While many actors are pro at what they do, one aspect of acting that can get a little awkward is intimacy scenes.
Even though they might look good for the audience, it can take quite a while to shoot the perfect intimate scene.
Actors Can Become Aroused on Set
Arousal is one of the main issues when it comes to intimate scenes and is what can prolong shooting a scene.
The reason this type of problem on the scene can take up so much time is because the crew needs to give the actor time to sort the issue out.
Arousal Is Completely Normal
Intimacy coordinator David Thackeray spoke to Business Insider and said that an actor getting aroused while filming an intimacy scene is completely normal.
Thackeray said that intimacy scenes are physically and mentally challenging and that this is what can cause them to be aroused.
Cast and Crew are Made Aware of Arousal Being Normal
It can be a tricky situation for anyone, especially the actors, to become aroused when filming an intimate scene.
However, the intimacy coordinators have to make the entire cast and crew aware that this is normal, and while it might be frustrating, these things happen.
Intimacy Coordinators Will Be on Set
Whenever a film or TV show requires an intimate scene, there will always be an intimacy coordinator on hand to help with the proceedings.
They are there to help with the intricacies of the scene and to ensure the safety of those involved, fulfill the director’s wishes, and help avoid unnecessary production delays, according to Variety.
The Protocols for Dealing with Intimacy
Like all film and TV sets, there are protocols for everything, including for when an actor becomes aroused during an intimate scene.
This includes allowing the actor to be more involved in regards to what they are and aren’t comfortable with, such as having a body double perform the intimacy scenes for them, according to Business Insider.
Sometimes a Timeout Might Be Called
Not everything always goes to plan, and intimate scenes are one of those times when things can go wrong. Filming might have to come to a halt, as it commonly does for other on-set issues.
In intimacy scenes, reasons for a stoppage include the choreography not being quite right, a modesty garment coming undone, or arousal.
The Crew Can Also Call a Timeout If Necessary
While the actor is always able to call a timeout during an intimate scene if they aren’t quite happy with things (regardless of the reason), so can the crew.
The crew can do this if they feel there is something going on in the scene that they are not quite happy with, per the Guidelines for Doing Intimate Scenes in Camera Work.
Intimacy Coordinators Normalize Things Going Wrong
Sometimes for an actor, it can be quite off-putting when something goes wrong during an intimate scene and they have an entire film crew watching them.
However, this is where the role of the intimacy coordinator comes in as they can assure the actor that these things happen quite regularly and that they don’t have anything to be embarrassed about.
The Crew Needs to Be Aware of What Is Happening
While the actors will all have a script of the scenes they’re in and know what to expect, sometimes some of the crew might not be as aware of what is going on.
This is another area where the intimacy coordinator can help, as they make sure that the people who are on set during the filming of intimacy scenes know exactly what is going on and when.
Sometimes the Fun Is Taken Out of It
During an interview on “The Johnathon Ross Show,” Kate Hudson was on with British rapper Stormzy, and he was asking her about how intimacy scenes work.
As reported by LadBible, Hudson replied by saying that it can be quite mechanical and that with the amount of people around watching, it’s not as enjoyable as some people might think.
It’s All About Safety
One of the main things for actors in intimate scenes is safety, especially when it comes to the people they are filming the scene with.
According to Hudson, as long as they feel safe around the actor they are filming the intimate scenes with and the crew there, then it can be a good experience. Otherwise, things tend to get a little awkward.
Communication Is Key
Clearly, when it comes to intimate scenes, one of the most important factors to consider is communication.
As long as the actors and crew can communicate well with each other, especially when it comes to what they are and aren’t comfortable with, this helps with the overall filming experience and helps make it a positive one.
