So-called ‘intimate scenes’ are repeatedly causing problems on video game sets. That’s why actresses are now demanding measures to improve working conditions.
What is the problem? Intimate scenes are no longer rare in video games. This includes consensual sex scenes, but also those depicting sexual violence.
Some actresses report unfavorable working conditions on such shoots. For instance, it is often announced at the last moment that intimate scenes are planned at all. This is due to the secrecy surrounding these projects, which is anything but ideal.
The actresses involved are caught off guard by the intimate scenes and are unable to prepare for them. This leads to psychological stress. The union Equity, which represents the interests of performers, is therefore demanding measures to improve the situation for everyone.
A game that did it better: Baldur’s Gate 3:
“Disgusting” scenes, but without announcement
What do the actresses report? Jessica Jefferies worked as a motion capture performer for video games before she began working as a casting director. From her time as a performer, she recounts that she often did not find out until the shoot what she would have to do.
Once she learned on set that she was supposed to reenact a sexual assault in an explicit and, in her opinion, “disgusting” manner.
Jefferies found the scene completely unjustified and was also the only woman on set. So she refused to perform the scene and expressed her concerns. This had an impact; the scene was not filmed.
Another voice actress shares a story about a sex scene she knew nothing about:
I had to [vocally] adapt to the scene, and through the glass in the booth, the entire team, all men, was watching me. It was terrible … at that point, I had been in the gaming industry for a while and had never felt so shaken. What upset me about the situation was the fact that I was put in an embarrassing position, and no one thought to ask me if I was okay with it. And no one checked afterward if I was alright.
A voice actress speaking to bbc.com
She did not want to cancel the job, as she was a freelancer and feared being seen as a troublemaker in the industry.
There are games that do it right
Are there positive examples? Yes, there are. Baldur’s Gate 3 is specifically mentioned as a game that handled intimate scenes in a model manner. The team took them seriously, and an intimacy coordinator was used on set. The role of the intimacy coordinator is new and is increasingly used in film. This is to ensure that processes in a sex scene are discussed first and all involved know exactly what is going to happen.
In the future, it should also become standard that actresses receive a precise script in advance, including the intimate scenes. This is intended to improve working conditions and prevent shocking experiences. The conditions in the video game industry are not always ideal for employees off-camera either – people who have worked for Blizzard report questionable practices.
