The internet has demystified sex scenes in movies and TV shows.
Some of you know how Hollywood choreographs these delicate aspects of storytelling. However, the average Ugandan is still quite ignorant about this topic, and they don’t understand how a steamy sex scene in Shameless differs from pornography, at least on the technical side.
After all, in both instances, the actors get undressed and perform sexual intercourse in front of a rolling camera. So, I thought we would explore the broad strokes surrounding what might be the most sensitive component in filmmaking.
First of all, to answer the most obvious question, sex scenes and pornography are two completely different entities. Pornography involves actual sex, whereas sex scenes merely simulate sex. Most actors in Hollywood are members of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild), and SAG expects every Hollywood movie set to adhere to its rules. Guess what SAG says about sex scenes?
The genitals of the actors in a sex scene should never touch. They create the illusion of nudity by covering every performer’s genitals with patches that mimic flesh. And in pornography? There is genital-on-genital contact. This brings us to the question of privacy. Hollywood sets have anywhere between 500 and 1000 people on any given production.
Even with their genitals covered, where do your favorite Hollywood stars find the courage to walk stark naked onto a movie set, let alone simulate sex? Well, sex scenes are usually filmed on closed sets. More often than not, the director will dismiss everyone, leaving themselves, the actors performing the sex scene, and the individual operating the camera.
Some actors are so hesitant to expose their naked bodies to the crew that only the director is present during the sex scene. This answers the most burning question of arousal. Even if sex scenes are simulated sex, you are still wrapping your naked body around another actor’s naked body. But imagine walking onto a stage in your underwear and simulating sex with another naked individual while a captive audience watches.
How much arousal would you feel? For many actors, sex scenes are too awkward for any aspect of romance or arousal to enter the picture. You are on a film set surrounded by cameras, lights, microphones, and two or more witnesses. Think about the skill and focus it takes to fake arousal in those moments.
Also, sex scenes can take hours to shoot. After the first hour, the awkwardness probably dissipates, along with any element of arousal. The scene becomes a job. That said, actors are human, and arousal can happen. In those cases, the aroused performer stops the scene and takes a break.
Once s/he’s good and calm, the scene resumes. This brings us to the most important question: what prevents people from abusing these moments? Sex scenes are usually dissected in great detail beforehand. The actors involved must agree on what will happen, who will touch what, which parts of the body they will show, etc.
You find these details in a document called a ‘Nudity Rider.’ The sex scene does not proceed until everyone is on the same page. More importantly, neither the actors nor the director is allowed to exceed the boundaries stated in the nudity rider.
But again, what prevents people from abusing these rules? Film sets have an intimacy coordinator; a professional who manages sex scenes, advocating for the actors and making sure that every performer in that situation is happy.
Intimacy coordinators are present on every closed set, observing sex scenes during production and intervening if a performer’s boundaries are seemingly crossed. They can also take action if an actor is clearly uncomfortable, but are too scared to speak up.
We could spend another hour exploring this topic, but you get the idea. Sex scenes are not nearly as steamy and exciting behind the scenes as they may appear on your screen.
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