Recently, a few high-profile figures have taken to the airwaves to cast doubt on the need for intimacy coordinators on film sets. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston have raised concerns. Instead, they think these special roles could add unnecessary complications to the filming process. The industry is currently abuzz with debate over intimacy coordinators. Production companies are starting to ask whether they’re appropriate, let alone effective, particularly as it would be during graphic and/or sexualized nudity scenes.
Paltrow, who just wrapped a project with intimacy coordinator novice Timothée Chalamet, confessed she didn’t even know what an intimacy coordinator was before working with Chalamet. While filming, she explained to the intimacy coordinator that she and Chalamet were “fine” and didn’t need their assistance. As Paltrow herself noted, she grew up as an actress at a time when actors simply disrobed and got down to business. For example, she thinks that the current emphasis on coordination is not necessary for everyone.
Jennifer Aniston echoed Paltrow’s sentiments, expressing discomfort with the presence of intimacy coordinators during her work on “The Morning Show” alongside Jon Hamm. The whole experience was super awkward, clarified Aniston, so “please, this is already awkward enough! Her comments echo those of other industry veterans, like Sean Bean, who this year asked why these roles are even needed.
Michael Douglas made a splash in the opening session with an audacious proclamation. He thinks that in heteronormative sex scenes, the male actor should be taking the lead responsibility—not the intimacy coordinator. He insisted that performers know upfront where their boundaries lie, and where their comfort levels go, sans extra supervision.
Regardless of disbelief from certain players, intimacy coordinators have achieved institutional recognition in the industry. Today, IMDb treats them as a bona fide professional credit right next to choreography and craft services. This formal acknowledgment highlights a shift in how productions manage intimate scenes, aiming to ensure safety and consent among performers.
Jennifer Lawrence opted out of using an intimacy coordinator during her work on “Die My Love,” feeling secure with co-star Timothée Chalamet. The film explores themes of a woman’s descent into disturbance following childbirth, featuring intense emotional scenes that demand trust and connection between actors. In casting Lawrence, Scafaria’s decision taps into an authenticity-of-performance theme that was only possible with a direct and no middleman approach.
The film, directed by Sean Baker, contains dozens of minutes of sexual intercourse and other explicit sexual activity and nudity. Surprisingly, the film was filmed without the presence of an intimacy coordinator. Filmmakers Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn opted for a more experiential method. The director and cast chose not to have intimacy coordination, handling it internally without an official coordinator.
These opposing perspectives on intimacy coordinators highlight the varied experiences occurring within the industry. Some actors are instinctual, working off their gut and emotional relationship with co-stars. Other caregivers welcome having a trained resource on hand to assist in controlling the flow of information and establishing boundaries. This divergence has led to years of intense debate. Now, everyone is having the conversation about intimacy coordinators helping set the stage for a safe, creative environment while filming.