SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (http://www.sagaftra.org)), Hollywood's biggest union, released a four-page guide on the use of intimacy coordinators (what is an intimacy coordinator (https://filmworkshop.net/MovieForum/index.php?topic=850.0)?) on film sets to help protect actors from abuse. The union represents 160,000 actors and other performers issued a list of standards and protocols for the use of professional intimacy coordinators to help casts safely navigate nude or simulated-sex scenes. Over the last two years, SAG-AFTRA has been trying to create frameworks to help eliminate sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, including establishing a code of conduct and so-called Guideline No.1 (https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/sa_documents/sag-aftra_guideline1.pdf), which barred the use of hotel rooms or residences for auditions - this is of course not just an issue in Hollywood but around the world in the entertainment industry.
"We wanted to keep it simple and keep it easy for the industry to embrace." - Executive Director David White said in an interview. He also said the union developed the guidelines after consulting about 45 intimacy coordinators and producers interested in bringing these professionals onto their sets.
In 2018, HBO became one of the first major networks to say it would hire intimacy coordinators to monitor sexually intimate scenes filmed on the sets of its programs. The new union rules outline training standards for intimacy coordinators and their role before, during and after production. Among other requirements, coordinators must review all nudity riders, content and modesty garments with performers, directors and assistant directors.
SAG-AFTRA said the guidelines will allow productions to run more efficiently and provide a safety net for performers.