EARLY BIRD PRICES FOR ONE WEEK ONLY
We wanted to offer this workshop because actor safety is so important. We have been fortunate enough to be on a lot of great film, TV, and commercial sets, but we have also experienced sets where we felt vulnerable and at risk. If you are lucky, you will always work in conditions where you feel safe and supported, but when working on no/low budget jobs, or on student productions, Intimacy Coordinators might not be present.
We are hosting Alyssa Kay so you can better understand what is expected and how to advocate for yourself when working with intimate scenes. Safety before everthing, my friends.
LEVELS: ALL
AGES: 18+ (younger actors with instructor approval only)
ABOUT
Intimate moments can be some of the most compelling in film or television, but they also come with unique risks and challenges for both the actor and the filmmaker. If you’ve ever wondered how to handle an on-screen kiss or felt nervous or uncertain about filming an intimate scene (in front of the camera or behind it), this workshop is for you! Together we’ll explore ways of creating intimate stories on film while supporting the agency of the actor. We’ll discuss tools actors can use to advocate for themselves or take care of their scene partner, ways that filmmakers can create supportive spaces on set for scenes of intense vulnerability, and the role of an Intimacy Coordinator and when you might need one.
This workshop will include interactive activities and partner exercises that may involve physical contact; participation in all exercises will be voluntary and students are welcome to sit and watch at any time. Contact will exclude certain pre-defined zones, which will be communicated by the instructor. We will not be enacting any intimate scenes, kissing, or removal of clothing, though we may discuss how such moments should be handled on a professional set. Masks are encouraged but optional.
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Alyssa Kay is an actor, fight choreographer, and intimacy director born and raised in Seattle, WA. Her choreography has been seen at many local theaters including Seattle Rep, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Taproot Theatre, Wooden O, the University of Washington, and on numerous local film projects, and she has co-led workshops for ACT Theatre, the Seattle Stage Management Collective, the Vashon DOVE Project, and elsewhere.
Alyssa is also the resident Fight/Intimacy Director for both Seattle University and Harlequin Productions in Olympia. She is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and a founding member of PNW Theatrical Intimacy, and holds a BA in Drama from the University of Washington.