A History of Intimacy Professionals in Entertainment: An Inside Look at a Movement

A History of Intimacy Professionals in Entertainment is the first book that explores the evolution of intimacy coordinators, choreographers and directors in the performing arts, highlighting the history of their critical role in fostering safe(r) and respectful environments on set and in theaters.

Readers will gain a deep understanding of the history and importance of intimacy work in the entertainment industry, as told by an insider, along with insights into the creation of best practices and protocols and the emergence of training organizations. Focused primarily on the USA, part one dives into the cultural events that impacted and galvanized the role of intimacy professionals, like TIME'S UP, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter and the Covid-19 pandemic. It also looks at how unions and the press responded to and affected the movement, as well as other communities that influenced the creation of protocols. Part two consists of interviews with global thought leaders, analysis and resources.
A love letter to the intimacy industry, A History of Intimacy Professionals in Entertainment is meant for producers, directors, actors, educators, students in performing arts programs and anyone who advocates for safer practices in entertainment. Intimacy professionals will also greatly benefit from having the knowledge of how we got here recorded.

Brooke M. Haney is the Editor of The Intimacy Coordinator’s Guidebook: Specialties for Stage and Screen and creator of The Actor’s Warm Down. They were one of the first 50 people in the world recognized by SAG/AFTRA on the registry of qualified intimacy coordinators (IC). As an IC, Brooke has worked for CBS, NBC, HBO, FX, Amazon Prime, Paramount +, Peacock, Disney, Warner Brothers and on numerous films. They are a member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA and have their MFA in performance from the University of Central Florida.