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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

HBO’s ‘Westworld’ requires sexual acts for auditioners

Courtesy+Art
Courtesy Art

A new series set to release next year is requiring actors to sign a consent form for nudity and various sexual acts in order to audition for the show.

The HBO television series “Westworld” is set in a futuristic theme park with artificial beings and is based off the 1973 movie of the same name.

“I don’t think I would do any of the requirements that are on the consent form, it really just depends how much they are asking,” Stina Lundin said, an international student from Sweden currently enrolled in an acting class at City College.

“I don’t think I would mind being naked for an audition though,” Lundin said hesitantly.

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During casting calls, all background actors have been asked to sign a disclosure agreement that entails nudity and sexual content.

The form states that actors auditioning will be required to touch each other while fully nude and participate in graphic sexual situations.

Some of the potential requirements for the auditions are, “performing oral sex, appear fully nude, and ride on someone’s back while you are both fully nude.”

Other actors may just be required to have their genitals painted. This consent form has caused some negative reaction from the public due to the requirements.

“It’s basically a job description, only accept the job if you feel comfortable and wouldn’t mind being naked,” said Tin Le, a UCSB graduate who is taking acting classes at City College. “Lots of actors are aware of the unusual requirements and don’t have a problem with it.”

HBO released a statement about the form saying they want to provide a comfortable working environment for the actors.

“The document that the background actors were given was created by an outside extras casting vendor. It was not requested, written or approved by HBO, Warner Bros. Television, or the producers, and contains situations that we do not require of any actor.”

As Lundin agrees that the television series has very outrageous requirements, many feel it just depends on the actor. Le said that nowadays many actors are used to the scandalous environment and it’s just a part of their job.

“Some actors are down and it’s fairly common these days to be asked to consent for nudity,” Le said. “It’s like an FYI with what the job could entail, don’t take it if you’re uncomfortable with it.”

The requirements have far-reaching implications for the industry as a whole.

 

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