DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Elle McAlpine, an intimacy coordinator who works on movie and TV sets to choreograph and manage intimate scenes involving sex, nudity, or other sensitive content. Elle discusses her background as an actress and how she transitioned into this role, providing insights into the process of preparing for and filming intimate scenes in a professional and safe manner.
Elle explains her approach to working with actors, discussing boundaries, character development, and techniques for simulating realistic physical intimacy without compromising the performers' comfort or dignity. She also shares personal anecdotes from her experiences on various projects, including the Netflix series 'Baby Reindeer' which depicted sexual abuse and trauma.
Throughout the conversation, Elle emphasizes the importance of open communication, consent, and creating a supportive environment for actors during intimate scenes. She reflects on how her work has influenced her perspective on sexuality, bodies, and parenting her young daughter.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Intimacy coordinators play a crucial role in choreographing and managing intimate scenes on movie and TV sets, ensuring the safety, comfort, and consent of actors.
- Open communication, boundary setting, and character development are key aspects of Elle McAlpine's approach as an intimacy coordinator.
- Elle brings a candid and professional approach to discussing and simulating intimate acts, guiding actors through nuanced physical details.
- Working as an intimacy coordinator has influenced Elle's perspective on embracing bodies, sexuality, and parenting.
- There is often resistance and misunderstanding around the need for intimacy coordinators, but their role enhances the quality and professionalism of intimate scenes.
- Elle observes a societal double standard in the differing attitudes towards depicting violence versus consensual sex on screen.
- Portraying intimate scenes involving trauma or abuse requires additional care and sensitivity in working with actors.
- Intimacy coordination aims to create a supportive environment for actors during sensitive content, prioritizing their comfort and consent.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “It's so integral that especially women and I have a daughter that we connect to our vulvas, like the life force it is. People are. It is like we birth life through our vaginas. And our vulvas are the most beautiful things in the world. And there is so much shame around them, around the smell, around what they look like. And it is just baffling.“ by Elle McAlpine
- “I think at the beginning people are like, oh, you're the fun police. You know, you just get taking all the fun out of it. It's not about that. I want this scene to look as good as it can look, and I want you ultimately to look as good as you can look.“ by Elle McAlpine
- “And yet we do it with such ease in the sense of ease in the way that we just make so much violent content. And, you know, I work with jorgostanthemos, and he just doesn't understand why we can show violence so freely, and yet there is so much red tape around sex and, like, consensual sex that people have such issues with it.“ by Elle McAlpine
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Episode Information
Death, Sex & Money
Slate Podcasts
7/2/24