What can I expect to learn?

By the end of this class you will be able to:
Pinpoint and articulate my boundaries in different circumstances.

Advocate for my needs when cast in roles requiring intimate storytelling. 

Identify power dynamics with an awareness of contextual nuance. 

Participate in the staging of an intimate scene from my character’s perspective.

Because we are testing the content and exercises:

You will receive an exclusive, electronic, advanced copy of - 

A COMPACT GUIDE: Acting in Scenes of Intimacy. 

 

Why do I need to be LGBTQIA+/queer? 

Great question! We’re creating an affinity space. For so many intimate scenes, straight intimacy is seen as the default. Many queer actors have, to this point, had to train on straight content.
As two queer teachers, we desire to provide quality education for our community. 

 

What is the cost?

Sliding scale*:

$300 - Actors with secure housing, expendable income, and regular employment. Choose this tier if you can afford travel, dining out, and savings. Your payment helps keep this class accessible to others. 

$200 - Actors who can meet basic needs but have limited expendable income. Choose this tier if you can pay for basic necessities but sometimes stress about your budget. You have stable housing but little to no savings. 

Work Study - Anyone can apply for this, but priority will be given to individuals experiencing severe financial hardship, underemployment, or systemic barriers. Choose this tier if paying for this class would compromise your ability to afford food, rent, or healthcare. 

$450 - Educators with institutional financial backing for professional development. In committing to this tier, which represents no financial burden to you, Brooke and Matthew will provide, upon request, documentation for your professional development file that speaks to your involvement in this class and contribution to the advancement of this scholarship. *Limited spots available

 

*The class is being offered for less than it would usually cost, because we are asking you to be the first to take it and we know that means we are practicing on you. Additionally, Brooke is looking forward to your feedback and they will use it to improve the book. Brooke will recognize all participants in the acknowledgements of the published book. 

 

What kind of work study?

Work study will involve a one to one hour exchange. We’re interested in folks with photography, videography, and social media skills. We are additionally open to other skills you have, so feel free to suggest something. 

 

Who are the instructors?

Brooke M. Haney (They/she) - is an out queer intimacy professional working in TV, film and theatre. They are certified and one of the first 50 intimacy coordinators on the SAG-AFTRA registry. They’ve had films at Sundance the last three years, and worked with CBS, NBC, HBO, Paramount+, Peacock, Netflix, Amazon Prime and more. Their specialties are queer stories, BDSM/kink and stories of Trauma and PTSD.  They’ve taught at Marymount Manhattan College and the University of Central Florida and led workshops at colleges and universities across the country including NYU, Columbia and Vassar. IG: @brookemhaneyintimacy

 

Matthew Mastromateo (They/He) is an actor, director, intimacy director, and educator based in New York City. They received their BA in Theatre and Music from Mount St. Mary’s University and his MFA in Theatre Arts: Acting from Long Island University: Post. Matthew teaches movement, voice, and acting at various institutions, including Long Island University, Marymount Manhattan College, Sarah Lawerence College, and the Powerhouse Theater Summer Intensive at Vassar College. An integration specialist, Matthew is excited by the union of body, voice, and spirit in performance. They are a certified Miller Voice Method teacher and former Chair of The Association for Higher Education’s Acting Program Focus Group. Select projects include; Peter Pan-sexual [NYCPanto], The Refugees [Adjusted Realists], and The Briefly Dead [59e59 Theatres]. www.mattmastromatteo.com

 

We recognize that while we are both queer and gender queer, we are also both white and cis-passing, and we want to name that. That identity comes with real privilege and power - power we are committed to being thoughtful about, especially in a space designed to center queer community. We will do our best to remain curious, to learn alongside you, and to continue examining how our positionality shapes what we see and what we miss. 

 

Why is there an application?

We are offering this class at a significant discount, because we are class testing Brooke’s new book, A COMPACT GUIDE: Acting in Scenes of Intimacy. In order to get the most well rounded feedback, it is important that we have a diversity of age, gender and experience (both acting and intimacy). The application is to help us to make sure that we are accepting the most helpful cohort into the class. 

 

What’s the deadline?

We will review applications on a rolling basis. The final deadline is July 1st. Accepted participants will be notified by July 3rd. 

 

How many people will be in the class?

For the purpose of maximizing learning opportunities, we are limiting the class to 12 students, with possible wiggle room.

 

What if I can’t afford it? 

We will have a few work study options that will allow for discounted or free class. If you’d be interested in this, please share it on your application. 

 

Is there an online or asynchronous option? 

As of now, there isn’t an online or asynchronous option, but if that is something you’re interested in, please fill out this form, which will help us to determine demand. 

 

I’m training as an intimacy director or choreographer, will this count towards any of my requirements? 

This class is designed for actors. It isn’t designed to teach intimacy direction or coordination. If you are looking to become an intimacy professional, we recommend you look into one of the intimacy training programs that already exist. Brooke and Matthew do offer coaching for intimacy professionals, if that is what you’re looking for at this time. Feel free to reach out. 

 

I’m an acting instructor interested in improving my work with actors on scenes of intimacy. Can I take this class? 

We will accept a small number of acting teachers. You will get access to the book and exercises. You will still participate as an actor, in order to give you the opportunity to experience the class as your students would. 

 

What kind of intimacy will be required of me in this class?

We are operating from a consent-forward model. All the scenes will be open scenes with options around the physical intimacy. That said, please know that you may witness simulated sex (of varying kinds) as well as nudity, depending on the decisions of your classmates. If you have a boundary around viewing a particular type of intimacy, there will be an opportunity for you to leave for those moments of class. 

 

Why do I need to sign an NDA?

Because you will receive an exclusive, electronic, advanced copy of Brooke M. Haney’s new book -

A COMPACT GUIDE: Acting in Scenes of Intimacy we are asking you sign an NDA, and agree not to share the book with others. 

 

Accessibility

Coming Soon.​​​​​