Intimacy Coordinator Reacts: Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl (Variety Interview)

As a professional Intimacy Coordinator, I weigh in on the way Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo talk about this work.
Check out the whole interview here: • Ellen Pompeo & Katheri...
More info on training to become an intimacy coordinator: www.idcprofess...

[@twobluestripes]

The part about Katherine feeling the need to protect her younger costars reminded me of Kate Winslet. She’s basically a self-trained intimacy coordinator for herself and costars, and choreo’d her scenes with Saoirse in Ammonite, but I read a story about Mare of Easttown, about how the actress playing her daughter had a clothed same-sex kissing scene in a car, and no one was right there except male camera operators, so she decided to stay with the two young actresses. She ended up in in the trunk of the car to be there checking in with them while they shot it. I think I actually saw it on the behind-the-scenes featurette, how the actresses were so grateful she did that, and she said always wished someone was there for her during those times when she was a young actress.

[@KatieCarpenter2014]

Katherine Heigl gets so much shit for being "the bad guy" but I think it's just misogyny. I've seen a few different clips from that interview and I think a lot of the hate she's gotten in the past is unfair. I enjoy your content so much!

[@anonynomus]

100%. The way she talks about being the bad guy and giving people what they want out of her tells me she's been given so much crap throughout her career for establishing and reinforcing her boundaries and because she is a 5'9 blond bombshell she's definitely had people try and chip away at those boundaries repeatedly. She became "the bad guy" because she's expecting people to say "You don't really mean that" or "It's not that bad. Just work with me.". Then she has to go through the dance of "I do mean it.". And she's labeled as hard to work with. That's effective psychological manipulation. There's no way doubt doesn't creep in and leaves a person wondering "Is it me?"

[@aimeebrown-borges]

Love to see you validating both actresses experiences, this video was great! I’d love to see more!

[@intimacycoordinator]

Yes! Most hesitation is pointing to something that is a valid concern

[@saraht3196]

i really enjoyed this little snippet and would love to see you do more long-form content!

[@mandymckk]

Agreed!

[@intimacycoordinator]

Oh yay! Happy to take requests!

[@CrystalMermaid6]

Same

[@tomboy2980]

I really enjoyed this longer video, and hearing you get more in depth with the work you do. I would love to see long form videos in the future analyzing a whole movie and its spicy scenes, it flows better to me than multiple tiktoks. (And I'd LOVE a long review on 365 Days if you haven't already reviewed it, I saw one tiktok of yours where you said it would probably break some brains and that only made me INFINITELY more curious!!) Love your work! ❤

[@tomboy2980]

Another thought: would love to see a video of your reactions to spicy scenes in older films and TV, when the norms on set were super different. I've heard a rumor that Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland actually had sex on camera in Don't Look Now (1973), the actors have always seemed to refute it but I'd love to see you react to films with rumors like that and be like "that could totally be a trick of the camera" or "you can't actually see anything here" or "this totally wouldn't fly today, here's what we'd do differently"

[@intimacycoordinator]

Thanks for these suggestions!!

[@MsFitz134]

Love the longer content! I'd love to know more about the rules for shows produced outside of the US. I see a lot of things made in Canada, Europe, and Asia on streaming services. Do they also have similar rules to SAG/AFTRA? Or are their spicy scenes likely more... "authentic"?

[@gellisbarber1786]

I love your channel so much. Your description of advocating for the actors so they don't have to do that mental labor and can focus on their intense job reminds me of the work of birth doulas. They advocate for the desires and boundaries of laboring moms, so that the moms can focus on giving birth. These types of jobs are so empowering to women in vulnerable situations.

[@cubemissy]

Thank you for going more in depth! I find this subject fascinating; and I’m glad the actors are getting someone who will help them defend their boundaries.

[@intimacycoordinator]

Thank you!

[@vzmkitty]

I love this redaction video. Thank you for helping us think more deeply about these actors experiences in Hollywood.

[@walnutseeker]

As someone starting out in the film and tv industry as crew. Their interview was amazing and this part made me cry as I have grown up with all the as a women in film and tv it’s very hard but now these women and you are the ones I admire and have a lot of hope that this industry I love so much is going in a great direction. Thank you!

[@nooras865]

I thought it was a fun coincidence that I just started following you and have been learning so many new things through your channel and then they happened to talk about it in the interview. You came to my mind straight away! Thank you for interesting content!

[@carliet2014]

Your content is so relevant to just having healthy conversations about boundaries . Love this!

[@neverneverland5836]

Every day on this platform I learn so much about things I never even knew existed - your job is fascinating and so needed in a way I never would have considered! I'm so invested in learning more

[@squishyspellcaster]

I really like the longer content, I would love to see you do full movies or shows like twighlight, peaky blinders or game of thrones👏🏻👏🏻

[@skarletcharity]

I love this so much! And im hoping to see you go over Orange is the New Black and older shows like True Blood!

[@intimacycoordinator]

I love oitnb!

[@1987Liono]

​@@intimacycoordinator Game of Thrones is a bloody minefield of problems regarding sex scenes. I'm sure a scandal will come out about that show very soon.

[@AndrewSmoot]

I imagine the most important aspect of intimacy coordination is advocating for actors who may or may not feel comfortable performing certain acts, and what a lot of people get wrong about the job is thinking that intimacy coordinators make scenes clinical and robotic instead of the kinds of scenes the audience actually sees when they watch the movies.

[@juglore]

I just want to say I love your couch cover it's like pre catted. That's awesome.

[@intimacycoordinator]

Thanks so much!!

[@afriefeld1]

I like the longer video and also enjoy your short-form content :)

[@quinnlb4412]

Love this walk through! Thank you for all this insight, it’s so helpful for understanding this new role and how it can really help shift the industry!

[@Ammdar]

I hope to see more longer videos from you, but love all your content

[@Angelwitch99]

Please do more longer format videos I really like them

[@edge1185]

It honestly makes me tear up hearing her talk about this

[@mrscb5303]

Absolutely love your content and want more!! It’s so fascinating and gives me hope for all the young actors to come. It breaks my heart when I hear of bad experiences on my favorite shows/movies. It would be nice to know ppl weren’t in duress when creating my favorite story!

[@AT-wo2oo]

Love this! I watched this interview and immediately thought of you. So glad you covered it!

[@persephoneflorence7565]

I would LOVE to see more longform content!

[@ibcheel9021]

I honestly want to know what you think about people like, I’ll say Shia Lebouf saying that they actually had seggs on set, during filming…

[@intimacycoordinator]

I don’t think people lie about it..: but it is against the rules

[@ruthgallagher1168]

I like the long form content. Thanks!

[@licidenton4287]

I find this interesting and would love to see more long form content! 😊

[@user-uy8xf9tm5h]

Seems like intimacy coordinators are advocates for an actor’s body and safety just like how actor’s have agents to advocate and protect them financially or attorneys who advocate for them legally. It’s also not much different than having security on set making sure no one is there who shouldn’t be or doing harmful or criminal things. I don’t understand how this is such a new concept that an actor’s body and wellbeing should be advocated for and protected. The concept of a stunt coordinator has been around for a long time its sad that its taken so long for this kind of protection, planning and advocacy to take shape.

[@rfern707]

More 👏 long-form 👏 content! Yay!

[@am_zayani]

Are you usually involved during the entire production, or only during the shooting of the Intimate scenes?

[@ElsaLoui]

Great video!

[@marianneconverse4824]

I hate the argument "Well, I had to do it back in the day, so they (newer performers) have to/can manage/whatever excuse." Isn't the point to try to evolve as an industry? Actors' contracts used to be owned by a studio, who told them what roles they would play and how much they would make. I don't see anyone clamoring to go back to that system.

[@VioletEmerald]

This is great, thanks for sharing!

[@pachelbel1001]

This feels like it would be an amazing job. X well done you.

[@anon0124]

This is great!!!

[@intimacycoordinator]

Thanks ❤

[@Thenoobestgirl]

You rock!