intimacy coordinators aotearoa new zealand
Te Kāhui Kairuruku Taupiringa o Aotearoa
Todd Emerson
(he/him)
Tāmaki makau-rau/Auckland
Todd is an intimacy coordinator based in Aotearoa New Zealand, bringing over 25 years’ experience as a performer across stage and screen. His work is shaped by a deep understanding of performance, storytelling, and the collaborative processes that bring intimate moments to life.
Todd began his intimacy coordination training in 2020 through Intimacy Directors & Coordinators (IDC) and is an accredited intimacy coordinator through the Intimacy Professionals Association (IPA), recognised by SAG-AFTRA. He continues to engage in ongoing professional development through workshops and training with Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) and other industry bodies.
He has worked across New Zealand and international screen productions, as well as major theatre works and festivals, collaborating closely with directors, performers, and creative teams to shape intimate scenes that are narratively precise, emotionally truthful, and visually coherent.
Todd’s approach centres on clarity of intention, strong communication, and a shared creative language. He supports performers to make bold, specific choices within intimate work, ensuring that intimacy serves character, story, and tone rather than functioning as an afterthought or obligation.
Alongside his professional practice, Todd is currently training as a counsellor. This training deepens his capacity to attune to performers’ emotional processes and supports thoughtful, responsive collaboration throughout rehearsal and production.
As a proud queer man, Todd brings a strong commitment to authenticity and the ‘gay gaze’ in intimate storytelling. He is particularly invested in ensuring that queer intimacy is represented with nuance, specificity, and lived truth — moving beyond heteronormative framing to create work that feels embodied, resonant, and emotionally honest for both performers and audiences.
Intimacy Coordination Credits
2025 – NZ Spy (TV) – Kevin and Co
2025 – Ms X. (TV) – South Pacific Pictures, Three
2025 – Big Girls Don’t Cry (Film)
2025 – Please Don’t Break Anything (Webseries) – Kevin & Co
2025 – Lads (Short)
2025 – Murder on the Orient Express (Theatre) – Auckland Theatre Company
2025 – Mārama (Film)
2024 – Spartacus House of Ashur (TV) – Starz
2024 – Socks (Short)
2024 – The Brightness (Short)
2024 – Literally Dead (Webseries) – Lusty Productions
2024 – Chief of War (TV) – Apple TV
2024 – Picking Crew (Short)
2024 – n00b (TV Series) – Great Southern Television
2024 – Gravity & Grace (Theatre) – Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts
2024 – The Perfect Image (Theatre) – Smoke Labours Productions
2024 – Skittles x Burnett Foundation (Brand Stills) – Loupe Agency
2024 – Burnett Foundation (Brand Stills) – Loupe Agency
2023 – Shortland Street (TV Series) – South Pacific Pictures
2023 – The Long Track (Short Film) – Pigville Productions Ltd
2023 – Losing Face (Theatre) – Punctum Productions
2023 – Shall We? (Short) – A Wave in the Ocean, Netflix
2023 – Rewired (Brand Stills) – Curative NZ
2023 – Lightbeam (Music Video) – Jessica Leigh
2023 – Daddy Ubu (Theatre) – Auckland Theatre Company
2023 – Queens (Short) – A Wave in the Ocean, Netflix
2023 – How Good Was Tonight? (Short) – A Wave in the Ocean, Netflix
2023 – The Mermaid (Short) – A Wave in the Ocean, Netflix
2023 – Raised by Refugees Season 2 (TV Series) – Kevin and Co
2023 – The Boy, The Queen and Everything In Between (TV Series) – Lucky Legs Media
Testimonials
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with the brilliant, professional and supportive work that Todd did on our series ‘n00b’. From day one, his enthusiasm for the material and commitment to facilitating cast comfort was clear, and every day since then, he’s been an absolute dream to work with. Todd’s communication and preparation from rehearsals to shoot made the process comfortable and smooth for all, and we so appreciated his sensitive and empathetic check-ins with our young actors. His enthusiasm and warmth is his superpower, and we cannot wait for many more collaborations with him in the future.”
RACHEL FAWCETT (Producer, N00b)
“Todd not only brings forth a wealth of experience as an actor, but a focussed, generous spirit when working as an intimacy coordinator. On Raised by Refugees, Todd was working largely with our young actors facilitating intimacy, and first onscreen romance. What could’ve been a daunting, scary process was made easeful, clear, safely playful. They were held beautifully, and the romance rings true in the storytelling. Todd was instrumental in bringing to life our vision for the story. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
KATE McGILL (Director, Raised by Refugees)
“Todd was outstanding. It’s the most relaxed and comfortable I’ve felt to play in an intimate scene before. He was so able to read the room and provide what was specifically required for us. He enabled us to feel free, safe, and in control.”
JORDAN MOONEY (Actor, Dark City: The Cleaner)
“Todd creates such a safe and robust environment to undertake intimacy work, through our working relationship and his support I’ve felt the confidence to tackle some really challenging material. He is a joy to work with.”
ELEANOR BISHOP (Director, Gravity & Grace)
“Working with Todd on my drama was a dream. He moved with such care, respect and a ton of joy. The way he articulates his mahi is tuned in, calm and present. Making everyone in the room feel good about themselves. He just gets it. And I’m here for it!” Ramon Te Wake
RAMON TE WAKE (Director, The Boy, The Queen and Everything In Between)