What is an intimacy coordinator and how can they help you have a safer, more productive set? Whether it's an intimate scene between two actors, a torture or trauma scene, or a scene involving minors, an intimacy coordinator can help you have a safer set and make a better film. Today we highlight this important and lesser-known crew position with intimacy coordinator and actor Chantal Cousineau.
(Episode 48)
Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.
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More on Chantal:
Chantal Cousineau (she/her) is a certified Intimacy Coordinator. Born in Canada, raised in Ottawa, she spent her childhood training in ITF Tae Kwon-Do. She achieved her first-degree black belt at the age of 15. Subsequently won 2 gold medals at the Canadian Championships in Vancouver and 2 gold medals at the North American Championships. She began to model at the age of 17 and landed before the lens of famed photographers, shooting for Abercrombie & Fitch, Aveda, Italian Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Roots and more.
Moving to Los Angeles in 2001, she carved out a successful career as an actor in 100+ television commercials.
Since 2017, she has become a grounded voice within the MeToo advocacy community, helping 1,400+ survivors of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. A longtime member of SAG-AFTRA, Chantal served on several national safety committees to consult on ways the industry could expand its best practices to move closer towards equal treatment, pay parity, representation, and improving safety standards on sets.
She combined her many years of experience as a performer, with her advocacy work, to pivot to her career as a certified film/television Intimacy Coordinator.
An Intimacy Coordinator Professionals(IPA)-certified intimacy coordinator, Chantal Cousineau has been a pioneer in the area of developing (teaching) protocols to work with minors of all ages, in a safer way.
Chantal is a dual citizen of Canada and the US and she speaks both French and English fluently.
https://www.intimacyprofessionalsassociation.com/chantal-cousineau-bio