HBO has a long history of being one of America’s most raunchy networks, their shows Game of Thrones and The Deuce including sex scenes aplenty (the latter being a show about the porn industry).
With so much explicit television being filmed, they have finally announced the hiring of an “intimacy coordinator” to make sure sex scenes are safer and more comfortable for actors.
Rolling Stone reports that, after hiring Alicia Rodis to oversee The Deuce, HBO has made it mandatory to have an “intimacy coordinator” on every set filming sex scenes.
Rodis has already overseen multiple productions currently being filmed, having been on the sets of Crashing, Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen, and the Deadwood movie.
“Even I didn’t understand the scope of just how much this had been ignored, and for how long,” Rodis told the publication.
“There is such a power dynamic on sets, so much pressure and this sense that [as an actor] you just suck it up and do it.”
Her role includes reviewing scripts, facilitating group discussions about how sex scenes will be filmed, and meeting individuals to discuss scenes. When sex scenes are added on the day, Rodis will make sure “consent is informed and certain before we move forward.”
“I am here to give a voice to actors, especially actors who feel like they don’t have one,” she added, ”And I’m also here for the producers, to make sure that they know they’re doing their best to make sure the set is safe.”
