Extras acting in HBO’s upcoming sci-fi drama Westworld have been asked to sign a consent form agreeing to “genital-to-genital touching” and other intimate physical contact before joining the cast.According to Deadline, the form requires even background actors to sign off on “full nudity and witnessing others in the nude” —not a surprising ask if you’ve ever watched an HBO show— but also requires them to agree to participate in a laundry list of scenarios some people reserve exclusively for the bedroom:
By accepting this Project assignment, you may be required to do any of the following: appear fully nude; wear a pubic hair patch; perform genital-to-genital touching; have your genitals painted; simulate oral sex with hand-to-genital touching; contort to form a table-like shape while being fully nude; pose on all fours while others who are fully nude ride on your back; ride on someone’s back while you are both fully nude; and other assorted acts the Project may require. The Project will also include language and sexual situations that some may consider personally objectionable or uncomfortable.
The Screen Actors Guild, informed of the situation, said it plans to investigate and will send a representative to oversee shooting and “answer any questions” on set Wednesday.
The guild also warned that, should a problem arise, the contract may not be enforceable on unionized actors: The guild’s overarching television agreement states that all TV actors retain the option to withdraw their consent to posing nude for film or still photography at any time. It also requires that scenes with nudity be shot on a closed set.
Westworld is on track to air on HBO in 2016.