How to Budget for an Intimacy Coordinator

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Intimacy Coordinators are a relatively new role on a film set, meaning many productions don't know how to work their rates and fees into a budget. If you're putting together a budget for your next project and looking to hire an Intimacy Coordinator, this article will walk you through what kind of rates and fees you should expect so you can plan accordingly.

Intimacy Coordinator Fee Breakdown

Intimacy Coordinators typically break their fees into four separate categories:

· Day Rate

· Prep Days

· Kit Fees

· Travel

The total cost of hiring an IC will depend on how many days they will need to be on set, how much prep is required for the amount of intimacy work planned, and how far the shoot is from where they are primarily based.

Day Rate

All Intimacy Coordinators will have a set of daily rates for their work on the shoot day itself. This will usually be quoted as either "over eight" ($/8) or "over twelve" ($/12), which indicates whether the rate covers up to eight or twelve hours of work before billing overtime.

In most cases, the day rate is the minimum daily rate for an IC. So, the rate stays the same whether they're on set for two or eight hours. Any hours worked past the originally quoted maximum will typically be billed hourly.

Like all freelance film positions, daily minimum rates exist to protect both the IC and the production. They guarantee the IC's availability for the entire day, so as call times shift around and delays happen, there's no danger of running into a double booking.

A slightly discounted weekly rate may be available for shoots requiring an IC four or more days a week.

Prep Days

Since a significant part of an IC's work begins before shooting does, most ICs will also charge productions for one or more prep days in addition to their scheduled work on set. This prep day fee covers their time meeting with the director, actors, and other department heads to make sure everyone is ready for the planned intimacy work. It may also cover rehearsals, or those may be billed as an additional day rate.

Kit Fee

Like many other departments, ICs may also charge a kit fee to cover the cost of single-use items they distribute from their tool kit throughout their day's work. A kit fee is typically a nominal fee between $20-50 per on-set day, billed separately from their day rate.

Travel

If your shoot is a significant distance from your IC, you may also be asked to cover travel costs. Depending on the shoot's distance and length, gas charges, airfare, and a hotel can be added to the IC's base rates. For particularly far travel, a travel day fee may also be added to cover the IC's time traveling from their location to yours.

How Much Do Intimacy Coordinators Charge?

Most Intimacy Coordinators set their own rates, meaning their day rates will vary based on their experience, training, and the area in which they work.

Since ICs are highly skilled technicians who work closely with the director and actors to supervise both choreography and on-set safety, their rates are typically similar to those of a director, choreographer, or stunt coordinator.

How Do I Find an Intimacy Coordinator?

As the profession grows, you can find more intimacy coordinators through professional directories and IC training centers.

Some good places to start are:

• Intimacy Directors & Coordinators

• SAG-AFTRA Intimacy Coordinators & Directors Registry

• Intimacy Coordinators Canada

• Intimacy for Stage and Screen (UK)

You can also find qualified ICs through referrals from other filmmakers or by contacting your local university.

Interested in booking me directly for a shoot? You can contact me here for my rates and availability!