SAG-AFTRA To Set Intimacy Guidelines

SAG-AFTRA today announced that it will collaborate with Alicia Rodis, the associate director and co-founder of Intimacy Directors International (IDI), the intimacy coordinators with IDI and other trained providers to standardize, codify and implement guidelines for on-set intimacy coordinators. The guidelines will seek to establish new, relevant policies for nudity and simulated sex; define the duties and standards for intimacy coordinators on productions; and specify acceptable training, vetting and qualifications of intimacy coordinators.

“Our goal is to normalize and promote the use of intimacy coordinators within our industry,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris adding, “Intimacy coordinators provide an important safety net for our members doing hyper-exposed work. At a time when the industry still needs to make great changes, our initiative will ensure the safety and security of SAG-AFTRA members while they work and respects the boundaries of actors.

Added National Executive Director David White, “These specifically implemented guidelines will allow productions to run more efficiently while the specialized support empowers both cast and crew. We look forward to working with our industry partners and allies to ensure these guidelines work for our members and others on set. Many productions are already using intimacy coordinators so it is imperative to codify and standardize the work to best benefit SAG-AFTRA members and the industry as a whole.”

The recent attention on sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and across many sectors exposed abuses of power that pervade workplaces across the country and beyond. In response, SAG-AFTRA established the Four Pillars of Change initiative and issued a Code of Conduct and Guideline No. 1, the first of several industry guidelines to uphold professional standards and address the toxic culture and power imbalances that contribute to workplace harassment.