Frequently asked questions
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What is an Intimacy Coordinator?
An Intimacy Coordinator is a professional skilled in choreography, communication, and advocacy that helps support and/or create scenes of simulated sex, nudity, and/or hyperexposure for recorded or streaming performances, like in TV or Film.
What is an Intimacy Director?
An Intimacy Director is a professional skilled in choreography, communication, and advocacy that helps support and/or create scenes of simulated sex, nudity, and/or hyperexposure for live performances, like in Theatre, Concert Dance, or Opera.
How do I know if I should hire an Intimacy Professional for my project?
Are you creating a project that has nudity, simulated sex, and/or hyperexposure? An Intimacy Professional is a great support for both artistry and safety.
See this flow chart from Intimacy Directors & Coordinators (IDC) to help decide if an Intimacy Professional is right for your project. Nicole Perry also wrote 2 blog posts with guidance for evaluating this, here and here.
How do I know which Intimacy Professional I should hire for my project?
There are many aspects to consider when hiring an Intimacy Professional. Besides training in the Intimacy Profession, and experience in the medium you are using to tell as story, you may also wish to consider cultural compentency, lived experience, and/or past experience in the subject or style.
You may wish to consult So You Want to Hire an Intimacy Professional from IDC, Hiring an Intimacy Professional from Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE), and/or 5 Questions to Ask When Hiring an Intimacy Choreographer created by Nicole Perry.
What training do you look for in members of the Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective?
All Florida Intimacy Professionals (FLIPs) must show both completed and ongoing study in ALL of the following areas:
Intimacy for Stage or Screen
The Interplay of Power Dynamics and Consent, and Creating Consent Culture
Trauma-Informed Creative Practices
Movement as Story-telling / Choreography
Mental Health First Aid certification
Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Anti-Othering
Gender, Sexuality, and Sex Education, including Harassment
Body Positivity/Body Inclusivity
Disability, Neurodiversity, and Accessibility
Communication, Advocacy, and/or Conflict Mediation
Cultural Competency
Boundary and Closure Practices
Other trainings/study for the specific media in which the Intimacy Professional works
To be considered for the Collective, 30+ hours of training must be demonstrated for Emerging Members and 75+ hours must be demonstrated for Members. This is in alignment with SAG-AFTRA expectations for Intimacy Coordinators.
Why should I join the Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective?
Being a member of The FLIP Collective lets the industry know that you are aligned with best available practices for consent-forward work, and your training, methods, and work are held in high esteem by other intimacy and industry professionals.
Members join a community (currently a private Facebook Group) of intimacy professionals who can serve as resources and supports. Members receive a web presence in our Database of Florida Intimacy Professionals. Members can also take advantage of discounts on workshops and courses at Momentum Stage.
There is no cost to join the Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective.
What happens after I become a member of the Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective?
To become a Member, an Intimacy Professional must apply, and pass a Panel Review. Upon acceptance, their headshot, creative practice details, links, and contact info will be included in the Florida Intimacy Professionals Database.
Members are expected to use best available practices in consent-forward, collaborative, trauma-informed work. If an industry member believe a Florida Intimacy Professional has caused harm, they may contact the Review Panel for accountability. Each instance will be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the Review Panel offering full transparency to both the Intimacy Professional and the Industry member requesting accountability.
Every 2 years Members will be asked to document at least 2 new Intimacy Credits and 10 additional hours of training across the categories.
Emerging Members may apply for Full Member status whenever they achieve 5 Intimacy credits and 75+ hours of training.
Members will be supported by other Florida Intimacy Professionals through community conversations and personal relationships. Members can also take advantage of discounts on workshops and courses at Momentum Stage.
What is the difference between an Emerging Professional and a Professional?
To be considered for the Collective, 30+ hours of training in all of the above categories must be demonstrated for Emerging Members. 75+ hours must be demonstrated for Members. This is in alignment with SAG-AFTRA expectations for Intimacy Coordinators.
Full Members must document at least 5 Intimacy credits. Emerging Member may apply with no Intimacy credits.
What make Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective different from other Intimacy Professional organizations?
Florida Intimacy Professionals serves to demonstrate that qualified, experienced, high-quality Intimacy Professionals are living and working in Florida, and are committed to making excellent, safe, and collaborative works of art here.
FLIP is modeled on the Pacific Northwest Theatrical Intimacy Collective and Consent Creatives of Arizona. We have drawn our expectations for training from these organizations, and IDC, Intimacy Professionals Association (IPA), The National Society of Intimacy Professionals (NSIP Canada), TIE, and SAG-AFTRA.
FLIP is different, in that our review process is conducted by a panel of professionals from all sectors and roles of the Entertainment Industry. These professionals are invested in ensuring the on set and on stage experience is safe and excellent for all artists. We believe this format will help the industry as a whole develop more awareness and appreciation of the Intimacy Profession.
FLIP is not a training or employment agency. Rather, it is a community of professionals supporting other professionals, for the good of the Entertainment Industry.