Intimacy coordinators aren’t explaining how sex works to the actors, but helping to make sure that they’re comfortable with each other & what they’re being asked to do. They’re analogous to stunt coordinators in that way.
Part of this is helping actors to work through or find accommodations when they could be running up against situations that could trigger old traumas. So if one party has a history of assault, for example, the intimacy coordinator will work with them and their scene partner to make sure that what they’re acting out doesn’t mimic/mirror their experience.
There are lots of great answers but I see a key point missing - it’s not necessarily about making realistic sex scenes, it’s about making sex scenes that look good on camera.
Intimacy coordinators aren’t explaining how sex works to the actors, but helping to make sure that they’re comfortable with each other & what they’re being asked to do. They’re analogous to stunt coordinators in that way.
Part of this is helping actors to work through or find accommodations when they could be running up against situations that could trigger old traumas. So if one party has a history of assault, for example, the intimacy coordinator will work with them and their scene partner to make sure that what they’re acting out doesn’t mimic/mirror their experience.
Does that make sense?
There are lots of great answers but I see a key point missing - it’s not necessarily about making realistic sex scenes, it’s about making sex scenes that look good on camera.