By Cassie Negron
Warning: disturbing images are included in this post
Actors are sometimes asked to step into emotionally and physically vulnerable situations with little notice. While many of us train extensively in performance, far fewer are taught how to navigate intimacy and boundary-based scenes with clarity and professionalism.
Shortly after completing Sydney Cox’s Intimacy Tools for Actors workshop, I was cast in Who Killed These Women? The Tinley Park 5, a true-crime documentary examining the unsolved 2008 Lane Bryant murders in Tinley Park, Illinois. Five women were killed during the attack, and the case remains open to this day. The film aims to bring renewed awareness to the case in hopes of generating new information that may help bring justice to the victims’ families.
I portray the sole survivor of the crime, who has chosen to remain anonymous. When I received the audition, the breakdown noted that the role required comfort with performing a groping scene. As part of my preparation, I researched the case and reviewed available case materials, which confirmed that this assault occurred during the crime. Knowing this was based on a real person’s lived experience raised the stakes for me—not just as an actor, but as a storyteller responsible for portraying sensitive material with care and respect.
How The Intimacy Training Informed My Approach
During the callback process, the director and I discussed how the scene would be approached. He shared that there would not be an intimacy coordinator on set. Because of the tools and language I learned in Sydney Cox’s Intimacy Tools for Actors workshop, I felt equipped to engage in a clear, professional conversation about boundaries, blocking, and choreography before stepping on set.
We discussed expectations in advance, agreed on specific physical actions, and clarified how the scene would be shot. That preparation made a meaningful difference. On the day of filming, I felt confident, grounded, and comfortable, supported by a shared understanding and trust with the director. This allowed me to fully commit to the performance while maintaining professionalism throughout the process.
Prior to taking the workshop, I know I would have approached this work very differently, and likely with far less clarity and confidence. I’m grateful for the practical tools that allowed me to navigate a sensitive situation with intention, professionalism, and respect—especially given that I was portraying a real person’s experience.
Takeaway for Other Actors
Intimacy training is not only for female actors or for projects that are overtly sexual in nature. Any actor—regardless of gender—may be asked to portray physical power dynamics, boundary-based interactions, or emotionally charged moments involving touch.
Male actors, in particular, also benefit from preparation that teaches clear communication, consent, and collaborative storytelling—especially when asked to portray perpetrators in sensitive scenes, which can be uncomfortable and intimidating without proper support.
I strongly recommend taking an intimacy-focused workshop like Sydney Cox’s Intimacy Tools for Actors before finding yourself in one of these situations on set. Having a shared language and framework helps actors, directors, and crew approach sensitive material with clarity, safety, and professionalism. Ultimately, this kind of preparation supports both the people involved and the integrity of the story being told.
See The Film
Who Killed These Women? The Tinley Park 5 will premiere on Amazon Prime Video and play at select local AMC Theatres on February 13, 2026.
For more information about the documentary, visit: https://thetinley5.com/.
To purchase tickets, visit: https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/who-killed-these-women-the-tinley-park-5-82380
Cassie Negron is a Chicago-based actress with credits including Amazon’s Who Killed These Women? The Tinley Park 5 and NBC’s Chicago Med. She is also a former BIPOC scholarship recipient at Acting Studio Chicago.
Sydney René Cox is an actor and intimacy coordinator based in Chicago and Los Angeles. She works at the intersection of performance, consent, and embodied storytelling, with a focus on actor sustainability and emotional authenticity. Intimacy training includes: Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC), mentorship under Greg Geffrard, Consent Forward Artist Certificate, MHFA, and ongoing training.