Romantic and intimate scenes are, along with violent ones, the scenes that cause the most anxiety among actors. And that is not irrational: they involve physical vulnerability, close contact with a partner who may be a stranger, dozens of people watching on set, and the pressure to make something deeply private look authentic in a profoundly artificial environment.
The professionalisation of these scenes has advanced considerably in the Spanish audiovisual industry in recent years, partly thanks to the influence of the #MeToo movement and the introduction of intimacy coordinators. This article explains how to prepare for and conduct yourself in these scenes with the utmost professionalism.
The intimacy coordinator: what it is and how to work with one
On productions of a certain size, you will increasingly often find an intimacy coordinator, a relatively new role in Spain but already well established on international productions and at some national production companies. Their job is to design and supervise scenes with intimate content in the same way an action coordinator supervises fight sequences.
The intimacy coordinator:
- Speaks with each actor separately before filming to establish their boundaries.
- Designs the choreography of the scene: which parts of the body come into contact, at what moment, with what intention.
- Ensures that the agreements reached are respected on set.
- Acts as the go-between for the actors and the direction team whenever something does not feel comfortable.
If your production has an intimacy coordinator, work with them openly and honestly. It is a professional tool, not a sign of weakness or prudishness.
When there is no coordinator: the protocol between actors
On smaller productions —independent theatre, short films, low-budget series— it is common for there to be no intimacy coordinator. In that case, the communication protocol between the actors is essential.
The prior conversation is mandatory: Before filming any scene involving intimate physical contact, the actors involved must have an explicit conversation —away from the rehearsal room or the set— in which each one clearly states what they are willing to do and what they are not. This conversation is not awkward: it is professional. Whoever proposes it is not a coward; they are the best-prepared person on the team.
Building trust with your partner
Let casting directors find you
Your talent needs visibility. Create your professional profile on Arga Studios and show up in the searches of those who hire.
Create my free profile →On-screen chemistry is not a mysterious gift: in large part it is the result of the trust the actors have built outside the scene. These are the most effective practices:
The work before filming
If you have the opportunity, spend time with your partner outside the context of the scene. You do not have to become close friends, but you do need a basic level of comfort and mutual familiarity. An hour of conversation about something other than the script can do more for on-screen chemistry than three hours of rehearsal.
Physical trust exercises
Exercises such as falling backwards trusting that the other person will catch you, Contact Improvisation work, or simply agreeing on the limits of physical contact before you start, create a foundation of bodily safety that frees the mind to act.
The gaze as a tool
In romantic scenes, 80% of the chemistry is conveyed through the eyes before there is any physical contact. Practise holding your partner's gaze without it feeling awkward: this takes training, but it is the most powerful tool you have.
Shooting day: how to stay in character
The set during the filming of an intimate scene has many people, a great deal of technical logistics, and plenty of potential for the actor to drop out of character and slip into embarrassment or self-consciousness. These strategies help:
- Use an entry ritual. Before the first take, take a moment —literally thirty seconds— to bring yourself into the character's emotional state in that moment. Close your eyes, breathe, place yourself in the story.
- Do not joke too much. Humour is a defence mechanism against discomfort, but it can pull your partner out of character. Keep the right tone.
- Communicate between takes. If something is not working for you —physically or emotionally— say so between takes, not during the take. Your wellbeing and your partner's are more important than the pace of the shoot.
- Trust the direction. A well-directed romantic scene has clear choreography. Do not improvise physical contact that has not been agreed.
Well-prepared romantic scenes are some of the most rewarding in the craft. They require a unique combination of vulnerability, trust and technical precision that, when it works, produces results the viewer immediately recognises as true.
Looking for acting work in Spain?
Create your profile on Arga Studios and gain access to real castings. Free for actors.
Create my free profile →