What exactly does an intimacy coordinator do? Abma explains: “The job of an intimacy coordinator is actually very similar to that of a stunt coordinator. This ensures that the preparations, rehearsals and recordings go as smoothly as possible and takes everyone’s safety into account. An intimacy coordinator actually does the same thing, but with scenes with intimate content.” In this way, actors can be prevented from going beyond their own borders in the heat of battle.
Fat French kiss
Abma herself has also had to deal with transgressive behaviour. “We agreed: we’re doing this scene and we’re not going to French kiss. When we started filming the scene, there was a nice kiss at first. And then: bite, fat French kiss. I was completely in shock. I just started acting and didn’t dare say anything about it.”
body scan
To protect other actors from similar unpleasant situations, Abma, as an intimacy coordinator, schedules a so-called body scan with them. “They ask each other for permission, for example to take each other’s hands. Only in this way can they learn to set their limits properly.”
unbelievably angry
A while ago, the subject of ‘functional nude’ at Hugo Metzers’ acting course caused quite a stir. Former student Tariq Kasem indicated that he had done things that he did not feel comfortable with afterwards.
Abma followed the news with great disbelief at the time. “It made me incredibly angry. This is why the profession of intimacy coordinator was created. It’s about power relations. If you, as a teacher at a study program, ask students to do these kinds of things, you are already crossing so many boundaries. It made me very sad.”
Source: RTL Boulevard