New guidelines have been agreed for actors and directors. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Actors and directors need greater representation and professional contracts to ensure that new guidelines on sex and nudity during performances are given weight, according to leading figures in the performing arts industry.

“Being naked and performing acts of a sexual nature is not the norm. It’s unusual and needs to be negotiated. What we are stressing is mutual consent,” said Pia Zammit, a founding member of the Association of Performing Arts Practitioners (APAP).

The new guidelines agreed by APAP on Monday follow allegations that veteran actor John Suda had sexually assaulted a young actress during one-to-one training for a TV audition last month.

“A lot of what we’re recommending is common sense, but perhaps it is a bit naive of the community to assume that people will never abuse of their power,” said Ms Zammit.

“If you’re young and starting out, there’s now something to refer to on what should or shouldn’t be done.”

Ms Zammit said the new guidelines had mainly been drawn from Equity, the UK actors’ union, and adapted to the local context through discussions with local practitioners.

The next step, she said, was for performers to insist on professional contracts from producers outlining remuneration, rehearsal periods and other clearly-defined parameters of work.

Contracts are currently sporadic within the sector, and many performers are not even informed in advance how much they will be paid for a performance.

Ms Zammit also said that APAP aimed to be the first representative voice for anyone working in the industry but that this was impossible without more people coming on board.

Her calls were echoed by Arts Council Malta director of strategy Toni Attard, who said the sector was currently characterised by individuals acting as “lone warriors”.

“Individual actors and directors need to give value to the idea of representation and to come to terms with the fact that a collective voice can change things,” he said. Mr Attard added it would be counterproductive for authorities to impose regulations on what should be considered “ethical standards” but highlighted the importance of regularising the sector from a legal and financial point of view.

He said that the Arts Council was organising tutoring sessions for artists about contracts, as well as providing samples for production companies.

“The most positive thing now is that the sector itself is calling for a culture change in terms of people knowing their rights and knowing what to do if their rights are infringed. It indicates seriousness in a sector that is still perceived as hobbyist.”

The guidelines

• Performers should not be required to be nude during auditions unless they have signed an informed consent form and an agreed-upon observer is present.

• Performers should be informed in writing about the nature and extent of any nudity or sex acts in a production before being engaged.

• Nudity should only be required for the purpose of the filmed or staged scene, not for most of the rehearsal period.

• Nude scenes should be treated like choreography and planned and negotiated with the performer.

• A third party should always be present once scenes begin and performers should always be provided with a safe exit.