The uncomfortable and technical truth behind the cameras

Nudity and simulated s-x are described in detail in the actor's and actress contract and are discussed prior to casting.

If you see a actor on screen, it's important to know that the legal contracts outlining the nudity details were signed before the actor accepted the role.

SAG-AFTRA, the entertainment industry union, designates a nudity clause as a requirement in contracts for roles that require "nudity, partial nudity, or simulated s-xu-l acts."

This document is negotiated by the actor, his representatives and the production team, and within the pilot are detailed descriptions of what the actor is willing to do on screen.

This includes information about the scene, the type of nudity required, limitations on the use of the footage, and any details or terms agreed upon by the actor and producer.

It is not uncommon for a nudity clause to include minute details such as exactly which body parts are visible, which body part can be seen, and for how long it is displayed.

Although the nudity clause is a contract, SAG-AFTRA reiterates the importance of consent, specifying: "Remember, even if you have signed a nudity clause, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time prior to the shooting of the scene."

If an actor is working on a non-union movie, he is not protected by the union. This is why many actors choose not to do nudity or simulated sex in any non-union production.

Some directors prefer sex scenes to be choreographed in detail

For any scene, rehearsal is a typical first step. The directors walk through with the actors, discussing when and where they should move during the scene.

The same thing is often done during sex scenes. Some directors, like David Fincher (Missing, Fight Club, Seven), lay out specific moves to follow before shooting.

For example, Neil Patrick Harris told Out magazine in 2014 that the sex scene in the film Gone Missing was choreographed in great detail.

"We had to rehearse the sex scene with David, every inch of it: 'Then you put your mouth on his p---here, and then this many thrusts, and then he ejaculates,'" he explained to the publication. "It was weird because technically we're looking at the sex scene. I wanted it to be almost robotic, to know exactly where we were, position-wise, and what the next step was," he added.

Other times, the actors work together to plot the sex scenes.

Some actors prefer to simply work out the details of the sex scene they are shooting with their on-screen partner(s).

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in August 2020, Kate Winslet said that she choreographed her sex scenes with her co-star Saoirse Ronan for the Francis Lee-directed film Ammonite.

"I think Saoirse and I felt really safe. Francis was naturally very nervous. And I was like, 'Listen, let's figure it out.' And we did. 'We'll start here. We'll do this with the kisses, the breasts, you go down there , then you do this, then you come up here,'" he said.

She said that she and Ronan "paced the scene" to ensure that she also followed the narrative of the film, and that her planning process helped her feel less self-conscious.