In 2015, Equity New Zealand held a packed members’ event about work involving intimacy. It became apparent that far too many actors were having very challenging, and in some cases very dangerous, experiences. The event led to the Equity Guidelines for Simulated Sex and Nudity on Stage and Screen, which were among the first of their kind in the world.

In the years since, Equity New Zealand has become a world leader in shifting practice and culture, establishing a pool of experienced intimacy coordinators under the mentorship of renowned coordinator Ita O’Brien of Intimacy on Set, UK.

In the #MeToo era, when it comes to handling intimate scenes safely, it’s not just actors looking for guidance but the industry at large, so it became necessary to update and expand the guidelines, with input from directors, producers and crew. Equity President Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Equity Vice-President Tandi Wright, in consultation with industry, have been developing the new guidelines for the last two years.

“During the consultation process with other guilds, it became clear that it is not just performers being affected by poor practices; it can be traumatising for other departments, too,” says Jennifer. “We had direct feedback from people in post-production and it’s very clear that a lot of crew have had enough, a lot of safety officers have had enough.”

Launched in Auckland in June 2020, the new guidelines are endorsed by the Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand, the Screen Industry Guild, Directors & Editors Guild of New Zealand, Women in Film and Television NZ, and the Actors Agents Association of New Zealand.

Film director Gaysorn Thavat, who was among those providing extensive feedback, says: “The guidelines not only protect the actors from situations of serious potential harm, but also give directors much greater creative freedom and confidence because of the safety and trust created around the process. The guidelines also include comprehensive on-set and post-production protocols, so they’re for the benefit and safety of all of us, collectively, as an industry.”

The new gui­delines ensure that a safe and professional working environment starts at pre-production. “Performers cannot consent if they don’t know what ‘it’ is,” says Jennifer. “They need details early on in the process. The guidelines outline best practice for each stage of production: auditioning, contracting, preparation and rehearsal, performance, marketing and post-production. There are also guidelines for extras/stand-ins and doubles.”

Jennifer says intimate scenes require this carefully considered, industry-wide approach, because people can — and do — get hurt, physically or psychologically.

“Again and again we come back to the comparison with stunts, because it helps re-frame the way we all think about these scenes. What level of care would you put into a stunt scene — how much resource and planning? Would you hire a stunt coordinator?”