Coronavirus may force Hollywood to drop sex scenes as actors show concerns over getting intimate with co-stars
Social-distancing guidelines in place with lockdown and other preventive measures have stirred up concerns about physical contact. The six-feet apart rule has instilled the seriousness of the crisis, and it is a given that people turn into worrywarts when either stepping out of home or returning indoors after being out.
A similar concern has plagued the entertainment industry, especially with many films coming to a standstill amid the raging pandemic. Actors are now expressing their worries on how they will engage in filming intimate scenes like kissing and sex after the lockdown and social-distancing guidelines are lifted. In the wake of the COVID-19, any sort of intimacy has been deemed hazardous because of how contagious the disease is, and A-listers are fretting over the same.
The entertainment industry is gearing up to face new stringent rules associated with the spread of the virus, according to the Daily Mail. This means that the inclusion of intimacy and sexual scenes in movies and TV shows are essentially in jeopardy. Industry insurers are also drafting new policies to protect actors and this could also mean that that the cast and crew on the production staff will be forced to test for the novel coronavirus before they can mingle with the others on set. A top Hollywood intimacy coordinator spoke to Daily Mail about the possible ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic perpetually changing the production industry. An agent from United Talent Agency, a top Hollywood said everything in La-La Land has been put on an indefinite hiatus until the crisis passes.
Even bigwig actors have been cautious about seeking safeguards from the studio before they sign with them. Meanwhile, studios have been concerned about some scenes being uninsurable. The Daily Mail conversed with Amanda Blumenthal, a Hollywood Intimacy Coordinator, who said that some productions might simply exclude intimate scenes altogether to avoid health risks. "I would not be surprised if for a period of time until we figure out how we can work through this safely, productions choose to go down that route in order to make it on air - honestly, that is something that could potentially happen", she explained to the publication.
Blumenthal, a film executive and the founder of the Intimacy Professionals Association has worked with various actors on series' like 'Carnival Row' and HBO's 'Euphoria.' She believes that some of the cast members will refuse to film scenes that entail snogging and sex because of the threat that it poses in association with the virus. She also says the need for a "safe work environment" amid the pandemic could lead to the intimate scenes reverting back to the 1920s conservative methods of filming and censorship. That could simply mean that a sex scene is replaced with the shot of a door closing which will only imply that the couple is going to have sex.
"Nothing is being made right now, and there is a huge demand for content so that would be a way to push it through quickly", Blumenthal adds.
The introduction of the new policies and stringent regulations could very well cause problems because actors and other talent are forbidden from sharing medical records, by law. "There will be lot of figuring out with individual actors whether they will comfortable with the level of risk", Blumenthal said. "I have talked to actors, some say this pandemic will not affect whether they do an intimate scene. For other people, it is going to make a very big difference. Even before the pandemic hit there were actors asking for changes to scenes. I would imagine taking temperatures before scenes would become common."
"Obviously, if there was an antibody test available that would be incredibly helpful, whether that is something viable, again we do not know," she added.
An agent from Unit Talent Agency said that at present, there is a "huge worry" in the entertainment industry. The agent, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "Everything in Hollywood is on hold at the moment, but moving forward there is a huge worry about getting insurance regarding virus concerns for projects."
"There has not been a health situation like this ever in modern Hollywood, and no company wants to put anyone at risk not just for humanitarian reasons but also for liability too", he added. "For actors, a romantic or love scene in a script is a red flag at this time. Even if we get an all clear, lip or body contact in any scene is causing huge concern. Very few performers would desire to put themselves at risk given this is a matter of life and death."
Elaborating further, he said, "Senior agency people, film studios, talent, and insurance companies are all discussing what will be acceptable or insurable. There are many moving parts, but for the immediate moment, love scenes are not happening." He went on to say, "In all honesty getting production insurance to cover the spread of a virus to hundreds of cast, crew and accessory staff, working in close proximity, is a challenge - let alone dealing with the insurance and liability needed for something as simple as a kissing scene."
"There is a huge desire to start work as soon as the social distancing restrictions are lessened, so everyone is working on ideas to overcome this," the agent explained.
Truman Van Dyke's Managing Director, Ray Ossenkop agrees with the UTA agent. Hailing from a renowned entertainment insurance brokerage, Ossenkop believes that the studios will have to make essential changes to their insurance policies to avoid expensive lawsuits. He also mentioned that some scenes could be deemed as uninsurable because of high risk. He asserted that medical testing will likely be implemented before production begins and all the cast and crew on set will be tested for COVID-19. Ossenkop added that insurance assessors will keep a close eye on movie projects and review any risks associated with COVID-19 through script reviews and storyboards.
"My belief is that they will have to come up with something just so it is safe for everybody," he said. "A company does not want to buy a claim if someone is sick or there is an issue."
The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has also said that it is working towards resolving this problem. David White, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director told Daily Mail, "We're working aggressively with industry safety experts and coordinating with other guilds and unions on these issues."
"No one yet knows when the industry will be able to return to work but we intend to be ready at the earliest possible time to ensure the safety of our members," he added.