Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 6/9/2011

Question
Hello,
I will be appearing in a short film in England and for my part I have to do a sex scene with a man. I'm not sure how it's going to happen... I'm not scared about being nude on camera or anything, I'm just not sure how the day will pan out and how they actually work. Any advice you could give me would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Mia

Answer
Hi Mia,

Pardon the delay, things have been busy lately! (a good thing)

As to your question: I am glad you are not inhibited about your body and nudity.
So many women actors here are pretty cowardly about doing what is needed for a role.

Sad, I think. It reminds me of the "would be" actors that are so concerned with looking bad or foolish that they are distracted and can't act. If you are worried about looking foolish showing your emotions or being made up to look disheveled or ugly, or whatever, you aren't ready to act. You are some place else.

Anyway, things on the set will pretty much be like any other day, with the exception that the director may (wisely) make it a "closed set" meaning that only "essential" crew will be there in the room. Of course, that may still be 40 people! You will have the director, the A.D.(s), the script supervisor, the lighting director, the cinematographer, makeup, hair, sound, props, the gaffers, grips, etc. etc. Just that there are a lot of people who have to do their job and don't want "credit" for something which makes their work look bad. A professional crew isn't going to sit there and leer at you. Have you ever noticed that when wardrobe and makeup/hair attend to you -they aren't looking at you as a person, but kind of like you are a statue or something? An object, as it were. Because they are concerned that your hair looks right and that is their focus. If you develop a curl that flips over and covers your face, they are there the second after "cut!" to make it right.

A sex scene is possibly one of the most unromantic, un-fun things to do. Spending all day or more, in bed to create the illusion of 20 minute tryst, gets tedious. In reality, you will find yourself trying to find some way of getting "turned on" instead of trying not to! Many guys worry about offending the leading lady with a stiff one, or by NOT having one! That's akin to worrying about having one on a nude beach. (Doesn't really happen). In fact, here's something I would recommend to you: help your partner out. (No, not THAT way! lol) He will likely be more nervous than you. (us guys can be wimps that way) To endear yourself as a fellow actor, try to put him at ease. Quite possibly, he will do the same for you. The bonus is, when you step outside your worries, to help others, it relieves your issues!

Also, you may find that you could be using body stockings, pasties, and other implements that actually cover strategic areas, but can be filmed around easily to suggest more than what really shows. (depends on your director).

Try to just have fun with it and go for it!

Best, Taylor