Competencies and Professional Profiles for Intimacy Coordination in Audiovisual Content Production: an Analysis of Spanish University Training Programs

Competencias y perfil profesional en la coordinación de intimidad en la creación de productos audiovisuales: análisis de la oferta formativa universitaria española

Competências e perfil profissional na coordenação da privacidade na criação de produtos audiovisuais: análise da oferta formativa universitária espanhola

Marta Saavedra Llamas^1*
Gloria Jiménez-Marín^2**
Isabel Palomo-Domínguez^3***

¹ Faculty of Communication and Arts, Nebrija University, Spain
² Faculty of Communication at the University of Seville, Spain
³ Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania
^* Lecturer in Journalism and Audiovisual Communication at the Faculty of Communication and Arts, Nebrija University, Spain. Email: msaavedr@nebrija.es
^** Full Professor in the Faculty of Communication at the University of Seville, Spain. Email: gloria_jimenez@us.es
^*** Associate Professor at the Institute of Communication, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania. Email: isabel.palomo@mruni.eu

Abstract

In the constantly evolving communications industry, driven by digitalization and contemporary social demands, new professional profiles are emerging that require specialized skills and cross-disciplinary training. Intimacy coordination, which emerged in response to the #MeToo movement in 2017, aims to create physically and mentally safe working environments for performers and actors through the ethical and consensual representation of intimacy in audiovisual fiction. This research analyzes the specialized training in intimacy coordination offered by Spanish universities. It intends to define this professional role, identify the programs that encompass the required competencies, and propose recommendations for incorporating this career opportunity into curricula. Following a literature review, a quantitative content analysis was conducted across 97 university programs, including undergraduate and master’s degrees in Audiovisual Communication and Gender Studies. The results reveal a lack of specific training in intimacy coordination. However, certain courses were identified that address the topic and relate to the areas of practice in which intimacy coordination is developed. The conclusion is that the academic programs at Spanish universities still do not satisfactorily meet the sector’s needs. Researchers recommend a curricular update that includes the creative, technical, and ethical skills necessary for this emerging role.

Keywords
Intimacy coordination; Audiovisual industry; University; Spain; Audiovisual Communication; Gender studies.

Resumen

En el escenario de una industria comunicativa en constante transformación, impulsada por la digitalización y las demandas sociales contemporáneas, emergen nuevos perfiles profesionales que exigen habilidades especializadas y una formación transversal. La coordinación de intimidad, surgida en respuesta al movimiento #MeToo de 2017, busca garantizar entornos de trabajo física y mentalmente seguros para los intérpretes, con una representación ética y consensuada de la intimidad en la ficción audiovisual. Esta investigación pretende analizar qué formación especializada en coordinación de intimidad ofrece la universidad española, partiendo de la definición de este perfil profesional, identificando las titulaciones que contemplan las competencias requeridas y proponiendo recomendaciones para la incorporación de esta salida profesional en los planes de estudio. Tras un estudio bibliográfico, se aborda un análisis de contenido cuantitativo que comprende 97 programas universitarios, entre los que figuran grados y másteres de Comunicación Audiovisual y Estudios de Género. Los resultados revelan una escasa presencia de formación específica en coordinación de intimidad, aunque se identifican determinadas asignaturas que permiten abordar la temática y cubrir las áreas de acción en las que la coordinación de intimidad se desarrolla. Se concluye que la oferta académica de la universidad española aún no responde satisfactoriamente a las necesidades del sector, por lo que se propone una integración curricular que contemple competencias creativas, técnicas y éticas necesarias para este rol emergente.

Palabras clave
Coordinación de intimidad; Industria audiovisual; Universidad; España; Comunicación audiovisual; Estudios de género.

Resumo

No setor das comunicações em constante mudança, impulsionado pela digitalização e pelas exigências sociais contemporâneas, estão a surgir novos perfis profissionais, que exigem competências especializadas e formação interdisciplinar. A coordenação da intimidade, criada em resposta ao movimento #MeToo em 2017, procura garantir ambientes de trabalho física e mentalmente seguros para artistas e atores com base numa representação ética e consensual da intimidade na ficção audiovisual. Esta investigação tem como objetivo analisar a formação especializada em coordenação da intimidade oferecida pelas universidades espanholas. Pretende-se definir este papel profissional, identificar os graus que abrangem as competências necessárias e propor recomendações para incorporar esta oportunidade de trabalho nos currículos. Após revisão bibliográfica, foi realizada uma análise quantitativa de conteúdo abrangendo 97 programas universitários, incluindo licenciaturas e mestrados em Comunicação Audiovisual e Estudos de Género. Os resultados revelam uma falta de formação específica em coordenação da intimidade. No entanto, são identificados alguns assuntos que abordam o tema e envolvem as áreas de atuação em que se desenvolve a coordenação da privacidade. A conclusão é que a oferta académica das universidades espanholas ainda não satisfaz satisfatoriamente as necessidades do sector. Os investigadores recomendam uma atualização curricular que inclua as competências criativas, técnicas e éticas necessárias para esta função emergente.

Palavras-chave
Coordenação da intimidade; Indústria audiovisual; Universidade; Espanha; Comunicação Audiovisual; Estudos de género.

1. Introduction

1.1. Emerging Professional Profiles in the Field of Communication

The communication sector has always been (and will continue to be) in constant (r)evolution. Added to this dynamic nature is the advent of digitalization and the expansion of online media, which have given rise to a new media landscape, acting as essential catalysts for profound transformations in the communication industry (Jiménez-Marín et al., 2022; Corredor-Lanas, 2011). The advent of the internet in the advertising domain brought revolutionary changes. It affected the organizational structures of audiovisual companies and influenced the reception model of viewers and consumers (De-Salas et al., 2019). It is therefore essential to understand what the communications system requires in the workplace to respond to the challenges posed by the current professional landscape. This issue has been studied since the inception of communications studies in Spain (Matilla et al., 2010).

Diversity is a distinctive feature of emerging structures—diversity in specialization, as well as in operational models and configurations—across production companies of all sizes, including both larger and smaller enterprises, where service outsourcing is common (López Alcalde & Martori Muntsant, 2025; Palomo-Domínguez, 2022). Flexibility is also a key characteristic, as the traditional division of departments has remained largely unchanged. However, with the rise of new forms of production and distribution, new roles and positions have emerged that were previously unknown.

This new scenario requires multidisciplinary teams with cross-cutting skills, as well as new knowledge that is constantly being updated (Jiménez-Marín et al., 2023), and competencies directly related to new forms of production (Martín García & Buitrago, 2023). Above all, it demands a renewed perspective on the relationship between creators and audiences (Gutiérrez & Recalde, 2018), as we witness the rise of new communicators and new audiences (Grijalba de la Calle et al., 2022). The adaptation of professional skills is key to the competitiveness of companies (Miquel-Segarra et al., 2018), to their evolution in the audiovisual sector (Sánchez-Moreno, 2019) and, consequently, to the adaptation of university education (Sanz-Marcos et al., 2021). So-called professional talent—technical skills and abilities—is currently what adds distinctive value to the outcomes delivered by production companies. As a result, problem-solving profiles and the ability to provide constructive feedback have become highly valued by companies both within and beyond the audiovisual field (Castellblanque, 2006).

Given this context, there is a push not only to create new professional profiles but also to transform existing ones by incorporating new skills and areas of specialization (Carretón-Ballester & Lorenzo-Sola, 2018).

1.2. Definition and Origins of Intimacy Coordination

“Intimacy coordination is the management of intimate scenes during pre-production, filming and, on occasion, post-production of an audiovisual project,” as indicated by the Spanish Association of Intimacy Coordination Professionals in its recent Guide to Working with Intimate Scenes in Audiovisual Fiction (AESCI, 2024, p.5). The definition is expanded by developing its functions and interaction with the other roles involved:

Those responsible for intimacy coordination are professionals who contribute to the directors’ vision by collaborating with them on the choreography and creative vision of these scenes, while also ensuring safety on set, protecting the performers, and helping to achieve a more authentic and inclusive representation of sexuality. In addition, they act as department heads and are hired by productions to help plan and film scenes with intimate content, working closely with various departments and facilitating conversations between actors, directors, production, and wardrobe (AESCI, 2024, p.5).

The emergence of intimacy coordination as a professional role is closely linked to the rise of the #MeToo movement and the gradual reconfiguration of the industry that followed (Yunta Sánchez, 2024). Although the movement had some precedents, its global impact did not materialize until 2017 in the United States, where an groundbreaking wave of sisterhood and activism spread across social media. The #MeToo collective claim focused on exposing numerous cases of sexual harassment and abuse within the industry, with particular attention to those perpetrated by producer Harvey Weinstein (Mendes et al., 2018).

In this context, intimacy coordination emerged as a response to growing female dissatisfaction in the audiovisual industry and the increasing demands for a safe working environment (García-Catalán, 2023). It also represents an ethical accountability effort promoted by the media and production companies, in which VOD platforms such as HBO and Netflix have played an undeniable leading role. Its purpose is to lay the foundations for the so-called post-Weinstein era, reducing risk and conflict to ensure a safe working environment and the efficient operation of productions (Sørensen, 2022). At present, intimacy coordination is a voluntary practice undergoing expansion, widely recommended and valued as an indicator of quality, work ethics, and occupational safety. However, there are already voices calling for regulatory reform to make the incorporation of intimacy coordination mandatory in audiovisual and performing arts productions (Chung & Piscitelli, 2025).

Horeck and Berridge (2024), authors of the report The Role of the Intimacy Coordinator, which explores evolving representations of sex and intimacy in UK television culture, emphasize the educational role that intimacy coordination plays both within and beyond the industry. Intimacy coordinators not only choreograph simulated sex scenes or nudity; they also contribute to the representation of other forms of everyday intimacy, such as the relationship between parents and children, childbirth, or a gynaecological examination. This work helps broaden cultural understanding of intimacy across diverse contexts and promotes a more consensual and respectful approach to its portrayal.

1.3. Professional Competencies and Training Needs in Intimacy Coordination

In 2014, before awareness of the need for intimacy coordination became widespread, pioneer Ita O’Brien published the first edition of Intimacy On Set Guidelines, a practical guide to the safe and respectful portrayal of intimacy that quickly became a reference point for this new professional role (Albacete, 2022). O’Brien (2018) summarizes the guidelines on intimacy on set and urges production companies to assess the risks of intimate or sexual scenes in advance, ensuring that the relevant departments are informed and that the necessary measures are taken, which include attending to costumes, ensuring a closed set with only the essential personnel, and budgeting for an intimacy coordinator.

The AESCI guide (2024) states that the intimacy coordinator should have on-set experience, knowledge of acting, directing, and body work, as well as specialized training in consent theory, intimate choreography, sexual and gender diversity, LGTBQIA+ issues, mental health first aid, conflict resolution, working with minors, unconscious bias, and trauma mitigation. They should also be able to manage the necessary documentation to carry out the work in a responsible and comprehensive manner.

During pre-production, intimacy coordinators are involved in the casting process to safeguard applicants’ privacy; at the time of hiring, to provide detailed information about the project and ensure that decisions are made responsibly; during rehearsals, to define the boundaries of agreed-upon consent; during filming, to ensure that scenes are shot on small sets, monitoring the priorly agreed choreography, and providing a safe and hygienic working environment along with emotional support; in post-production, to guarantee that certain scenes are only supervised by essential personnel and that, if digital technology is used to modify any aspect, the actors are informed. Finally, during the commercialization and marketing stage, intimacy coordinators help ensure that promotional images receive the consent of the artistic team and do not violate their rights.

For BIK, the German Association for Intimacy and Fight Choreography Coordination—which organized the first International Conference on Intimacy Coordination in Berlin in February 2024—there are eight stages in which this profile is active: 1) Script analysis; 2) Casting; 3) Risk reduction (consents, codes of conduct, intimacy limits); 4) Budgeting and contracting; 5) Information processing, organization, and interdepartmental communication; 6) Rehearsals and choreography (planning sexual or highly sensitive scenes to create a safe working environment and ensure the full performance of the actors and crew, under codes of respect and emotional care); 7) Filming and set closure protocols for sensitive scenes; 8) Post-production.

In summary, Cerezo and Delgado (as cited in Yunta Sánchez, 2024) discuss the process of coordinating information to ensure consensus among directors, lead actors, and the departments involved is both understood and implemented. After completing their training, they launched the IntimAct project (IntimAct, 2024), becoming pioneers in Spanish intimacy coordination and the first to be certified in this role in Spain, as indicated in the CIMA 2023 Annual Report (Cuenca-Suárez, 2024). They explain that the goal of their professional role is to protect actors on a physical, emotional, and psychological level (Albacete, 2022).

In Spain, the application of this professional role began in Netflix productions just two years ago. It is a position primarily held by women, who often act as department heads on film sets; however, internationally, men also perform this work. “The reality is that it is an issue that is more socially associated with women, and it is also a role that serves to balance the gender of people working in film,” explains Cerezo (2024, para. 6). She also points out the challenge of training.

Maitane San Nicolás (2024), from the intimacy agency Filming Intimacy, highlights different areas of training: mental health first aid, emotional regulation, gender identity and sexual orientation, mediation and conflict resolution, choreography and body movement, use of physical barriers and modesty garments, on-set experience, and familiarity with industry roles.

The introduction of this role, which is increasingly recognized as essential in audiovisual projects, requires training that was not previously available in Spain (Ramírez-Alvarado & Clemente Mediavilla, 2020). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine and compare undergraduate and master’s degree programs in relation to the topic under investigation: the profile and professional competencies of intimacy coordination. The aim is to determine whether, eight years after its emergence, Spanish universities have responded to this demand or whether, on the contrary, they should reflect on this career path and collaborate from the academic sphere to promote equality, integrity, and safety in audiovisual productions.

As the guides consulted agree on the need for training in the creation and filming phases of an audiovisual product, as well as on gender issues, it is necessary to divide the analysis of the programs into two areas. First, as a component of audiovisual creation, we will examine its potential inclusion in Audiovisual Communication programs and related fields, as already proposed by Elías-Zambrano et al. (2022). Next, we will analyze specific gender programs to see whether this profile is included in specialized training and how it is addressed in terms of competencies and content.

2. Methodology

The proposed research aims, following the analysis, to examine and understand the specialized training related to the role of intimacy coordination within Spanish universities.

This general objective is broken down into a series of specific objectives: