Graphic sex clause for actors on HBO show raises eyebrows

A leaked contract for a new HBO television show says actors may be asked to "contort to form a table-like shape while being fully nude".

The contract, given to background actors working on the hyped sci-fi show Westworld and revealed by Variety, also says they might be asked to perform "genital-to-genital touching".

Westworld is HBO's big budget new sci-fi show starring Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris and Thandie Newton. It is executive produced by JJ Abrams and Christopher Nolan, and is based on Michael Crichton's 1973 film of the same name.

It's described as "a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin" and is set in a futuristic theme park called Westworld.

It isn't due to debut until next year but filming is underway, and the show sounds typical of other boundary-pushing HBO shows like Game of Thrones with plenty of graphic violence and sex scenes.

Variety released details of the contract given to background actors, and reported the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) had told its members they had the right to withdraw from appearing on the show.

The contract reads:

"This document serves to inform you that this project will require you to be fully nude and/or witness others fully nude and participate in graphic sexual situations. 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."

SAG-AFTRA told Variety a union rep would be on set to answer questions by the show's actors.

"The SAG-AFTRA Agreement provides that consent to appear in scenes requiring nudity or sex acts may be withdrawn at any time (consent may not be withdrawn as to scenes already shot).

"The Agreement further provides that the set must be closed to anyone not having business with the production and that no still photography may be authorized without the consent of the background actor."

- nzherald.co.nz