Kevin Costner has recalled how, in 1987, he limited an intimate scene with co-star Sean Young on the political thriller "No Way Out" to just three takes, feeling protective of her vulnerability in front of the camera. The revelation highlights how, decades before intimacy coordinators became standard practice in the film industry, Costner was already voicing discomfort with directors pushing actors through repeated takes of sensitive scenes.

Costner explained that the process took roughly half a day, and after three takes he told director Roger Donaldson "no more," saying he found the idea of a director shouting "cut" dozens of times to capture supposed authenticity exploitative rather than professional. The film came during a pivotal year for Costner, alongside "The Untouchables," after earlier setbacks including being cut from "The Big Chill" and being overshadowed by starrier co-stars in "Silverado." "No Way Out", also starring Gene Hackman, is now regarded as an underrated Cold War-era thriller, and Costner has said he carried lessons from the shoot into his directorial debut, "Dances with Wolves," three years later.