HBO Studios' Alicia Rodis, a pioneer of the intimacy-coordinator role that helps orchestrate sex scenes on sets, told Insider there's a lot of open dialogue about the intimate content that will be captured before filming even begins.
"What I find is that it's no secret that there have been problematic sex scenes in the past and problematic power dynamics on set, which can cause coercion, which can cause people doing things that they regret later or doing things that they didn't agree to," Rodis said.
According to Rodis, giving actors the choice to walk away from a scene is part of "the pre-production work and making sure we know what to expect. Or at least, what we're not going to be doing."
Ita O'Brien, intimacy coordinator for shows like HBO's "I May Destroy You" and Hulu's "Normal People," agreed that preparation and collaboration between all departments are key to a successful sex scene.
"It is about conversations with the producers, conversations with the director, then conversations with the actors, and conversations on with the wardrobe apartment," said O'Brien.