Introduction to Intimacy Work for Actors
The most comprehensive program for learning how to do intimacy work for the screen like a pro
IPA's Intro to Intimacy Work for Actors class is the only online self-paced workshop of its kind that teaches you the ins and outs of on-screen intimacy and prepares you to go into any scenes with nudity or simulated sex feeling confident and prepared.
Who Exactly Is This Class For?
This course is for actors at all stages of their career, including those who are...
- just starting out and have never done any intimacy work before (and maybe don't understand exactly what it entails)
- unsure if intimacy work is right for them
- intimidated by the prospect of doing nudity or simulated sex because you don't know what to expect
- confident in their ability to perform intimate content but looking to learn how to handle a situation related to intimacy if something goes wrong
- interested in gaining the skills to execute this type of work more professionally
- veterans of the industry who want to learn how to advocate better for themselves
- anyone who works closely with actors and wants a better understanding of how to support them during intimacy work
If you're an actor, you will be asked if you do nudity and/or simulated sex at some point in your career, it just comes with the territory nowadays. Unfortunately, there are virtually no drama schools or acting classes that teach performers how to navigate these scenes, leaving actors to have to learn from experience rather than wisdom...But that's no longer the case! Sign up for Introduction to Intimacy Work for Actors to learn in just a few hours what it takes many performers years of trial and error to learn.
By the end of this program,
you will have:
- confidence in your ability to handle any type of intimacy scene that may come your way
- a deep understanding of how to approach intimacy work in a way that feels safe for everyone involved
- the ability to repair with a scene partner if someone feels their boundaries have been violated
- a system for evaluating what types of intimacy work are right for you and which aren't
- tools in your toolbelt to help you speak up when something doesn't feel right and advocate for yourself and other performers
- a thorough grasp of your rights as a performer when it comes to intimacy work
- knowledge about what a nudity rider is and how it works so you can feel confident you are legally protected
"This class covers many vital aspects of performing intimate scenes for film. Ranging from a clear understanding of consent to what a Nudity Rider is and how it works to protect the performers. I would recommend this course to any actor at any stage of their experience. This is the education we all need!"
Hanna Rose Hall
Actress (Forrest Gump, The Virgin Suicides)
About Your Instructor
Amanda Blumenthal is the founder of Intimacy Professionals Association and one of the top intimacy coordinators (ICs) in the world. She has worked on hundreds of scenes of intimacy with the industry's top performers, directors, and producers. Some of her credits as an IC include Euphoria (HBO), Carnival Row (Amazon), The Affair (Showtime), and The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime).
Amanda is a sought-after speaker on the topic of intimacy for the screen and has spoken at the Sundance Film Festival, Women in Film, Film Independent, American Film Market, the USC Peter Stark Production Program, and more.
Additionally, she has worked closely with SAG-AFTRA on their Standards and Protocols for the Use of Intimacy Coordinators guidelines, she consulted with the Producer's Guild of America on their Independent Project Safety Initiative, and she was a contributor to the Time's Up Guide to Working in Entertainment.
ENROLL TODAY AT OUR INTRODUCTORY OFFER PRICE
What's Covered in the Program?
This program is entirely self-paced and immediately available upon purchase so you can do it whenever and wherever it is convenient for you. During our time together we will cover the following material over the course of four modules:
MODULE 1: Consent and Boundaries Fundamentals
In this unit we will lay the foundation for understanding what exactly consent and boundaries are and why they matter (we promise it's not as boring as it sounds!). We will discuss:
- Consent and power dynamics
- The five pillars of consent
- Why saying that all consent must be enthusiastic is problematic
- Where do boundaries come from and why are they important
- An embodied approach to gauging your own consent and boundaries
- How to pick up on non-verbal cues from others when trying to gauge consent
- How to repair with someone if they feel like their boundaries have been crossed
- Methods to help you avoid crossing another person's boundaries in the first place
MODULE 2: Applying Consent to Acting
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How to judge if a role is right for you
- How to evaluate your own boundaries when it comes to nudity, simulated sex, and other types of intimacy work
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What is a nudity rider and how does it work
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What to expect in a rehearsal for an intimate scene
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How to talk through your boundaries for the scene with your scene partner(s), the director, and/or the intimacy coordinator
- What to expect when working with an intimacy coordinator
MODULE 3: Your Union Rights in Intimate Scenes
In this module, we will go over the union rights that performers have both under SAG-AFTRA and under ACTRA contracts in a way that is easy to understand and doesn't require a law degree to comprehend. These lessons will cover:
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Your union rights under Section 43 of the SAG-AFTRA Basic Agreement
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The new SAG-AFTRA provisions related to intimacy that went into effect in July 2020 as part of the updated collective bargaining agreement
- ACTRA's rules for intimacy work
MODULE 4: Insider Secrets
While there will be insider secrets sprinkled throughout the course, in this section we'll focus on a few specific areas such as:
- Questions to ask during auditions to make sure you are fully informed about what you may be getting into
- What to ask for ahead of a shoot to make it as pleasant and professional as possible
- What the difference is between modesty wear and barriers
Have Questions About the Program?
Get in touch! Send us an email at [email protected]
