China Åhlander (she/her) is an intimacy coordinator and work environment consultant in film, theatre and dance, based in Skåne, Sweden.
As an intimacy coordinator and a work environment consultant, I can help ensure safety in the process of shooting intimate scenes – for the actors, the director and the rest of the crew regarding both intimate scenes and the work environment.
With the intimacy coordinator’s training, knowledge and routines, the coordinator helps the director realize their vision, while ensuring the health and well-being of the actors. The presence of an intimacy coordinator and the procedures used, ensure that the work takes place in a safe environment for everyone involved.
China Åhlander has studied at IPA, Intimacy Professionals Associationand completed the SAG-AFTRA Accredited Training Program for intimacy on film & TV, taught by IPA’s lead instructor Amanda Blumenthal (first intimacy coordinator in Los Angeles).
MY WORK AS AN INTIMACY COORDINATOR MAY INCLUDE
- reading the script and do a breakdown of the intimate scenes
- meeting the director and discuss the director’s vision of the film and the thoughts around the scenes
- meeting with the producer and other relevant stakeholders as needed
- if necessary, to participating in the casting process to inform the actors about the intimate scenes and the level of what is expected of them regarding intimacy at an early stage
- meeting the actors individually and together to learn about their boundaries around intimacy, discuss the content of the current scenes and expectations for them as actors and how we can jointly find a way of working, where they can continuously give their consent to how the scenes are illustrated
- meeting the director together with the actors and together draw up the guidelines for the content of the intimate scenes and expectations for the implementation of the scenes
- preparing the actors mentally and physically for the intimate scenes by leading or supporting the development of the choreography for the intimate scenes and being a support during rehearsals and filming to ensure that consent is continuously ensured throughout the process and that everyone involved feels safe in the work environment
- providing the intimacy kit, a toolbox with modesty garments, tape and other useful stuff, to facilitate the implementation of the intimate scenes
- coordinating all departments involved in the execution of the intimate scenes, such as the costume department, so that the actors have the garments and aids that facilitate the implementation of the intimate scenes
- if there is both sex and violence involved in the scenes, to introducing a stunt coordinator (if requested, a female stunt coordinator) to help prepare the scenes
- following up on the work with the actors after filming
- being generally helpful so that the production company’s guidelines for a good work environment are implemented
MORE about CHINA
China started her film career as an editor and documentary filmmaker. Her short documentary about a farmer, Close to the Soil, won the top awards at both Aspen and Telluride in 2001.
China has acquired extensive knowledge about people when making films with minorities or films about people suffering from trauma or shame.
China has experience working with many different kinds of people as her own films often are made together with people and in environments that are not often seen on film, to give a voice to those who lack one, raise awareness and invite the audience to places and meet people they have not met before.
Through her work as a producer and first assistant director alongside both professional and first time actors and directors, she has gained a deep understanding of what it takes to create a safe environment for everyone involved.
In her job as intimacy coordinator, China Åhlander is keen to depict the characters’ psychological encounters in the intimate scenes, to strengthen the effect of their relationship and the content and consequences of the story in the scenes, not reinforcing the explicit sexual expression, but instead deepen the storytelling of the otherwise superficial traditional solutions.
Alongside her work as an intimacy coordinator, China Åhlander is an award-winning screenwriter and producer of the multi-awarded feature films “My Aunt in Sarajevo” (dir Goran Kapetanovic) on refugees from the Yugoslav wars and “Eat Sleep Die” (Sweden’s Oscar submission 2013, dir Gabriela Pichler) which gave China Åhlander Sweden’s top honor, Guldbagge, for Best Film.
Among other films, she has also edited and produced the documentary “Lindy the Return of Little Light” about the Romani artist and actor Lindy Larsson, nominated for the Prix Europa Iris Award and received the New Nordic Voice award at Nordisk Panorama, and the documentary “The Dear John Letter” about men who, after 35 years, dare to break the silence about childhood sexual abuse. To be able to choose the projects she is passionate about; she runs her own production company Chinema Film Sweden.
China is also a script consultant and teaches the film production process and its work environment challenges at film schools such as Filmlinjen at Skurups Folkhögskola.
China speaks Swedish, English and Italian.
China Åhlander on IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0959742/
TESTIMONIALS
“China Åhlander’s combination of deep industry experience, problem-solving skills, and ability to create a safe and respectful work environment makes her uniquely qualified as an intimacy coordinator. She brings not only technical and organizational expertise but also strong interpersonal skills that are invaluable in our line of work. During the production of the first season of the TV-series Thin Blue Line,
I hired China as a production consultant when we faced the need to adjust our working methods and resolve conflicts between departments. She handled this delicate assignment with great professionalism, insight, and efficiency, contributing significantly to the success of the production.”
Erik Magnusson, producer, anagram
“China very quickly managed to understand our situation and create an “action plan”. She has the ability to create trust and security in the conversation. She gives concrete advice that is presented in a clear way. China is very empathetic and everyone in the business who had contact with her felt listened to.
Through China, we received help to conduct difficult conversations in a safe way that led to us being able to move forward both in the conversations with each other and in the work on stage and in the rehearsal room. The guidance that China gave me as a business manager, and in the current situation also as a conversation leader, was invaluable! I received help with both how I could express myself and how I could set up the conversation. This led directly to a sense of security in me and was the basis for the conversations going so well.
The advice that China gave us had a direct impact on our entire business, not just the situation that she helped us with. China took the time to listen to everyone and was able to both help create understanding for others in the workplace and help open up for dialogue. We will invite China to hold a course with the entire staff.
We will of course hire China again and can therefore highly recommend her!”
Mette af Klint, Director of Mimteatern (formerly Pantomimeteatern) in Stockholm
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
Whether you are in pre-production and just want to discuss your project, or ready to bring an intimacy coordinator on board, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me if you would like to know more or would like a consultation.
I work from the south of Sweden across the country and internationally. I welcome enquiries from producers, directors, theatres, and dance companies alike. I aim to respond within a couple of working days.
