For the film “SEX IS COMEDY”, my voice became part of the soundtrack, opening the doors to a world that is often discreet yet fundamental: the world of intimacy coordinators. Through this documentary, I discovered the importance of this profession, which, far from being anecdotal, is essential for creating a more respectful and sensitive cinema.
Why Coordinate Intimacy?
The intimacy industry is under pressure. While many creatives and artistic leaders see the benefits of intimacy direction and coordination as specific care and technical support for actors, the industry itself has not yet created an equitable and inclusive training process for marginalized people.
I believe there is a growing will to have these conversations now because we can no longer avoid them.
The role of an intimacy coordinator, which emerged after the Weinstein scandal, has become central on film sets, ensuring the safety of actors and giving them a voice when dealing with sometimes overbearing filmmakers.
Through testimonials from actresses and directors, the film explores the impact of this still underrepresented profession in France, which is already revolutionizing Anglo-Saxon cinema.
It reveals the behind-the-scenes process: sex scenes choreographed with precision, bodies showcased with respect, and poignant stories of discomfort felt when no coordination was present.
Although the profession has existed since 2008, it gained significant prominence with the #MeToo movement, transforming the creative process and the atmosphere on sets. This critical turning point, though timidly adopted in France, heralds a renewal for the industry.
Beyond the Male Gaze: Intimacy Coordination and the Fight for Racially Inclusive Narratives
Let’s take this discussion further…
Hollywood and Paris have long hyper-sexualized non-white bodies, often reducing them to mere objects of desire. However, French audiences are increasingly consuming successful films and series featuring BIPOC actors and actresses, such as Bridgerton, Insecure, Normal People, The Great, Watchmen, Sex Education, I May Destroy You, and Power, where intimacy coordinators played a crucial role in managing sex scenes.
That said, most intimacy coordinators remain predominantly white, creating a gap in understanding the racial dynamics at play in these scenes. The hyper-sexualization of Black bodies remains a significant issue, and the lack of diversity among intimacy coordinators exacerbates this problem.
Intimacy coordinators are essential to creating safer and more equitable working environments on sets, especially when it comes to depicting love and intimacy. However, Black intimacy coordinators, such as Teniece Divya Johnson, face unique challenges in an industry that often neglects racial stereotypes. These professionals must not only ensure actors' physical safety but also address deeply ingrained racial issues, such as the fetishization of Black bodies—a phenomenon that mainstream cinema has long ignored.
It is imperative to bridge the gap in nuanced representations of Black love and intimacy on screen. As the industry moves toward more inclusive storytelling, it is crucial that intimacy coordinators are trained to recognize and deconstruct racial stereotypes. By doing so, they will help create more respectful and authentic scenes, where Black and mixed-race characters are portrayed with the dignity, complexity, and depth they deserve. This would mark a turning point toward more honest and equitable portrayals of love on screen.
You will also like
An Afropean generation is already shaping a vital part of contemporary European culture. It produces its images, sounds, codes and narratives. Yet it continues to emerge within a space where the white gaze does more than see: it frames, filters and still decides what becomes legible, legitimate and culturally central.
No label, no stylist, no front row. For a generation of independent, racialized artists operating outside the gaze of institutional fashion, image isn’t a privilege — it’s a site of reinvention. Without a costume assigned, they craft a visual presence that’s self-authored, political, and razor-sharp. A closer look.
Magnetic harpist, singer and choir leader, Sophye Soliveau turns every stage into a ritual space. With Intuition, her debut album, she weaves harp and voice into a groove-infused trance where R’n’B, soul, jazz and gospel collide. A visceral, spellbound album, carried by a rare vocal mastery — part incantation, part liberation.
In the work of Simon Diebold, flesh is no longer just a surface — it’s a battleground, a hallucination, a digital relic, a scream frozen mid-glitch. His art doesn’t just depict bodies; it dissects them, refracts them, reconfigures them into ghostly avatars wandering between the physical and the phantasmagoric.
In a world overwhelmed by cold concepts, Motonaga’s fluid, rebellious colors offer a new, radical aesthetic. His free gestures inspire artists today to reshape reality through color, play, and joy. What if painting like him was already a way to rewire the world?
Jalan & Jibril. Two brothers. One lens. One radical vision. For them, the image is more than aesthetics — it’s an antidote to inner exile. Blurring the lines between photography, cinema, and diasporic identity, their work pulses with intimacy and universality. A relentless pursuit of meaning, of visibility, of self — carved through light and frame.
Screens Multiply, Stories Explode: A New Generation of Filmmakers Erase the Boundaries Between the Dark Room and the White Cube. Video art or cinema? It doesn’t matter. What matters is the explosion of forms.
Hadeer Omar, an Egyptian artist, merges Arab traditions with modern technologies through new media art, including film, photography, and interactive installations. Her work explores identity and memory, using immersive environments and virtual reality to redefine visual storytelling.
Drumming prodigy and a key figure in contemporary jazz, Justin Tyson breaks free from his prestigious collaborations to unveil The Paper Doors, his debut solo album. Blending avant-garde jazz, experimental hip-hop, and minimalist textures, he crafts a bold and immersive sonic universe. A true rhythmic manifesto, this album stands as a defining work of 2025, showcasing the sensitivity and virtuosity of an artist in full ascent.
Artists are at a crossroads: AI, NFTs, and platforms like Metalabel or Indify are reshaping the game. While institutions uphold scarcity, these alternatives promise more equity. But are they truly sustainable? Breaking the system comes with risks.
Danielle McKinney, my favorite contemporary painter, stands out with her striking portraits of Black women, exploring light, solitude, and introspection. Her work, influenced by Caravaggio and Hopper, blends emotion, mystery, and figurative art. Discover her rise, impact in the art world, and radical pursuit of beauty and contemplation.
Fashion Week is hypnotic, but who truly orchestrates the magic? Behind the scenes, an elite group of creative hairstylists shapes the looks that captivate our feeds. They steal the show, yet remain invisible. A spotlight on these legendary talents who stay in the shadows.
Artist, filmmaker, and publisher, Martine Syms deconstructs the codes of pop culture and visual capitalism. Through installations, films, and publications, she explores image, power, and Black identity in an ultra-connected world. A striking body of work, balancing social critique and glitch aesthetics.
A new generation of editors and creative directors is taking the reins, pushing fashion beyond glossy fantasy to tell stories of heritage, identity, and culture. Coming from the margins of an industry that has long ignored their narratives, they are reshaping aesthetic and editorial codes, challenging a system that has been stagnant for too long. Who are they, and how is their vision redefining the way we see—and think about—fashion?
In the shadows of the runway, they sculpt faces, set trends, and infuse an unforgettable aura into the most prestigious shows. These genius MUA artists, adored by brands but invisible to the public eye, are the silent architects of beauty. Who are they? Why are their names unknown when their work is everywhere? A deep dive into the secret world of these brush masters the industry can’t get enough of.
Discover why Dahomey by Mati Diop is much more than a film about the restitution of art—it is a political and social work that questions France’s colonial history. Through her unique vision, Diop embodies the new voice of French cinema, essential for the diaspora and the representation of Black women in the industry.
In France, fashion is finally celebrating textured hair, but the boldness is missing. Where are the sculptural hairstyles, the raw cuts, the artistic vision? Diversity doesn't rhyme with uniformity.
Arthur Jafa is an artistic shockwave. In 2025, Paris will dedicate an exhibition to him at the Bourse de Commerce, showcasing his raw, political, and poetic art. A must-see visual revolution for contemporary art in France.
AS WE RISE, AFROSURF, and IMPOSSIBLE ISLAND by Henry Froy reinvent the visual narrative of Black cultures for the world. Between memory, resistance, and brilliance, these contemporary photographic works capture the soul of a heritage in full resonance. It all starts with an idea.
For SEX IS COMEDY, my voice became part of the soundtrack, opening the doors to a world that is often discreet yet fundamental: that of intimacy coordinators. Through this film, I discovered the importance of this profession, which, far from being anecdotal, is essential for a more respectful and ethical cinema.
Biarritz reveals itself through the elements: the roaring ocean, the whispering wind, the resonating rain. From dawn to dusk, this poem immerses you in the wild yet serene soul of the Basque coast. Between surfing, shifting light, and fleeting moments, let yourself be carried away by the magic of Biarritz, where every hour writes a new emotion.
Discover the original trailer for Queen of the Sea (2023), directed by Kate Cox, where my vocal composition (Gilone) blends with Emilie Rice's musical work, creating a unique sonic experience that combines ambient music and electronic sounds.
Caribbean fashion is making its mark on the international scene thanks to visionary designers who infuse their heritage into their creations. Diotima, Wales Bonner, C.R.E.O.L.E… Discover my top 3.
Slowing down to truly live—this theme inspired my first music video, “Slow Down” from my debut EP, Ocean Call. Self-produced, it invites you on a sensory journey between reality and imagination. Directed by Hamadou Frédéric Baldé, the video captures a poignant connection between me and dancer Kevin Bago as we move fluidly from urban landscapes to the heart of nature whenever our paths cross. Gilone.
Thrilled to reveal Danseuses, a striking collaboration between Denis Boulze and Charlotte Huguet—where dance and fashion collide in a visceral exploration of the body in motion. A sculptural choreography, captured in stark black and white, stripping everything down to raw form and fluidity. It’s a tension between power and surrender, where every movement speaks, every curve becomes an ephemeral sculpture.
Discover CARTE BLANCHE, a short film by Iris Van Herpen and Julie Gautier, created to showcase her runway show during Paris Fashion Week, where I walk underwater, a first for me. Passionate about freediving, I took on this challenge with excitement. An enchanting dance performance, a tribute to the resilience and strength of women.
Jonathan Schmidt, artist and curator, photographed me in Biarritz in 2020. Discover our series, a raw testimony of our budding friendship. His photobook ST GIL, released in 2024, includes two images from this series.
I’m excited to share my first collaboration blending fashion and music as both a singer and model for The Frankie Shop. My track FIGHT accompanies the new UNDERCOVER collection.
Between light and velvet, black skin tells a story of strength and sensuality. From the golden glow of the sun to the shivers of the cold, it transcends time, nourished by oils and caressed by kind souls. Discover PEAU NOIRE, a poem celebrating the beauty and pride of wearing it.
A decade in, and this one still feels electric. Shot mere hours before the world hit pause—before silence took over and movement became a memory. The raw, cinematic stillness of the Bardenas desert. The charged quiet before the storm. Slow Down for Blanc Magazine, captured by Melanie Bordas, directed by Marie David. A moment frozen, just before everything changed.
L'auteur
Bienvenue ! Mannequin voyageuse, je dévoile mon carnet d'adresses autour du globe, illustré par mes plus beaux clichés. Foodista aguerrie, retrouvez ma sélection de tables gourmandes et mes plus beaux shootings photos autour du monde.