Guidelines for Doing Intimate Scenes

The comprehensive Guidelines for Doing Intimate Scenes in Camera Work have been drawn up for the use of the Finnish film and television industry. The guidelines provide instructions for all audiovisual professionals for doing scenes involving sexual acts or nudity in a safe and professional manner.

The instructions are divided into five parts that are aimed at different professional groups: general guidelines for everyone and separate instructions for actors, directors, producers and production managers as well as costume and make-up departments. The guidelines provide comprehensive instructions for the different stages of making intimate scenes, ranging from scriptwriting and auditions to shoots and post-production. It includes concrete guidelines on, for example, respecting the boundaries of actors, organising a closed set, and contractual concerns, with particular emphasis on open communication and clear practices.

Intimate scenes are scenes involving sexual acts or nudity by one or more persons. Intimate scenes also include scenes with partial nudity (e.g. underwear, nightgowns, swimsuits).

The aim of the guidelines is to harmonise the operating models of the industry and thus make filming intimate scenes safer and more enjoyable for everyone. The guidelines are not intended to prevent or complicate working on intimate scenes but to provide tools for doing them in a professional manner. Common principles and a more open culture of discussion can help improve the working atmosphere, promote safety as well as improve the final product.

The guidelines were drawn up by actor Saara Kotkaniemi as part of a more extensive study in which forty actors and twenty directors were interviewed. Several industry professionals have assisted in drafting and reviewing the guidelines. The publisher is the Finnish Film Foundation, and the guidelines are available in Finnish, Swedish, and English.