This series dares something: The German Prime Video production “Love Addicts”, which has been online for a few days, goes way beyond the usual with intimate scenes. The eight-part series centers on a therapy group of four twentysomethings who are all struggling with their love lives. But how do you shoot sex scenes nowadays?
Consultant Alev Irmak accompanied these scenes on set for the streaming series. The technical term for this is: intimacy coordinator. “My job is to support the production, especially the actors and directors, in the intimate scenes and ensure an authentic and emotional performance.” Sexuality” of the performers, according to Irmak.
The infamous derailment of Marlon Brando
Because if there isn’t such precise preparation, there are risks, as Irmak explains. It would be bad, for example, “if the scene wasn’t discussed with the actors and they didn’t know what was going to happen that day.” Or when someone expresses concerns or limitations during filming and hears, “Don’t be rude!” in response. “Many people are told that if they don’t do what they’re asked, they’re considered ‘difficult’ and won’t find work.” Directions like “Surprise your partner” are completely unacceptable. We must speak of “abuse of power and exploitation,” said Irmak.
The industry doesn’t like to talk about unpleasant experiences in intimate scenes. They rarely reach the public. A sex scene between Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider in Bernardo Bertolucci’s scandal film “The Last Tango in Paris” (1972) is still considered one of the biggest mistakes. Schneider later said, “I felt hurt and, to be honest, a little raped, by both Marlon and Bertolucci.”
conversations with those affected
Ideally, she should be brought in very early so the actors can work in a safe environment, Irmak says. “I read the books and use a traffic light system to rate the risk of the scenes in question.” Several one-on-one meetings followed with the various parts of the production such as director, cast, costume designer and make-up artist. About camera resolution, fabrics needed. Of course, she also asks people on camera what they think of the scenes.
The second step is about personal boundaries, as actress Malaya Stern Takeda, who has a lead role in “Love Addicts” describes: “You face each other. First a person feels and says, for example: Ok, you can touch my head. You can touch my face.” It’s about feeling your whole body, but leaving out the parts you don’t want to be touched. “And then the other person’s job was to look and say, like, Ah ok, I noticed you didn’t touch your breasts.” Only then was it the job of feeling each other, Takeda says.
No “spectators” while filming the scene
In the third stage, Alev Irmak supervises the making of the scenes. Then it is filmed in a “closed set”, i.e. with a minimal crew. “In the ‘Closed Set’ it is usually only the most necessary people who have to be present during the shooting and also have to look at the monitor,” says actor Dimitri Abold, who was also in front of the camera for “Love Addicts”. “Director, camera, sound, make-up, scenography, screenplay, intimacy coach. Five or six people”.
And not all in the same room: “In the cases where I’ve had an intimate scene, there were never more than three people who were in the room and only a few other people who had a view through the monitor. What you see on the monitor is ultimately something different than what you can see next door,” says Abold. For comparison: 40 to 60 people were present for the innocuous scenes of the series.
It is still not obvious that in Germany actors and actresses are followed so well during sex scenes. However, the big streaming portals are setting a good example. Because the trend has been around internationally for almost ten years and has only recently reached Germany.
