'Babygirl' Director Makes Case for Intimacy Coordinators in Modern Filmmaking

To make Hollywood sets safer, director Halina Reijn is pushing for the use of intimacy coordinators. In her opinion, their presence makes it possible for more honest and risky sexuality to be shown on TV.

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson star in “Babygirl,” Reijn’s newest film, which is a daring look at office desire. The film shows how technical control can help with creativity while keeping actors safe. An interview with Reijn not long ago said, “You can do more extreme sex scenes that look riskier when you have help.” “The idea of leaving it all to the actors is outdated.”

When Reijn talked about her time as an actor, she said that she didn’t like filming private scenes without the right people watching. She recalled the pre-MeToo era of film production, saying, “I’ve seen many men in high chairs eating pizza while I struggled to perform.” “Not knowing your scene partner’s boundaries can be incredibly traumatizing.”

For “Babygirl,” Reijn worked with Lizzy Talbot, an experienced intimacy planner who has worked on “Bridgerton” and “It Ends with Us.” Their cooperation made the complex scenes in the film, including those involving Kidman’s powerful CEO and Dickinson’s intern, possible.

Kidman won the Venice Volpi Cup for her role in the film, which has received high praise. As Kidman’s character, Romy struggles with her professional identity and deeper wants, the movie looks at themes of authenticity and repression. The group and crew had to trust each other and carefully plan the steps for this trip.

Kidman recalled Reijn’s words of comfort as he said, “Everything in the film is designed to ensure comfort.” This safe place let her fully participate in difficult scenes, even ones that explored fetishistic behavior, without becoming exploitative.

There are ongoing arguments in the industry about the role of intimacy managers. “Saying that actors didn’t want an intimacy coordinator makes no sense,” she says in response to reasons against their need. Everyone is safe because of it.”

Thanks to A24, “Babygirl” is now playing in theaters. It is a serious look at what it means to be a woman and how society affects us. The struggle between conformity and authenticity is at the heart of the film. He says, “The movie explores the desire to be normal while yearning to be true to oneself.”

Through careful planning and structured advice for intimacy, Reijn hopes to show a more complex side of sexuality on screen. “Real, shocking sex isn’t just about the body; it’s often about what goes on in the mind as well.” “It’s all about imagination and suggestions,” she said.