ADVICE FOR PERFORMERS

Advice for performers

Intimacy for Stage and Screen is an organisation dedicated to raising awareness of safer practice during the creation of intimate scenes.

Intimacy For Stage & Screen is not a Union or Agent or Casting Director and therefore we will not be providing guidelines on how to manage an audition environment. For audition specific notes created by unions and trade organisations there are links lower down in this document.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS OUR ADVICE TO PERFORMERS
ENGAGING IN SCENES OF AN INTIMATE NATURE.

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01.
Your body belongs to you and you alone.

02.
Be part of the conversation
- with the creative team and fellow performers regarding the intimate scenes.

03.
Everyone has a say
- any performer present in an intimate moment (whether involved in the choreography or not)
should have the opportunity to express their concerns or ask questions.

04.
Personal vs Professional
- you do not have to share intimate personal experiences.
We recommend separating your personal body & experiences from your character’s body and experiences.

05.
Celebrate your boundaries
- advocate for your physical boundaries and your “no contact areas”.
You can always offer an alternative movement that feels right for your personal body and connects to your character’s needs.

06.
Give yourself time
- ask for time to think if you are unsure.

07.
You have control
- you can retract your consent at any point.

08.
Offer placeholders
- use placeholders (see Appendix 1) when improvising/walking a scene if intimacy choreography hasn’t been created yet.
Intimate moments should not be improvised in the same way that simulated violent action requires specific choreography.

09.
Your right to professional support
- if you are working on an intimate scene it is your right to ask for an Intimacy Director (for stage) or Intimacy Coordinator (for TV/film) to be present in the process and help create safe intimate choreography while advocating for your safety.

10.
Check-In for consent
- always ask for and seek consent from your scene partner before physical intimacy is explored.
Don’t assume consent - even if you have worked with that performer before or you are friends in your personal life.
When it comes to negotiating boundaries and consent, treat them the same as any other performer.

11.
Trust your body
- if something feels wrong, is distressing, uncomfortable or impacts you physically and/or emotionally tell your Stage Manager/1st AD, Intimacy Director or Intimacy Coordinator. Triggers can appear hours later, days or weeks later. As a performer you may have been trained to challenge your performative limits however not in the expense of your safety and sustainability throughout the show. You are more important than the project!

12.
Ask for a break
- take a break within the intimacy rehearsal if you need one.

13.
Third party present
- ask for a third party to be present when rehearsing intimate choreography
(this should not be the director, producer or another performer if possible).

14.
Safe space to do the work
- you have the right to a Closed Rehearsal / Closed Tech / Closed Set to limit the amount of personnel around you.
However if you’d like an open door etc. do let your SM or AD know.

15.
Safe space for everyone
- if you are involved in scenes with nudity/semi-nudity you should use a robe or cover up every time a break occurs. Even if you are comfortable to stay without, don’t forget that it is for the safety of the other performers, director, creatives, SM Team and crew around you as well.

16.
Communicate any alterations you need
- if you would like changes or if the intimate choreography changed in any way from the original agreement.

17.
Know your contract
- if nudity, semi nudity or simulated sex are mentioned in the script/play, read through your contract to make sure that you have a Nudity & Simulated Sex Clause. Discuss this with your agent, Equity or the producer fully before signing so you are aware of your rights and how your image will be used.

If you retract your consent at any point, new notes surrounding that clause should be created and resigned in order for the contract not to be fully terminated. Please seek further advice from your agent and union.

18.
Advocate for yourself
- the responsibility also lies with you to discuss your needs and requests with the director and SM team or AD team. Never assume they will guess what you need facilitated.

For example, for stage productions we recommend implementing the following:
• Ask for 24 hours notice before Intimacy Rehearsal Sessions.

• Nudity in rehearsals or tech: a “nudity plan” should be created in discussion with yourself, the director, SM and the intimacy director. This will outline your needs, when and how this should be carried out so everyone is informed, stage management team and the costume department can prepare accordingly etc.

• Ideally 48 hours notice before a rehearsal with nudity or semi-nudity so you can prepare anything you need (for example: hygiene related or booking an appointment for waxing etc).

19.
De-Role / Close It Off
- remember to engage in a full closure practice/de-rolling (see Appendix) practice once your rehearsal/scene/show ended that day. This helps reinforce the separation between your personal and professional body. If you feel that you cannot step out of the character and/or the character’s experiences then seek professional support (see resources below).

20.
Know your resources
- remember to engage in a full closure practice/de-rolling (see Appendix) practice once your rehearsal/scene/show ended that day.
This helps reinforce the separation between your personal and professional body. If you feel that you cannot step out of the character and/or the character’s experiences then seek professional support (see resources below).

Unions & Industry Organisations:
Equity UK, BECTU, Casting Directors Guild, PACT, FAA.

Additional resources on auditions:

Equity UK Casting Manifesto:
https://www.equity.org.uk/media/1380/manifesto-for-casting.pdf
www.equity.org.uk/media/1380/manifesto-for-casting.pdf

Casting Directors Guild Guidelines:
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/sites/default/files/casting-auditionguidelinesforplays.pdf

Times Up (USA specific but many things are transferable):
https://timesupfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/TUF-Safety_Packet-Auditions-V3-20191222_FINAL.pdf

Support Services Resource Page:
https://www.intimacyforstageandscreen.com/resources.html

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