Authenticity • Responsibility • Growth • Meaningful Work • Creative Collaboration
When I was a young performer I was often cast in roles that required nudity, simulated sex and hyper-exposed content – which inspired me to begin training as an Intimacy Coordinator when I first heard about it in 2018. What I remember most about the days before intimacy coordinators is that people didn’t know how to talk to me when I was asked to perform in hyper-exposed scenes. They often said things that were disempowering and there was no structure or information around content, choreography or how the other performers behaved. The unions, directors, my agent and even casting directors didn’t know how to support me. As a young performer I had a few experiences surrounding these scenes where I felt isolated and scared about losing my job. I was left confused and unable to be free or creative in my work because I was in survival mode – – not how you want your actors to feel! All of that was completely avoidable.
As a young actor, I was often persuaded to do things that were unsafe physically and even got injured on set a couple of times because my needs were not acknowledged. I know firsthand that when an actor is heard and feels safe they are more open and can create from a spirit of discovery, possibility and exploration. I’ve since worked in many positions on set, from continuing to work as a performer and acting coach, to working as an AD, doing art department, production design, camera department, costumes, producing-directing my own films as well as being hired to produce and direct. I know what each department needs and how to communicate and collaborate with HOD in all stages of production. My goals have always been to empower the performer as the artist they are by fostering a culture of consent, being clear, concise, providing options, information (because knowledge is power) and the space to create, as well as collaborate with all departments to best serve the story and save production money. If called upon by the director, I can choreograph a scene through my extensive movement and intimacy choreography training that best serves the story, actualizes the directors vision and safeguards the actors well-being – but I don’t have to. If the actors and director don’t need help with choreography or would rather find it on the day, I can step back or provide a container for actors to play within that also honors the integrity of their boundaries. Either way, my goal is to not touch an actor or directors artistic process. We are storyteller’s and this is a collaborative medium. I’m there to work with you the way you need to work.
My experience as an actor, working with actors and having worn so many hats on set, is my superpower as an intimacy coordinator. What I love most about the job is being the liaison between departments, problem solving and working as a team by being the link between performer and production. Most of all, I love storytelling. I mean, that’s why we’re all here right? Of all the varied benefits to hiring an intimacy coordinator, I’m there to make things really efficient, look at the scheduling of those scenes and help support the performers in being able to do that on schedule, as well as illuminate the directors vision and make sure we’re hitting the narrative arc effectively within the performers boundaries so can we create really dynamic storytelling.
ABOUT
Catherine Black (she/they) is a Canadian-American director, actor and educator. She is grateful to share the land on both coasts of Turtle Island in what is colonially known as Los Angeles and Toronto. Catherine is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, ACTRA, CAEA and Alliance of Women Directors and has spent over 30 years on both sides of the camera. Catherine has multiple certifications through various organizations, including completing Phase 1 and 2 of the SAG-AFTRA accredited Launchpad Principal Intimacy Professionals certification program and is qualified to work as an Intimacy Professional. She has performed in and directed scenes of nudity, hyper-exposed content, and simulated sex on stage and screen, which ultimately inspired Catherine to pursue a career as an Intimacy Coordinator.
A professional actor since 1994, Catherine is best known for American Psycho, The Donner Party, Odyssey 5 and most recently, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, in what fans hail as “the best Trek episode of the century.” Catherine has performed many scenes of nudity, hyper-exposed content and simulated sex on film and stage, inspiring Catherine to better support performers.
A director of 14 years, Catherine shadowed a few talented directors early on and directed-produced commercials and music videos before directing their first narrative film in 2012. Catherine’s films have won awards and acquired worldwide SVOD/VOD distribution. Catherine has great insight directing actors but their real gift is the ability to capture and convey the subtlest nuances of human emotion on screen.
Catherine is a certified acting teacher of 20+ years, having studied various acting/movement techniques, now teaches a fast and comprehensive acting system that works with any acting approach. Catherine has first person knowledge of how to talk to and empower performers. Catherine teaches from their heart and makes sure everyone feels that they are heard and belong.
Catherine knows their way around a film set, how to work with each department and talk from their paradigm. Catherine has a deep and intuitive understanding of invisible disabilities, a passion for cultural sensitivity, working with youth, mental health first aid, disability justice, physical storytelling and consensual artistic freedom – combining Catherine’s love of creative storytelling with efficiency and safety.