Sex is back on the big screen, but there's a debate about how these scenes should be filmed.

In recent years, there's been a sharp decline in the amount of sex we see in movies. In fact, one report comparing the films of 2023 to films from 2000 found that there had been a 40 per cent decline in erotic scenes.

We've spoken about the rise and fall of erotic thrillers before, and how Nicole Kidman is poised to bring them back with the release of Babygirl later this month. But Babygirl isn't the only film bringing sex back to the silver screen this year. Enter: Anora, Sean Baker's latest film, which follows sex worker Ani (played by Mikey Madison) on a gritty Cinderella-esque journey after she marries the son of a Russian oligarch.

There are parallels to be drawn between Babygirl and Anora: They're both in the awards season conversation. They're both bringing sex back to the big screen. But one parallel they don't share is their behind-the-scenes approach to filming saucy scenes.

Recently, Anora's director and star — Sean Baker and Mikey Madison respectively — raised eyebrows while discussing their choice to forego having an intimacy coordinator on set. Meanwhile, Babygirl's director, Halina Reijn, has been vocal about the benefits of having someone in the role there to faciliate Babygirl's steamiest moments.

So what's the deal with intimacy coordinators, and why has it become such a big deal whether films have one or not? Let's break it down.

Watch the trailer for Babygirl. Article continues below.

First things first: What is an intimacy coordinator?

Essentially, an intimacy coordinator is a professional who's hired to choreograph and facilitate the sex scenes and other intimate moments that are depicted on screen in movies and TV, or on stage in live theatre.

Their job is to ensure that these scenes are performed with everyone's safety and boundaries being prioritised, and are aligned with the creative vision for the project. Consent is key, so it's about making sure that all parties feel comfortable with how the scene will play out, and ensuring that everyone feels safe and respected throughout the process.

It's the intimacy coordinator's job to advocate on behalf of the actors who are tasked with acting these scenes out, and to reduce the risk of them being exploited or harmed in the process.

Why intimacy coordinators have been introduced.

In recent years, the role of the intimacy coordinator has been a hot topic, and for good reason. After the #MeToo movement in 2017 exposed widespread abuse in the entertainment industry, it became clear that there was a need for broad, systemic change to be made in order to protect actors from harassment and exploitation — both on set and off.

One example was Maria Schneider's experience filming Last Tango in Paris, which has become one of the most notorious examples of on-set exploitation.

In a 2013 interview about the 1972 film, director Bernardo Bertolucci recalled conspiring with Marlon Brando to film a graphic rape scene — without the consent of then-19-year-old Schneider.

"The sequence of the [scene] is an idea that I had with Marlon in the morning before shooting," Bertulocci said at the time.

But while the director said it was "horrible" of them not to tell Schneider of their plan, and in fact, that he thought she "she hated me and also Marlon" for not consulting her before they filmed the scene, Bertulocci justified his choices, saying that he "wanted her reaction as a girl, not as an actress".

Following Last Tango in Paris, Schneider battled mental health and substance abuse issues, and in a 2007 interview, said that the filming of that scene left her feeling humiliated and "a little raped".

Schneider's ordeal is, of course, just one example of the need for protocols to protect actors from being blindsided, coerced or pressured into performing scenes to which they haven't explicitly consented, or with which they feel uncomfortable.

Okay, so what does an intimacy coordinator actually do?

During pre-production for a project, an intimacy coordinator will meet with the cast and crew. When speaking to the director, writer and producers, the intimacy coordinator's job is to understand the creative vision for the project's intimate scenes in order to make sure they'll be able to capture the scene properly.

From there, the intimacy coordinator will discuss the creative vision for the scenes, as well as boundaries and consent, with the actors individually. If there are any concerns, the IC will go back to the director/writer/producers and advocate on behalf of the actor/s, with the goal being to find a solution that works for everyone involved.

Another key aspect of the role is choreographing how the scenes are played out, in a way that maintains a balance between creative vision, authenticity, and the comfort of those on set. It's their job to ensure that physical barriers and modesty garments are used, and to mediate any concerns between the actors or crew as they arise.

Finally, the intimacy coordinator will check in with the actors after the scenes are filmed to ensure that they feel comfortable with how the scene was handled.

The case against intimacy coordinators.

While the introduction of intimacy coordinators may seem like a no brainer — safer sets, happier actors, better protocols — not everyone in Hollywood has embraced them.

Some actors, like Toni Colette and Jennifer Aniston, have said that the presence of an intimacy coordinator made them feel more anxious.

Before filming a sex scene with Jon Hamm for the third season of The Morning Show, Aniston was offered an intimacy coordinator.

"I'm from the olden days, so I was like, 'What does that mean?'" Aniston told Variety. "They said, 'Where someone asks you if you're OK,' and I'm like, 'Please, this is awkward enough!' We're seasoned — we can figure this one out."

Meanwhile, Colette said that "it just felt like those people who were brought in to make [her] feel more at ease were actually making [her] feel more anxious."

"They weren't helping, so I asked them to leave," she added.

Others have voiced concerns that the inclusion of an intimacy coordinator might stifle creativity and leave the scenes looking mechanical or stilted.

In a 2022 interview with The Times, Sean Bean said that an intimacy coordinator could "spoil the spontaneity" of intimate scenes, a comment that prompted West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler to tweet, "Spontaneity in intimate scenes can be unsafe. Wake up."

Why Anora didn't use an intimacy coordinator.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Anora director Sean Baker has said that, while he thinks "it's very important for an actor to have that option", they did not use an intimacy coordinator.

"We offered both Mikey and Mark [Eydelshteyn]… that option," he said. "But also, I have directed sex themes throughout my career, so I was very comfortable doing so, and also as a producer on my film, the number one priority is the safety and comfort of my actors."

Baker went on to say that by the time they were filming Anora's sex scenes, everyone involved was "so comfortable that it was approached in such an incredibly clinical way".

"There was no improv," he said, adding, "We like to call them sex shots, not sex scenes, because they're blocked, they're calculated."

In the same interview, Madison said that they "talked at length about each scene [and] what it would look like".

"Sean and his wife and producing partner Sammy [Samantha Quan] would even block out what it would look like [on screen]," she added.

To the Associated Press, Baker explained, "We're our own intimacy coordinators, actually. My philosophy, or my stance on it, is that it's a case by case basis, a film by film basis, and it should always be offered to the actors. If they want one, then yes, of course. "

While speaking to Pamela Anderson for Variety's Actors on Actors, Madison elaborated:

"For our film, it was a choice that I made. The filmmakers offered me, if I wanted, an intimacy coordinator," she began.

"Mark Eydelshteyn, who plays Ivan, and I decided it would be best to just keep it small. My character is a sex worker, and I had seen Sean's films and know his dedication to authenticity. I was ready for it. As an actress, I approached it as a job."

Watch the trailer for Anora. Article continues below.

Babygirl director Halina Reijn on the benefit of intimacy coordinators.

Babygirl director, Halina Reign, has a different view. In an interview with IndieWire, Reign credited the film's intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, with helping her to create "way more risky" sex scenes for the film.

Reign said that contrary to the idea that an intimacy coordinator could stifle the authenticity of the scenes, she found the opposite to be true.

"You can get more extreme sex scenes that look way more risky than when you are thinking, 'No, let the actresses find out themselves.' That's such a dated idea of what sexuality is and how to approach it. I really am against it," she said.

And to Baker's point that it should be the actors' decision whether an intimacy coordinator is involved or not, Reijn disagreed.

"I'm also against people who are saying, 'No, my actors didn't want an intimacy coordinator.' That makes no sense," she said. "It is also for your safety as a director and for everyone. What if there is a misunderstanding? It's just amazing to have a person like that on set. And if you are creative and talented enough of a director, you can pull it off. Trust me.

"You just have to go a little bit through your own discomfort, and then you will discover a whole new world of creativity and possibilities."

Reijn isn't alone in her stance on the matter. Phoebe Dynevor, who also worked with Babygirl's intimacy coordinator while filming Bridgerton, spoke about how Talbot's involvement made for a positive experience.

"I'd never worked with [an intimacy coordinator] before, and she was absolutely amazing," Dynevor told Vogue Australia. "We blocked everything like a stunt scene. I knew exactly where Regé was going to put his hand at a certain point. We were just on the same page, it was such a comfortable experience."

She continued, "We really wanted to tell the story as truthfully as possible, and I think our intimacy coordinator really helped us do that. And it was actually a really lovely experience doing all that.

"I think some people think that an intimacy coordinator might hinder you, but actually it doesn't, because you know exactly what you're doing, so there's no fear that you're like, I dunno, overstepping a mark or something."

Feature image: A24/NEON.