I have read a few scripts that have contained love/sex scenes in the past, and it seems that the writer just places "They begin to make love" as a default phrase for sex scenes.

However, I have a scene in a script where the sex scene will be intercut with another scene, so would it be correct to literally spell out the sex scene?  Nothing porn-related or anything, but some type of description, like the removal of clothing and the finish?  Or should I just say "Actor A and Actress A are still making love."?

I think you can afford to be descriptive as long as you don't go overboard. It depends how important the love scene is and if there are any specifics you can add that will enhance character and story. I always hate reading "they make love" because it's such a bland way to write it and it tells us virtually nothing. I'm not saying I want blow by blow action, but I think you need to describe it just a little. Are they tearing off each other's clothes in fit of passion or is it something slower and more sensual?

It's a tough subject to write so tread carefully. Shameless plug: I have a sex scene in my script Open Your Mind  which is described in some detail because I wanted to build some suspense. Nobody's complained about it so far.

If you look at American Beauty where his wife cheats on him, they have wild, noisy sex which shows the wife's built-up frustrations in her marriage. You might want to see how that's written.

i just read scripts from actual movies that contain love/sex scenes... and pick and choose what i think is appropriate for the script i am writing.  

i usually leave it pretty vague... unless im writing the screen play for a porno..... JUST KIDDING

It all depends on how specific you want it to be. You can switch back and forth or you can write:

INT. BEDROOM

Bob and Linda make love.

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. CITY STREET

Linda's husband is attacked and killed by hoodlums.

END INTERCUT

This will show that at the director's discretion, the two scenes would go back and forth without actually writing out every single action.

Just checked that scene in American Beauty.

"Carolyn and Leonard are in the middle of sex. Dramatic, pyrotechnic, vocal sex.

CAROLYN
Yes! Oh, God, yes!

LEONARD
You like getting nailed by the
king?

CAROLYN
Yes! I love it! Oh, yes! Fuck me,
your majesty!"

I think that says it all.

Quoted from Martin Just checked that scene in American Beauty. "Carolyn and Leonard are in the middle of sex. Dramatic, pyrotechnic, vocal sex. CAROLYN Yes! Oh, God, yes! LEONARD You like getting nailed by the king? CAROLYN Yes! I love it! Oh, yes! Fuck me, your majesty!" I think that says it all.

HAHA you ever seen Bad Santa???  "girl you aint gonna sh!t right for a week!!"

Read 'The Cabin' if you want to know how NOT to write a sex scene.

Virgins shouldn't write erotica!


Phil

Hmmm. Shouldn't be too descriptive in sex scenes.... maybe i should cut some things down in the script i'm writing.

At the page 84 of my Oporto’s Bride, I wrote that the two lovers Carlos and Maria de Jesus are making love.

I didn’t mentioned any word about sex in this scene because the characters stop for a while to plot against the main character Lucia, but at the scene end when Maria de Jesus orders Carlos to come to her I wrote:

“Carlos lifts his arms up, rearing, neighing and whinnying like a horse. Maria de Jesus pulls Carlos towards herself and the continue making sex.”

For me it was enough to show what type of sex they are doing. I think I did it well.

Quoted from Antemasque .. maybe i should cut some things down in the script i'm writing.

Yeah, I've already mentioned that to you.

Quoted from Helio Maria de Jesus pulls Carlos towards herself and the continue making sex.

If it's worded that way in the script, boy did I miss something. Helio, you either make love or have sex. You can't make sex. You can make babies, though.

Very funny Willson!!! hehe- I meant " I think I wrote it well"

Quoted from George Willson Yeah, I've already mentioned that to you.

I know you have. But i was at first like ehh? should i do it? then after a re-reading of it i was like. holy shit i'm not writing a porno. haha. So i cut it down a lot.

and hmmm. Maybe i should do a 'writers cut' ya know instead of a directors cut. haha.

Quoted from Antemasque Maybe i should do a 'writers cut' ya know instead of a directors cut. haha.

Well, since there's no director at this point, I woudl think that's the only option you have for now.  

Quoted Text “Carlos lifts his arms up, rearing, neighing and whinnying like a horse. Maria de Jesus pulls Carlos towards herself and the continue making sex.”

I guess Maria wasn't walking straight after that session.

If you follow what film tells you to do you'd either use the generic thrust, thrust, finish or just show the end when they get off of each other.

Check this out: http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/Tip138.htm

Quoted Text People always ask me about writing sex scenes (or "love scenes" as shy people call them)

That's great, I think people call them love instead of sex though is because sex is attributed to porn. Maybe, maybe not.

Good article nonetheless.

This is interesting though because I actually know someone who has been in porno movies and she said that 9 times out of 10 there is no script.  Maybe like an outline of a story and locations, but that's about it.  So everyone, including me, who says "I'm not writing porno," isn't making any sense.

My friend told me the director has complete creative control over how the scenes go in pornos.  The director gives you a couple of lines to say and then its right down to the sex.  From the positions all the way down to the finish (I'm trying to be as least descriptive as possible, but I think you all know what I'm talking about).

Thanks for the insight everyone, though.  It's opening up a great discussion.      

Back in the 70s when Porn was in theaters it had a story (Boogie Nights anyone?)

I saw a great foreign film recently titled "Sangre" at a film festival. It was a film at an almost tedious slow pace, lots of shots with the camera set in a room. It's essentailly about a man living a dull, monotonous life. Having sex with his wife has become as routine as watching television. When they approached the two having sex it was not very satisfying to the eye. The same as two dogs going at it.

I didn't take a whole look at the article posted. But I think it depends on the type of relationship and sexual encounter your dealing with. As well as the signifigance of the actual 'sex' to the story.