Florida Intimacy Professionals (FLIP) is pleased to announce their launch of an online database for qualified Intimacy Directors and Coordinators in Florida. The organization was created by professionals in live (theatre, opera, and dance) and recorded (film and TV) entertainment to promote the use of Intimacy Professionals, and also to demonstrate best practices in the entertainment industry. These professionals, specially trained in movement for story-telling and creating moments of contact, uphold performer boundaries while fulfilling the creative vision of the director.
The position of an Intimacy Director has been part of theatre productions since 2017, when Tonia Sina was hired for the role at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. In 2018, HBO hired Alicia Rodis for the role of the first Intimacy Coordinator in the industry on The Deuce. In 2019, Claire Warden became the first Intimacy Director on Broadway, working as a creative team member of Frankie and Johnny in the Clare de Lune. Intimacy Professionals have now become a standard part of creative teams in both live and recorded entertainment. FLIP is thrilled to promote the work of these creatives for hire in film, theatre, TV, opera, and dance, across the state of Florida.
FLIP holds a mission to create arts workplaces that center consent, collaboration, and trauma-informed creative processes. Gaby Tortoledo, a South Florida actress and educator, as well as a review panel member for FLIP remarked, “The implementation of intimacy choreography and direction has emerged as an indispensable practice, fostering a creative landscape where every participant feels empowered, respected, and secure.”
To do this, FLIP created an application process, in line with the SAG-AFTRA accreditation standards for Intimacy Professionals. To be a full member of FLIP, Intimacy Professionals must demonstrate over 75 hours of relevant training within the last five years, as well as at least five professional credits. Tortoledo explains, “Our process is designed with care, incorporating a panel of industry professionals hailing from diverse backgrounds, each sharing a profound appreciation for the art form. This ensures that the standards set are not only rigorous but also reflective of a collective commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive creative space, where every voice is heard and every participant is empowered. Through this comprehensive approach, we strive to uphold the highest standards of professionalism while championing an inclusive and respectful environment for all, ultimately redefining the narrative of our creative community."
Furthermore, FLIP demonstrates that qualified, experienced, high-quality Intimacy Professionals are living and working in Florida, and are committed to making excellent, safe, and collaborative works of art here. Clare Lopez, an actor, director, and acting coach in Orlando is also a member of the FLIP review panel. She shares, “I love that Florida Intimacy Professionals is building a community space to help educate artists about the work of Intimacy Coordinators & Intimacy Directors - while providing a direct pathway for hiring these professionals on their productions.”
Currently, FLIP hosts two Full Member Intimacy Coordinators and three Full Member Intimacy Directors, all from different regions of the state. For more information, visit the FLIP website www.floridaintimacyprofessionals.org or email floridaintimacyprofessionals@gmail.com .