‘Normal People’ Star Paul Mescal Discusses the Importance of the Intimacy Coordinator

Normal People — Episode 8 – Episode 108 — (Photo by Enda Bowe/Hulu)

The Me Too movement has also led to the rise of Intimacy Coordinators on set, and it begs the question — how did actors go so long without them? An actor/friend once told me that sex scenes are often so uncomfortable because they are so poorly choreographed, and because many directors are also uncomfortable with the scenes, the actors are left to their own devices, which can lead to problems.

After binging Normal People on Hulu, I was extremely curious about the sex scenes, especially since they were so raw and believable. In the interview below, series star Paul Mescal details the importance of the Intimacy Coordinator. And kudos to the interviewer for asking well thought out questions.

Hulu’s ‘Normal People’ — The Best New Show to Watch

I’m only four episodes into Hulu’s Normal People, and I can already say it’s one of the rawest, most realistic portrayals of young, complicated love that I’ve seen in nearly a decade. Based on Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel, the series follows Irish lovers Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal) and Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) as they navigate their on/off romance, which is complicated by different upbringings, the opinions of others, personal insecurities, and all the mistakes we make before we know better.

The Guardian reviewed this gem of a series with a heavy, unforgiving hand, calling it “little more than a gutless soap opera for millennials.” And the takedown didn’t stop there. They also said it is “a tedious reworking of a romance plot as old as time. I’d rather read an honest bodice-ripper.” I don’t think I’ve ever been more pleased to read a review. Why? Because it’s so incredibly wrong it just proves that jaded hearts and elite television palettes simply won’t understand it’s beauty — and that’s okay. Yes there’s a class struggle “as old as time.” But the story is more about young love and when acted out by two people with Sheridan and Mescal’s prowess and earnest chemistry, it will inevitably feel fresh.

HULU Will Charge – The World has Come to an End

I reported a couple weeks ago that HULU was on its way to becoming a paid subscription service.  Well, the end is near.  Networks are simply  not making enough money from HULU, and they fear that it’s watering down their audience.  Studies also show that people are canceling their cable subscription to watch these shows online, which depletes the networks’ main source of ad revenue.  Though I’m sad about it, I am one of the culprits that forgos cable to watch free shows online, so I guess I can’t complain.  I’m posting a random clip from HULU below, for no reason other than to get as much out of the site as possible before I have to pay for it.