IC Guide

Intimacy Coordination Guide

This guide is for producers, directors, performers, and creative teams seeking a clear, practical understanding of Intimacy Coordination—what it is, when it’s needed, and what to expect from the process.

Intimacy Coordination isn’t a trend; it’s an ethical standard in contemporary performance-making.

Strong, compelling work doesn’t come from ambiguity—it comes from clarity, consent, and trust.

Unsure if your project requires Intimacy Coordination?

Whether you’re working on stage, screen, or rehearsal-based projects, we offer services including IC, consultations, workshops, and institutional guidance. Feel free to reach out.

What Is Intimacy Coordination?

Intimacy Coordination (IC) is a professional practice that supports the creation of scenes involving intimacy, nudity, sexuality, power dynamics, and bodily vulnerability in a consent-based, trauma-informed, ethical, and artistically precise way.

An Intimacy Coordinator:

Protects performers’ physical and psychological boundaries

Clarifies creative intention without censoring it

Reduces risk, ambiguity, and harm in rehearsal and on set

Establishes clear, documented communication processes

IC does not slow down creativity; it creates the conditions for sustainable, focused, and responsible work.

Intimacy Coordination — Scope of Practice

The scope of an Intimacy Coordinator’s work includes:

Scenes involving intimacy, physical closeness, kissing, sexual content, or nudity
Simulated sexual activity
Relationships with power imbalance (teacher–student, employer–employee, director–performer, etc.)
Traumatic material (sexual violence, abuse, coercion)
Defining and maintaining performers’ physical boundaries
Closed set protocols and privacy measures
Consent conversations, documentation, and scene agreements

What IC does not do:

Direct acting or performance choices
Replace the director or dramaturg
Provide legal representation or therapy

The role of IC is to bridge artistic vision and ethical practice.

A Guide for Producers

As a producer, Intimacy Coordination provides:

What You Can Expect

Ethical and professional risk management
Increased performer trust and retention
Prevention of conflicts, complaints, and production delays
Alignment with international industry standards

How the Process Works

Comprehensive script and scene analysis
Project-specific risk assessment and advisory support
Structured meetings with executive producers, director, and performers
Seamless integration into rehearsal and production workflows
Clear, written documentation of consent, boundaries, and scene agreements

Intimacy Coordination is not a cost; it is an investment in quality, safety, and reputation.

A Guide for Performers

When working with an Intimacy Coordinator, performers can expect:

Clear space to define boundaries without pressure or justification
Ongoing, revisable consent throughout the process
Transparent choreography of intimate moments
Assurance that saying “no” will not jeopardize employment or artistic standing

IC does not speak for performers; it ensures performers can speak safely for themselves.

IC & Legal Framework

Intimacy Coordination intersects directly with contracts, approvals, and working conditions.

IC supports:

Clear, scene-specific, written consent
Re-consent when scenes change during rehearsal or shooting
Closed set protocols and image-use clarity

This framework is protective and preventative for both performers and producers.

IC & Trauma-Informed Practice

Scenes involving intimacy can impact performers not only physically but also at the nervous system level.

A trauma-informed IC approach:

Recognizes freeze, dissociation, and stress responses
Supports regulation and agency
Prioritizes choice over coercion

The goal is not therapy, but to create a predictable, safe, and professional working environment.

IC & Cultural Context (Turkiye)

In the Turkish performing arts and screen industries:

Hierarchies are often implicit and unspoken
Performers may fear that setting boundaries will create conflict
Intimate scenes are frequently decided or altered at the last minute

Within this context, Intimacy Coordination is not only individual support, but a structural necessity.

International IC standards are applied with attention to local cultural realities and industry conditions.

How to Work With an Intimacy Coordinator

Early involvement (development or pre-production) is ideal
Scene and risk analysis are conducted
Budget and scheduling are clarified
IC is integrated into rehearsal and production processes

Early engagement reduces risk, saves time, and supports creative clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we still need IC for a small scene?
Yes. Small scenes are where boundaries are most often crossed.
Can IC restrict the director’s vision?
No. IC clarifies execution without altering creative intent.
Can performers withdraw consent later?
Yes. Consent is ongoing and can be revised or withdrawn.