November 28th 2023.
The SAG-AFTRA strike, which has been tentatively resolved, has ushered in a new era of safety for actors. The negotiating committee on behalf of the actors' union was dedicated to ensuring clearer standards were part of their new contract. This included the official recognition of intimacy coordinators, and it has been heralded as a "big win" by Rolling Stone.
Actress and activist Caitlin Dulany, a member of the negotiating committee, stated her feelings on the matter to the publication: "I just think it’s very common to have either an uncomfortable or possibly traumatic experience when it comes to this. And it’s not healthy for us or our sets, so it’s a great victory to have this in our contract...This was a huge win, it was a huge gain, and we really pushed for it.”
SAG-AFTRA has been actively promoting the use of intimacy coordinators in the industry, having published a guideline and database for their increased usage. The new regulations being proposed in the tentative contract require producers to use their “best efforts” to secure an intimacy coordinator when warranted. It also states that producers will not retaliate against a performer for requesting an intimacy coordinator.
The SAG-AFTRA President, Fran Drescher, announced a commitment to make intimacy coordinators official members of the union in 2022. However, for the new provisions to be ratified, a vote by Screen Actors Guild members must take place on Dec. 5.
This is an exciting development, as it will ensure a safer environment and greater respect for actors during sex scenes. With the new regulations in place, actors can now feel more secure knowing that intimacy coordinators are officially recognized, and that producers must use their best efforts to ensure their presence.
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