Having been on the big screen for more than half a century, Michael Douglas has had plenty of experience filming sex scenes and has seen first-hand how industry regulations around vulnerable interactions have changed.
After the 79-year-old dubbed himself an “expert” in filming sensual scenes, he jokingly admitted that he’s now “past the age where I’ve got to worry about that”, with his Hollywood heartthrob days seemingly behind him.
Speaking to Radio Times, the Basic Instinct star reflected on the industry changes claiming new standards for sex scenes like planned choreography and intimacy coordinators have become “jokes” between his former co-stars.
The Franklin star claimed the role of intimacy co-ordinators “feels like executives taking control away from filmmakers”.
Michael admitted the roles do have a good purpose regardless, recalling “people that overstepped their boundaries”, “terrible faux pas and harassment” that occurred while filming these vulnerable scenes.
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He claimed that these people would get a reputation within the industry and “that would take care of them”.
The actor recalled at the start of his career before the coordinators he felt “responsibility as the man to make sure the woman is comfortable”.
Giving a candid insight on his own approach to the raunchy scenes, Michael revealed he would ensure to talk to his co-stars throughout filming and get their consent on even the smallest of movements.
He admitted his process is “very slow” but if filmed and acted correctly it “looks like it’s happening organically”.
As he accepted the Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year, the actor recalled being at the height of controversy in the early 1990s over his Basic Instinct sex scene with Sharon Stone.
He recalled the film’s premiere being “a little overwhelming for a lot of people” and the dinner afterwards was “very quiet”.
The Oscar winner also revealed the secret to great intimacy on screen is excessive rehearsal, comparing the preparation for sex scenes to that of fight sequences, saying: “It’s very well choreographed.”
