In the making of a film, “Pillow Talkerz,” Black queer actors navigate consent on and off-screen
Director, screen writer, intimacy coordinator and actors collaborate to create sensual scenes
As both an actor and someone whose work exists at the intersection of journalism, public policy and advocacy, I found myself appreciating not only what the film “Pillow Talkerz” says, but how intentionally it says it. Every conversation felt lived rather than scripted, every relationship grounded in emotional honesty instead of spectacle. It reminded me representation is never simply about visibility. It’s about allowing people to see themselves reflected with dignity, complexity and care.
Consent was never simply something the characters practiced. It became the production’s guiding principle.
The sensuality in the film was created by the actors,” Mary E. Morall explains. “I invited them to tell me what lines they felt comfortable saying. That was a collaborative effort that gave them an opportunity to tell their own story in that moment and be reflected on screen in a way that felt honest.”
To ensure the consent modeled on screen was reflected in our filmmaking process, Morall asked actors what feels good. My own answer was written into the script during the pillow talking scene.
During this scene we watch the characters Emerald and Elani (played by me) embrace one another and talk openly about their desires, comfort levels and sharing STI results. The viewer can connect with this moment as most of us have experienced the nervousness, excitement and curiosity that builds sitting next to a new lover in bed.
That philosophy shaped not only the finished product, but the filmmaking process itself. The filmmaker informed all actors about intimate scenes before auditions even began, allowing each performer to decide whether participating aligned with their own boundaries. During auditions, hopefuls received the script in advance so they could fully understand what the project required before agreeing to take part. Throughout rehearsals, Morall invited actors to ask questions, raise concerns and even rewrite dialogue so conversations surrounding intimacy reflected language authentic to them.
Rather than directing vulnerability, Morall created the conditions in which vulnerability could emerge naturally. The production was further supported by intimacy coordinator and co-producer Nicole Nawaz, while many members of the cast and crew brought backgrounds in health education, advocacy and LGBTQ+ organizing, making conversations about consent and bodily autonomy part of the culture of the set rather than isolated discussions during intimate scenes.
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