K-content production company MooAm Inc. (CEO Harry Hyun) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Japan's first Intimacy Coordinator, Momoko Nishiyama, aimed at improving the content production environment and establishing intimacy coordinating in both Korea and Japan.
An Intimacy Coordinator is essential on film and broadcast production sets for scenes involving physical contact or exposure, ensuring that the filming process is safe and smooth by closely monitoring the environment and actors' conditions. The role has become more prominent globally due to the visibility of movements like the Me Too campaign.
Although the Korean content industry is receiving global attention, the role of intimacy coordinators is not yet fully recognized at film and drama production sites. In Japan, the need for professional intervention to ensure the psychological safety and rights protection of actors and staff during scenes involving physical contact or exposure is becoming recognized, leading to the standardization of the use of intimacy coordinators. However, Korea still lacks sufficient systems and awareness of this profession, which this agreement aims to address.
The key elements of this agreement include fostering positive content production cooperation between Korea and Japan, introducing an intimacy coordinating system to innovate domestic production culture, and establishing a safe and creative production environment led by women.
Harry Hyun, CEO of MooAm Inc., stated, "As a female director and CEO, I have always recognized the importance of intimacy coordinators. This agreement enables us to continue positive discussions about the film production environment in both Korea and Japan."
Momoko Nishiyama explained, "The role of an intimacy coordinator is to understand the director's intentions, coordinate the actor's boundaries and opinions about the image beforehand, and lead them to an appropriate agreement. This role actually aids in production by ensuring that all participants clearly understand their roles and can focus on creating."
Following this agreement, both parties plan to regularly hold intimacy coordinating workshops targeting Korean filmmakers and actively promote the intimacy coordinator system at global markets such as the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFFCOM) and K-EXPO INDONESIA 2024 in October. This is expected to enhance mutual understanding and improve the production environment in both countries' content industries.
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