactly why there are more books like fifty shades of gray, but maybe it’s because things like that are more accepted in society now. Imagine the outrage if it had been published in the fifties.
being an actor, I personally am really excited by the prospect of more in-depth direction for onstage intimacy. I have had roles that required me to basically improvise these big romantic intimate moments with another actor, and every time it’s happened there has been this uncomfortable energy about the whole thing coming from the director and from everyone around us. Intimacy in acting has always had such a different energy than any other facet of performance in my experience, and for the most part the details of those intimate scenes have been completely left up to me and my scene partner. it leaves something to be desired when your director says “you guys have a big grand romantic scene where the tension between your characters finally comes to a head and is acknowledged physically. Anyways you two go somewhere else and figure out how you want to do it”. It’s so strange for something so narratively important to be so largely neglected by the director. I would absolutely love to work with an intimacy director, or at least a director who actually knows how to direct intimate scenes.
And that lack of direction is probably why so many people (myself included) tend to fast forward through all of the sex scenes. They aren't natural, they're so awkward and cringy most of the time, and it takes me out of the story.
You're not an actor don't lie, you're just seeking social approval and emotional attention on RUclips...
Farmer Fpv I’m an actor. It’s not my job, it’s a hobby. hope you’re doing alright man, trying to start fights with people in RUclips comments is a strange hobby.
Thessarabian I honestly think it’s more because sex has become something artificially injected into a lot of modern popular cinema. Every time I see a romantic movie released in the last few decades, I’ve firmly believed that they all would have benefited from having less focus on the sex appeal of the romantic interest or whatever, and more time on actually developing the characters and building tension or romance or anything a little more meaningful than teasing a sex scene to get the male audience horny enough to pay attention. It’s a pretty good rule that whenever a movie has gratuitous sex or nudity, those scenes specifically are going to be super poorly acted/directed and the movie itself is most likely poorly-written and shallow. Sex scenes being hard to watch because they seem super artificial is definitely a problem, but I see the whole Hollywood sex obsession that has 0 concern about the authenticity of those sexier scenes that Hollywood has as more of a symptom of how popular movies are becoming less about making art by telling an engaging story in an engaging way, and more about making as much money as possible by basing every part of the movie on drawing in the largest audience possible and keeping them engaged for as long as possible so - for example - they can go home and tell their friends how sexy x actress was in that movie.
@It's all about me Gee, I wasn't aware you knew me IRL- which is the only way you would know how I felt about sex. Thanks, Freud, but I know myself better than you do.
Sex and intimate scene seems very easy, but it is complicated with someone whom you don't love and in front of number of people. It is uncomfortable situation.
@NNA S no it's not
NNA S it also adds to the movies
Hence why actors are paid 100s of millions. This is what separates us
NNA S you’ve clearly never worked in performing arts. There’s rules and guidelines and methods to how things are coordinated. Intimacy directors are part of that. Working on intimacy without them would be like doing a fight scene without a fight coordinator or a dance number without a choreographer. It comes off as awkward, disjointed or maybe even dangerous.
@NNA S nah, he got the point entirely and you don't because not every solution there is is that simple
"I think you just described the sex lives of most women in America."
This line was Gold!
totally!!!! How I wish for men (and all people but especially men!) to listen carefully, and truly desire understanding these dynamics in their partners.
I love how it’s women pioneering this
Me too! I love to see it :)
PERIODT
🌝
🙏
Yes
Unfortunately, since the majority of victims of sexual crimes are women, this is the sort of change that women are best suited to lead. I really appreciate all of the people in this video pushing for change, because it also will make the viewing experience better. I hope there'll be a day when I see an intimate scene and I don't automatically wonder whether this is some form of harassment.
Now I'm thinking of my time performing Shakespeare in college theater. I had done a particu;ar move with my female stage partner while in character. But I should have discussed it with her first. We were good friends, so she knew my intentions weren't creepy. But MY intention is not the point. How did SHE feel about such physical contact? It's pointless to beat myself up for not knowing what I hadn't learned yet. That's why these discussions are so important. Now that I know, I have to be held to a higher standard.
awesome that you're reflecting on this!
Love seeing this kind of comment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I can relate with this.
Honestly, I'd be surprised if she'd avoid telling you if it bothered her. Obviously I can't speak for her, but if I were in her shoes I'd just say something. Most actresses (I assume actors too lol) will actually speak up - wouldn't you? I did a Hermia and Lysander scene opposite a close friend in high school for acting class, our scene wasn't physically intimate (emotionally intimate though) but had it been, I would've just told him if I wasn't comfortable (and he would with me). I wouldn't worry too much, acting is about becoming someone else anyway.
Thank you for doing the hard work of introspection and self-criticism. It's all we can ask of anyone. If you really feel bad you can always reach out to her and apologize. :)
By the same logic used by some of these commenters, there’s no need for stunt coordinators or choreographers. Cause it’s just acting, right? 🙄 Just like stunt/fight coordinators and choreographers, intimacy coordinators are there to both build the sequence with the actors and director and also make sure that the actors are safe. That’s it.
Stunts, combat, and dancing is not the same thing as "is this a green light spot?" Just normalize actors speaking about sex scene and kissing scenes together as if they were literally any other scene. Treating them as different is what makes them awkward. Stunt work can kill someone. Combat work can kill someone. Dancing can lead to serious injury. Stage-kissing and stage-sex is just going to be, at worst, awkward. The actors aren't the only people on set, if anything bad happens there will be an entire crowd of people witness to that. If an actor struggles from past trauma they either need to suck it up (as someone with PTSD from childhood sexual abuse myself), treat it in therapy (and potentially with medication), or not take jobs that require intimate acts from them (no non-pornography acting job requires genuine sex acts - if your asked to actually perform sex acts do not take the job, it's likely a scam). Doing these extremely unnecessary consent exercises would keep me far too grounded to reality to act properly and would send me spiraling into flashbacks from my sexual trauma. The actors should be encouraged to treat intimate scenes no differently from any other scene. There is an unwritten rule in acting to not talk much about how actors want to block out their loves scenes and kissing scenes. Change that, and there would be no issue. Awkwardness isn't dangerous!
Feels like Raven didn't watch the video
@@helRAEzzzer Awkwardness? You think the worst that’ll come out of this is awkwardness? Dude,TRAUMA is the worst that can come from this. And it disappoints me because what I mean by this is that trauma can be formed from not treating this with proper care and education.
I feel awkward on behalf of actors watching a lot of shows especially young actors new to the industry. Most sex scenes are unnecessarily explicit because tbh you can do a lot with angles and imagery
13 reasons why, Euphoria, Riverdale, etc. They play teens and teens in those shows look nowhere to be teens.
1:10 "Acting has been around since the 6th century" Uh.. ancient Greek plays?
"canonized
im pretty sure they found stages in egypt
6th sounds very english-centric. The greeks were not really acting, more standing and claiming. But what about China?
Yeah total bullshit. Find it very hard to beleive aboriginal blokes weren't doing something that is acting by any reasonable definition 50 odd thousand years ago. It's hardly mechanical engineering after all. We all do it instinctively as children don't we.
I mean take the guy pointing out this seems English centric and referencing China's old plays as if that might be the actual start of acting. Well if there wasn't acting in the pre dynastic period before China became China I'll eat my hat. Like most arts from martial to painting to performance its very obviously something that is an integral part of the societies of all of our most ancestral forebears.
@@null090909 Keep in mind that the Greek and Roman standards were for only men to play both genders in a play. They might be referring to when mixed-gender casts became standard?
Why can't this just be a class in theater college?
it isn't? 😳
@@rongike with the way they're talking about it guess not.
Yes it needs to be apart of acting training as well. It certainly is not.
If society at large was more informed about consent, maybe only having a class would be sufficient, but even so, not every actor/director gets a formal education like that. And many are already out of school
@@lwazi_the_rose well lets raise the nect gen of actors to be better and consenting teens and adults. Its never to late to start!
I hate when I have to do love scenes no matter if it is theatre or on camera. I always feel weird about it and when a room full of people are looking at me doesn't help but I block it out and act like they are someone I actually want to touch. So glad this exists now.
As far as film goes most of these sex scenes are unnecessary and I hate them. They don't push the plot.
The director should be able to block the scenes with the actors. Personally, I'd leave a show if they used an intimacy director. I feel they are unnecessary and, based on this video, too childish and have a lack of comprehension about what actors actually do. Why on earth would an actor not focus on a scene while doing the scene?? She shouldn't have been concerning herself with what her scene partner's motives in playing his character appropriately are while actually performing the scene at the same time. If she didn't like something he did, she should just tell him the second she got the chance. I'm glad you got benefit from them, but it would have the exact opposite effect for me. It would make these scenes triggering for me and difficult to be in the moment and character's head space.
Hmm... bearing in mind that my primary exposure to sex scenes in fiction is literature, manga/manhwa, and video games... most of the time it doesn’t forward the plot at all haha. But interactions like sex scenes are among the many character interactions that can bring a story to life. It’s akin to small talk or scenes where characters are merely playing sports with each other. They don’t advance the plot but they let the reader/viewer think: “Yes, these people are good friends and not just a bunch of people brought together for the sake of being in a plot”. That said sex scenes should make sense in context and not just be placed there for pure titillation. They need to be placed realistically and with the goal of fleshing out characters.
Thank goodness for the power of choice. You don’t have to act in a movie with a sex scene if you can’t act it out or don’t like it. There are things in my career field I hate but I have the power to look for other job opportunities.
@@helRAEzzzer As an actor and director I don't agree with your take at all.
What's childish to me is not acknowledging other peoples boundaries. Acting is about trusting your scene partner and if they don't show you they respect you or your boundaries then the trust isn't there. I'm trying to understand your point, how would asking if it's okay to touch you and where it's okay to trust you be triggering ? When I'm working with actors I would much rather them establish their boundaries than them touching each other in a way that feels inappropriate or uncomfortable to them. It can be difficult to say something isn't okay if you aren't instructed to and a mistake made by someone can cause trauma. Judging by your response I really don't think you yourself actually understand what an actor is supposed to do and what acting is actually about.
i’d be interested to know if they offered these kind of intimacy workshops even if you’re not an actor, I think it could be helpful for people that are interested in exploring/improving intimacy 😊
Joe R this is a bit different lol
I’m sure if you’re willing to pay, they’d accept you lol
It may be more difficult to find them at first, because with acting it is about who you know, so that’s probably how actors/directors/producers find out about these to begin with... but I imagine as they become more popular they will become more accessible
Joe R intimacy doesn’t have to mean sex. I was referring to intimacy as a whole. things a sex therapist may not specialize in 👍🏽
@@glowwithmebri sex therapy isnt just about the physical sex act.
Soul Glow happy to hear :)
this is a beautiful and necessary safety net for male and female actors alike
i'd love to be a part of this type of direction
I like the body check ins. I'm using that
Praying Tanaka thinks that that method should be taught in sex Ed classes. Sure, during sex Ed, you are informed about consent, theoretically. But usually, it is grazed over on HOW consent can be given.
Oh my gosh you hit the nail on the head with the attitude in theater being "don't be hard to work with" like it should be OK for people to say hey I have my limits I work in tech but I see it all the time how people act really boundary crossing but no one can say anything because he's a lead or she's the main character and not to make them upset and I think that's why there's all these cases of abuse in entertainment.
I mean I hated sex scenes before it was cool so
LMFAO ssame bruh
Who would like them?
Oh wow, this was super informative. I've never been a part of the theater world in any way, so the possibility of this happening never even crossed my mind. Thank you for sharing
It didn't cross most actors' minds either. At most, directors and actors just need to normalize talking about how to act out these scenes together. This new type of person being on set is unnecessary and it is already extremely difficult to keep things organized during rehearsals and shows as it is; we don't need extra people to do the director's job.
I’m gonna say it: sex scenes are absolutely pointless in films. They’re awkward and contribute nothing to the plot. I appreciate intimacy but some of the shows these days are 90% sex.
Anything could be a mean to convey idea and thought, art is weird... And it really depend on how "real" it need to be, sex scene should be use sparely and meaningfully.
I could do a 1000 word explanation on the sex scene in "Parasites", but it probably mean nothing in "James Bond".
I have to disagree. I have definitely seen films where a sex scene between two characters was a pivotal plot point, and without inclusion of the scene, the film would have lost meaning. However, these scenes are a minority! Most Hollywood sex scenes are just gratuitous voyeurism 😂
Same.. I do think sex scenes are unecessary.
I often wonder when I watch films that have sex scenes where I think, "is that necessary to show the sex scene?" do they actually HAVE TO show them simulating sex? We know if the characters had sex if they showed just the morning after with them in bed. So i wonder that sometimes the sex scenes they show in film is more about titillation rather than the story line.
A lot of the scenes are unnecessary. I really just think humans like sex and violence. I can’t stand action packed movies when it’s a bunch of shooting and murders with stuff being blown up.
I LOVE the interviewer. I remember her series on munchies, it was brilliant! She has such a calm and thoughtful manner about her
Who is she?
@@brendielahooha her name is Charlet, dunno her last name. She's done munchies episodes in the UK, and there's also a great interview with her and Russell brand where he totally misjudges her
I dont see why there is any need for sex scenes. You can imply it without making actors perform it out. Like, I know what sex looks like thank you, I don't need to watch someone fake panting for a solid minute 😅
For real! One sex scene that was written to advance the plot and was well executed was the staircase scene in A History of Violence.
hiding sex doesnt help society!
@@isabellahobbs2125 I'm not saying we have to pretend sex doesn't exist, I'm saying we don't need explicit sex scenes in films. They're almost always unnecessary and I don't think they "help society"
@@amyhatch3761 you don’t have to watch movies with sex scene in them. Heck you can also fast forward it. It’s not that hard
if anyone’s heard stories about the production of “the last tango in Paris” or even beyond sexual consent, general abuses of hitchcock or kubrick, you would know this has been a consistent problem in film
This was actually very informative and definitely important. Sex scenes have always been weird for the most part like I came to see a movie, not porn ... I got that on my phone already 🙄
🤣😂😜
I also crank it to this guy's phone.
I'm shocked this hasn't been the norm before. Even years ago when I was working as a strolling actor at events we had daily "you okay with so and so picking you up? Where is it okay to grab you? How do you protect a fellow actor when one of the muggles think it's fine to join in? How much warning do you need to be grabbed? As well as a lot of detailed training to help when costume malfunctions occurred (figuring out your coworker has just fallen out of her bodice before the crowd does and helping her get re-situated is a lot tougher than you might expect. You also have to have a quick eye to notice your coworkers kilt is ending at ~just~ the wrong angle and he is about to let the world know if he is a boxer/brief/or 'natural' Scotsman and to block the view while he gets further back from the stage edge) " meetings. For things that in every other aspect was unscripted and you just had generalized people to interact with, places to be, vague outlines of stories to build from ALL the touching and interaction was planned out carefully. It never dawned on me that as 'just' a strolling player I was getting 100x the safer training and concern than actors in big scripted work.
Yeah I can totally see why ppl would like this implemented for actors
I wouldnt want someone to start improving on me or a director changing or inserting an explicit scene and be fired or shadowbanned from getting more gigs
nothing wrong with having and setting standards
Not even just in the acting industry but in general like watching this made me feel safer in the sense if wow like ppl care when it comes to these things and I’ve had my fair share of sexual trauma and if someone even took a few seconds of their day to ask me this my day would be way less traumatic
"Guess what's green today, baby..."
cracking me upppp
Crazy that VICE came through my home town, and even crazier that this wasn't a thing before a tiny town in southern Oregon came up with it.
I mean not the entire idea
That body mapping is so nice. They are so sensitive to each other this way and seem really sweet.
Post covid, everyone's in their individual bubble or sleeping bag.
This is so cool! Never heard of intimacy directors. Having someone on set and at rehearsals to make everyone feel safe and make it as fun as doing a fight scene? I'm so here for it.
This really seems like a must have for any job where physical contact and/or sexual situations are part of the job. It seems like it would be very difficult to feel comfortable putting up boundaries when it’s your job, and we should work to make sure that it is possible to have those boundaries in a professional setting.
Intimacy warm up should be implemented into schools in a way thats appropriate. So many kids and adults grow up being sexually harrassed/abused then either continue the cycle or end up traumatized. People might view it as too "woke" but we need to change that 1 in 4 stat.
Everybody was harmed during the making of Deadpool
I'm an adult studying to be an actress, but I have 0 romantic experience... I fear the day I'll be asked to do a kiss scene or something more, but I know I'll have too. I personally love romances, it just scares me the thought of doing it without experience :/
Im rooting for you!
@@brendielahooha thank you ^^ you're so nice!
I'm not studying to be an actress, but I have zero romantic experience too and I'm turning 25... I feel you 😂😂😂
All I know is, there's always a way to make it work, and you should never be forced to do something you aren't comfortable with
Then don't do it.....Problem solved. Don't set yourself up for failure or put yourself in a bad sitiuation you don't feel comfortable in.
A literal nessecary field of work for the preservation, protection, and healing of peoples mental, physical, and human well-being.
I love this AND it should be written into law that every production small or large is MANDATED to have an intimacy coach. If a small production can't have one then it should be provided one by the government.
Intimacy coach is totally necessary position that more theaters need to start having. But leave the government out of it. Governments have a tendency to suppress art by trying to apply a one size fits all appraoch.
I'd rather jump off of a building than work with one of these hacks. We don't need a childish crazy person to do the director's job. Blocking scenes is literally the director's job. Having the extra director is unnecessary. We just need to normalize treating intimate scenes like any other scene. It should be obvious that there is no funny business going on in the mind of our scene partners during these scenes; pretending to be someone your not is the entire point of acting. This woman just seems to conflate the actor with the character and created a job around it. If productions want to have the extra person to take up time and space, fine, but they are hardly needed. It's not like children who can't yet self advocate are doing these scenes.
There should be terms and conditions and prior notice, overview or whatever you want to call it, of what will be involved during filming, so actors can decide whether to do it or not. A detailed script especially on scenes like this is important.
For higher profile actors there are things in contracts about what they will and will not do. When you are a comer things don't always feel as cut and dry. The script can be handed over you know what is happening but in one instant a director can make a suggestion on set to change something.
Actors don't feel like they have the power and don't want to loose the job, or are officially threatened with loosing the job. If they don't have enough working dynamic with the scene partner it can go beyond comfort.
Luckily some people are changing know but you don't really know.
Stunt men and women have to choreograph action and fight scenes. Dancers choreograph their routines. It's only natural intimacy on film and theater is also choreographed
Blocking them makes more sense to me. Choreography is far more strict than blocking. Blocking them out instead still allows the actors a bit of creative freedom to better the scene at each performance without having to change the entire thing with the director.
So wait you're telling me that intimacy directors weren't a thing this whole time
I had a tango class that incorporated consent (albeit the instructor was still developing that aspect of it) and it was something I'd never thought about before but made it so enjoyable. Partner dancing can be a great venue to learn these skills and can then seep into regular life.
I work as a costume designer in Hollywood and I think we absolutely need a sex scene advocate at every production. I agree that it is choreography but there is a lack of planning, it should be mapped out each and every time.
I think this is so important for actors to feel heard and feel safe. I wish this had always been something for them, but I suppose it shouldn't be all that surprising it wasn't. This insight is fantastic!
Also watching this brings back fond memories for me of going to Ashland, OR to see many plays during the Shakespeare Festival. I hope to visit again in the near future!
Mixed Social dancing has light intimacy protocols of acceptance and rejection. Once the guidelines are basically established it works pretty good. It gets easier with experience
You should coreograph fighting scenes, why not intimacy ones? Just sounds right
because intimate scenes don't kill people if they aren't extremely precise, combat scenes could. Intimate scenes could benefit from blocking them out, but they hardly need anything as strict as choreography.
@@helRAEzzzer I don’t know if you know this but technically everything is choreographed in a play, especially intimacy scenes. You have to. You lay down ground rules for those scenes especially. What to touch, which order to touch and so forth. Because if you underneath a play do something different and your partner expresses shock then it would be seen by the audience and that is not good. But yeah consent is needed and it might more easily be given in theatre because it’s acting but consent is still needed.
I think it's good now that it's explicitly going to be mapped out. I remember when I was in theatre in high school and university (especially at university when I did musicals and did a lot of dance, which included quite intimate choreography), it was just that we were a core group of friends/castmates who innately knew each others' limits. But it definitely needs to be properly defined in many other instances.
As a person with no experience in romantic relationships whatsoever, this is very insightful. I love it.
I find sex scenes severely uncomfortable and unnecessary. If you want nudity go watch porn. For entertainment you don't absolutely have to show nudity or sex there are so many easy ways to imply sex.
This is why I still love Turkish, or Korean movies. They are the only ones you can feel comfortable watching for hours with the family. In the USA I feel directors got no responsibility toward their employers (actors) and the public.
I...didn’t know there were sex scenes...in stage theatre?? Wow.
Y'all are really upset at the idea of consent in acting in the comments aren't you? Pure madness and idiocy lmao
This manages to cover so much beyond just consent on stage, and it's why we do what we do
This is so beautifully presented - a great portrayal of Intimacy Direction and lovely to see Tonia Sina in action as well!
Maybe sex scenes will be better now that intimacy directors are being included?
Check out Normal People. It's a haunting beautiful story and sex felt so real and not 'hollywood'. It didn't feel sexy it felt emotional. Apparently, they had an intimacy director working on the show.
@@Inazarab Thanks for the tip! Got any more good examples? (I'll accept replies from others;-) )
How did I know people would be upset by this video. What’s wrong with you people, why do you feel so threatened by everything?!?! Acting out sex scenes is awkward and uncomfortable for people and there is a bad history of directors just yelling “do it” rather than helping the actors relax into it. It seems great that studios are thinking harder about how to direct these scenes. How is this perceived as so threatening to all the right wing man children!?!?!?
"Why so you feel so threatened by everything?!?!" (Proceeds to go on and on about how threatening a sex scene is.)
If you don't want to do it then don't take the part. Don't be an actor. You're not conscripted into acting. It's not like there's a draft and you have to act all of a sudden. Ffs.
@@cf9844 ok, I understand what you are saying but actors do have feelings and they had past trauma that's still healing. Also know that when you are in the middle of a movie and you have to do a intimacy scene, there's no way for you to back off.
If you have past trauma then this isnt the work for you. You have to take care of yourself in this world.
@@cf9844 I understand that but they are times where they can't back off and have to do it no matter what.
Why even have intimacy scenes why not be creative. We don't put actor taking a dumb or peeing
Why are these mutually exclusive? plus sex is natural, intimate and expressive, poised with drama and meaning. Art tries to reflect life, and relationships, what kind of relationship doesnt have sex as a big part of it. It would be like having to justify a scene of people eating, it's a really an odd question tbh.
Requiring actors to take part in sex scenes on stage is incredibly discriminatory and inappropriate. No one should have to consent to this as part of their 'job'.
"hey mom! what do you do for work, i need it for school :D"
the mom: ...
In my country touching is a big part of our method of communication. That touching map is something I'm taking for life. so I don't intrude on personal spaces anymore. Thx for the info.
Ps: there are obvious spots where we don't touch... But people have different boundaries and if you envolve trauma, that technique is key.
Consent is so important love that this job has been created ❤️
Very important topic and great video, thank you Vice for it.
I like this. As professionals, both persons should communicate on how scenes should play out.
Seeing that some of the sexual intimacy classes had emotional support dogs made me really happy
This is beautiful, I hope the practice is widely adopted and even mandatory!
This might help non-actors too! I personally think sex is an enormous problem for many people.
Suppose one could hire an intimacy director to help out for a little while on a first date?
Imagine how many problems might be avoided. If both people on the date accepted the idea, that alone might clear up a lot of confusion.
This sounds vital
Man I love your user name🤣
This stuff is important in going forward because being an actor is stressful enough, intimacy has to be safe
low key thinking why dont we just get rid of sex scenes lol
They never look like sex to me anyways.
Because that is unlawful censorship
Plus its not real sex...you want that, go watch porn and stop policing the morality of others
@@HetLedie what do you mean by unlawful censorship?
@@MuhammadFloyd Controlling the creative output of theatrical playwriters. Telling them what they can and cannot write about is the definition of unlawful censorship.
*cw: talk of eye mutilation and other violence*
intimacy in media is treated differently than, say, violence-- because it's treated as hush-hush from the day we're born. my brother-- age 9-- is allowed to watch movies where people have been st*bbed in the eyes, shot all over, etc. and my parents don't bat an eyelid. but as soon as two actors are making out, fully clothed, he's told to close his eyes. i think that says something
This is so needed and lovely~ Although I wish it didn't take so much sexual harassment revealed in theater and hollywood for it to become more of a norm, I'm glad it's becoming much more widespread now.
I don't think this intimacy director would like Charlies Play Night Man Cometh, from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia....
Woah, I've learned absolutely life-changing and new. I wanna try this, but I'm not sure if my bf will be on board. We'll see.
I think this should be in every performing arts field like dance &improv too and not just acting...and body mapping is just so practical and logical to learn whether it’s for performance or not.👍🏼👏🏼❤️thank you for releasing this🙏🏼
7:17 great statement!
Body mapping should exist in every agency and should be done everytime, it's so clever
Body mapping is dope and works even outside of acting
14:10 All actors are taught (and strive) to follow their impulses, the motivations of the scene and the character, to be open to one another, to surprise one another, to be alive. From this point of view, there is no "wrong" on stage. But...there obviously is! Or rather, there is wrong when we aren't on the same page. Trust is such a huge part of this craft. I appreciate this conversation and investigation. I've wondered greatly about intimate scenes and how to proceed with them.
very very informative 😊
Video: We should make sure actors are comfortable before they touch each other.
Comments: What is this woke insanity?
I was only educated about this because of Bridgerton
Anyone else worried that the companies that put on these performances and will use it exactly the opposite as to these original goals... like HR now is?
That being said I like this idea and think it can be good.
I don’t know about this, so if you aren’t “feeling it” that day you can do what you want? What happened to bringing it every performance? But hey, if it floats your boat, do you.
"Intimacy Directors"
You mean softcore porn directors.
i love this so much
Outstanding.
I'm so glad this is gaining traction
Love this!!
They are free to leave them out. Not many ppl would miss them. They often don't contribute anything to the story.
Really needed and healthy.
7:59 that kind of sounded sexy
The moment at 8:00 gives me chills
After learning about some secual harassment within the NYC Ballet, I think they could use this
I feel like all people would benefit from this, not just actors. I want to go to this workshop, just to get more comfortable with my own body and how I interact with others.