HBO hires an Intimacy Coordinator for 'The Deuce' and its other shows to prevent abuse of those involved in sex scenes

After having talked about a safe workplace environment, HBO has taken initiative through its show 'The Deuce' to have an Intimacy Director on set. After implying this rule on 'The Deuce', the cable network will be ensuring the presence of a professional to prevent abuse during all sexual scenes on the set of other shows and films as well. HBO will be assigning an intimacy coordinator for all the intimate scenes be it in movies or on a show.
After Rolling Stone published a story about HBO's decision to work with an intimacy coordinator Alicia Rodis, the cable network took to its Twitter account to make the decision public.
As reported in @RollingStone, all @HBO programs with intimate scenes will be staffed by an intimacy coordinator: https://t.co/sdQww5PFrt
— HBO PR (@HBOPR) 25 October 2018
Rodis has worked on the sets of not only 'The Deuce' but also 'Crashing' and the 'Deadwood'. She is also training new intimacy coordinators to be of service during the production of the upcoming series 'Euphoria.' This move by HBO came after, 'The Deuce' star Emily Meade who plays the role of a prostitute-turned-porn star Lori, asked the show creators for an "advocate purely for sexual scenes," as she told HBO's Ashley Morton in an interview. Meade began questioning why the stunts coordinators were listed only for small stunts and no one was ever listed to protect those involved in sex scenes.
"When it comes to sexuality, which is one of the most vulnerable things for all humans, men, and women, there’s really no system. There’s never been a person required to be there to protect and bring expertise," Meade said.

Emily Meade attends 'The Deuce' New York premiere at SVA Theater on September 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images)
The network found out about Rodis through her nonprofit Intimacy Directors International, a two-year-old organization that works to put the code of standards for sex scenes in theater and film and protects against sexual abuse on-set. The co-creator of the show, David Simon told Rolling Stone that he will never work without an intimacy coordinator again. "Because the truth is, we knew we were asking a lot of actors and directors and crew in terms of professionalism and to deliver this material bluntly and honestly. But you can ask all you want — at a certain point everybody has to trust everybody," Simon said.
This step was much needed and welcomed in the current light of events and we hope that other networks and show creators acknowledge the importance of this move.