Reply #42: I've never directed one

[Wetzelbill]

I worked on a film when one was done, but it was a comedy. I tend to like sex scenes directed by women. They are more emotional, with music, very well done. Like say the scene from "Monster" with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci, or the one from "Stander" with Tom Jane and Deborah Kara Unger. Men tend to be more raw. You have no music, just raw pumping and grunting etc. I am not as into that when it comes to art. If I want to see a porno, I'll check out the real thing. Film is art, I think it should be approached as such.

In your case though, after hearing the characters description, plus it being a shorter work, I would just show the beginning of the scene. Like them kissing, and falling to the bed, maybe a few more seconds of kissing, the hands starting to roam each other a little, and then fade out and fade back in to another scene. You don't necessarily need it scored, it may help, just depends on what you want to look for. I think if you use the camera in a voyeustic way it may help too. Have the camera check out the women the way a guy would in the moments before sex, and vice versa. It's called "The Gaze." The camera can capture a lustful moment just like the eye can.

I would say just capture the first moments leading into sex, then fade out and maybe show them lying in bed or something like that. People will understand what happened and you won't run the risk of filming a scene that doesn't work. Sex scenes are tough to do, and rarely done properly, even by the pros, let alone a beginner. Work on conveying the moment, more than the whole act itself, people will get it, and you can them move on and finish your story.