PRESS RELEASE
Sydney, Australia – Make It Look Real, the debut feature documentary from writer-director Kate Blackmore, has been officially selected for the SXSW 2025 Film Festival in the Documentary Spotlight section for its international premiere
The film offers a humorous and insightful behind-the-scenes exploration of Hollywood’s newest role—the intimacy coordinator. Featuring renowned intimacy coordinator Claire Warden, the documentary follows her work on the set of the Australian drama Tightrope, directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith and featuring actors Sarah Roberts (Home and Away, Felony), Albert Mwangi (Tom Swift), and Tom Davies (Last King of the Cross).
Claire Warden is a pioneering intimacy coordinator, working with filmmakers and actors to produce the illusion of sex on screen. Hired to work on Tightrope, Claire is apprehensive about how the director, Kieran Darcy-Smith, will respond to her presence on set. As she blocks scenes, designs modesty garments, and runs through nudity riders, it becomes apparent that one of the actors is uncomfortable performing a proposed threesome. As the first day of the shoot approaches, Claire and Kieran must work together to reshape the scene in a way that respects the actors’ boundaries—without compromising the story.
Make It Look Real immerses the audience in the funny, occasionally horrifying reality of simulating sex on screen, offering a unique spin on the “tough jobs” genre to explore how film and television can safely represent one of the most fundamental aspects of human experience—sex and intimacy.
Supported by Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Make It Look Real reflects the entertainment industry’s post MeToo evolution, examining themes of consent, power, and representation. It also marks the culmination of a decade long creative partnership between Blackmore and producer Bethany Bruce, who have previously collaborated on projects including The Glass Bedroom (ABC, 2017), The Art of Collecting (ABC, 2021), and The Butter Scene (Sydney Film Festival, 2021).
Produced by Daniel Joyce (Never Get Busted) and Bethany Bruce under Projector Films and Staple Fiction in association with Broadtalk with Bridget Ikin (Sherpa), Emma Cooper (Penguin Bloom), Elliott Magen, Michael Agar and Stevie Ray as Executive Producers, the film is distributed in Australia by Bonsai Films and represented internationally by Autlook Filmsales.
“We’re thrilled to showcase this story at SXSW in the Documentary Spotlight section” said producer Bethany Bruce. “This film began as a response to the #MeToo movement, and through the dedication of an incredible team, it has evolved into a story we believe will deeply resonate with audiences.”
Writer-director Kate Blackmore adds, “In our film, Claire not only sheds light on how actors tell these stories through their bodies and the pressure that comes with that, she also shows how conversations about boundaries and consent can benefit everyone. We’re hoping this film sparks some meaningful discussions.”