Do our shooting floors need ‘intimacy supervisors’?

Intimate scenes are harder to shoot than one may imagine. Improvisations can be tricky. These are sensitive scenes that call for delicate handling. Only recently, a popular Hollywood television network hired an on-set intimacy coordinator to ensure standards were followed and rule out abuse. With one exposé after another in the film industry, the need for an on-set intimacy coordinator, many think, is perhaps increasing.We asked our directors and actors if they think introducing such a concept is too premature by Indian standards. Here’s what they have to say...
TRANSPARENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE
I’m not sure how it will help. While shooting an intimate scene, how do you know who is crossing the line? Transparency is very important here. Everything should be cleared in the script and there should be no improvisation later. Shooting such scenes is a difficult job. There should be a lot of trust between the actor, director and the unit members. I have had a maximum of four-five people on sets while shooting such scenes
— Anurag Basu, director
IT’LL BE A WELCOME MOVE IN INDIA
Anything new, which protects the sanity and safety of the cast members, is always good. Being a woman and an actor, I feel this will be a welcome move in India
— Celina Jaitly, actress
I SEE NO REASON WHY A SUPERVISOR CAN’T BE ON SETS
I am absolutely cool with the presence of an on-set intimacy supervisor. It might be good for us. If the actors involved in the scene have both agreed to a scene and the director plans to execute the scene as discussed, I see no reason why a coordinator can’t be present. It will make sure the environment is comfortable on sets
— Sujoy Ghosh, director
TWO ADULTS CAN HANDLE THEMSELVES
Having intimacy coordinators on the set will only create more communication issues. Two adults can handle themselves. Women should be bold, outspoken and at times even brazen, if required. Only that can help — Koena Mitra, model-actress
THERE ARE RULES ON SETS AND THEY ARE OFTEN FLOUTED
It was about time we understood the gravity of the situation. There are rules on sets and they are often flouted. If there’s a supervisor, the offenders will be scared. This will reflect the fact that the authorities are taking the rigth steps to curb such abuse. Strict punishment should be imposed on wrongdoers
— Abir Chatterjee, actor
A CONTRACT IS A BETTER OPTION
I worked on The Bong Connection as an executive producer and more than 50% of the film was shot in the US. There were actors from the States who were signed on to play parts in the film. It was back then that I saw their contracts were very meticulous. Given our censor board norms, we can’t really go far with intimate scenes. Even if our script demands a scene be portrayed in a natural and transparent way, we cannot do that very often. Considering the burden of an extra technician, I think a contract is a much better way to curb such nuisance on sets. Supervision of some sort will definitely help bring down the elements of controversy
— Arindam Sil, actor-director
THIS WILL MAKE SURE THERE AREN’T ALLEGATIONS LATER
Hollywood implements such things in a big way and we must take cues from them. Any controversy that is generated from the film industry draws a lot of flak. There should be an intimacy supervisor on sets. In Tollywood, way too many steamy scenes are shot. Of course, some scripts demand it. The presence of someone who oversees it will make sure there are no allegations later. It’s not just for the woman to feel safe. It’s for men too
— Tnusree Chakraborty, actress
COMMUNICATION GAPS BETWEEN ACTORS AND DIRECTORS NEED TO BE BRIDGED
It will be better to have an intimacy supervisor on sets. Sometimes, there are communication gaps between actors and directors that need to be bridged. The director might have conceived the scene in a certain way but during shoot, he might suggest changes. This is where a supervisor steps in. This will also keep the director on the safe side
— Rii, actress
EVEN ASSISTANT DIRECTORS CAN BE INTIMATE SUPERVISORS
When we are shooting intimate scenes, it is important to respect the screenplay and the script. Hollywood has a bigger budget and they can appoint such coordinators. In Tollywood, even one of the assistant directors can do this job. They should make sure boundaries are not crossed. Tollywood is very progressive and it will be great if they embrace this concept. It’s not about the industry, after all. It’s about an actor and his/her dignity
— Tridha Choudhury, actress
DURING SCRIPTREADING, INTIMATE SCENES SHOULD BE DISCUSSED
Intimate scenes are hard to shoot. They need proper guidance from the director and reciprocation from the co-actor. One must have full consent before such scenes are shot. During script-reading, these scenes should be discussed. If there can be a supervisor who oversees things to make sure the scenes are shot aesthetically, it’s a good thing. It can also be someone from the director or the producer’s team. A contract should be drawn up and actors should give their consent to such intimate scenes
— Rituparna Sengupta, actress
OUR GUILD WILL COME UP WITH A PROPER PROCEDURE
Our guild is coming up with directives to follow in this regard. We are all having detailed discussions to come up with a proper procedure
— Shoojit Sircar, director
INTIMACY SUPERVISOR WILL ENSURE DECORUM IS MAINTAINED
If there’s something untoward happening, the actors involved in the scene will understand it first. It’s always better to draw attention to it then and there. While a supervisor will contribute to a safe environment, it is always better to set things rights on your own. An intimacy supervisor will ensure the decorum is maintained and I’m all for it — Sayantika, actress
(With inputs from Ruman.Ganguly.timesgroup.com, Jaya.Biswas@timesgroup.com and Shamayita.C@timesgroup.com)