Alright folks, let me break down how I actually tackled this whole thing step by step. Started when I got this indie script across my desk that had some… let’s call it “high-intensity” scenes. Director kept emphasizing “authenticity” but my gut was screaming “liability nightmare waiting to happen.”
Initial Deep Dive Research Phase
First thing? I camped out at the library digging through union pamphlets like a squirrel hunting nuts. Pulled out the SAG-AFTRA guidelines – that thick booklet might as well have been my bedtime reading for a week. Highlighted all the requirements: mandatory intimacy coordinator presence, explicit consent forms for every touch, the whole shebang. Found out most legit productions require certified coordinators now. Big takeaway? If they ain’t mentioning these in the casting call, run for the damn hills.
Job Hunting with Red Flags in Mind
Checked out like 30+ casting calls on various platforms. Any post that:
- Said stuff like “must be comfortable with real nudity” without paperwork details
- Used vague terms like “artistic freedom” instead of protocols
- Had sketchy payment structures like “deferred compensation”
…immediately went into my mental trash bin. Found this one gig that looked promising until they emailed saying “coordinator optional if talent consents.” Noped right outta that conversation.
Verification Process in Action
When I finally found a production that looked borderline decent, I turned into detective mode:
- Demanded full coordinator credentials upfront – no certificate? Walked.
- Insisted on seeing physical copies of their closed-set policies
- Made them explain exactly how simulated actions would be choreographed
Got ghosted by three crews during this stage alone. Finally landed a project where the coordinator showed me their workshop certificates and had binders full of consent paperwork. Still made them demonstrate the “pause-safe word-hand signal” system live before signing anything.
On-Set Survival Tactics
During actual filming, I became that annoying crew member:
- Counted heads each morning – if anybody unauthorized showed up near monitors? Shut. Down.
- Watched the coordinator like a hawk during blocking rehearsals
- Made performers verbalize consent before every partial costume change
Caught this PA trying to sneak cell phone footage “for continuity” – handed him straight to producers. They fired him before lunch. Later heard about another production nearby getting sued for non-union intimate scenes. My hands were shaking when I read that article during coffee break.
Biggest lesson? Legit work feels like bureaucratic hell – paperwork stacks taller than craft services, constantly double-checking credentials, endless meetings about boundaries. But that is the safe way. Anything simpler or “more flexible”? That’s your red flag waving right there. Took me four months to find one clean project. Still not sleeping great, but at least nobody got exploited on my watch.