Actors in the gaming industry have expressed worries about being asked to record sexually explicit scenes without prior notification
Trigger warning: This article discusses rape and sexual assault.
Concerns have been voiced by performers in the gaming industry about being required to perform explicit sexual content without prior notification. According to BBC News, actors stated that a culture of secrecy surrounding projects means they often do not receive scripts until the day of the shoot.
Jessica Jefferies, a casting director with motion capture experience, explained that typically the only information provided by studios comes through emails or calls indicating when actors are needed on set. She recounted an experience of arriving at a shoot only to discover it involved a sexual assault scene, for which she hadn't been briefed beforehand.
"I turned up and was told I'd be filming a graphic rape scene," Jefferies shared. "The act could be observed for any desired length by the player through a window, who could then shoot the character. To me, this was gratuitous."
Refusing to participate, Jeffries, the only woman on set, ensured the scene wasn't filmed. She expressed concerns over the lack of complete transparency regarding such sensitive scenes, stating, "There's no nudity involved, but there's an intimacy and violence in these acts. Even with lycra separating actors, full immersion into the scene is required."
Another voice actor, a member of Equity, had a similar encounter while filming an unexpected sex scene. She recounted having to match her performance vocally while an all-male team observed her through a glass booth. "It was excruciating," she confessed. "Despite my experience in the games industry, I had never felt so unsettled. It was distressing to be put on the spot without being asked if I was okay, before or afterwards."
There was also a concern of being labeled a "troublemaker" for speaking out. In response to such situations, Equity has introduced guidelines to ensure fair practices in recording explicit or intimate scenes, developed with input from Jefferies. These guidelines stipulate that:
- A detailed summary, including story, scene breakdowns, and scripts, should be provided to all cast members ahead of filming.
- Performers should have the option to request a closed set with limited access.
- Engagement of a professional intimacy coordinator is advised.
The union has also released advice on industry working conditions and minimum pay, responding to the current SAG-AFTRA strike. "These recommendations aim to align more closely with the highest standards in the film and television industries," noted Jefferies.
An example of adherence to these standards is evidenced in Baldur's Gate 3, where Larian Studios employed intimacy coordinators for actors involved in intimate scenes.
