Screenwriting : Writing Convincing Love Scenes by Rebecca D Robinson

Hey Rebecca, i'd say : sure! Maybe you could use past personal experience or use the experience of others (if they're willing to share that kind of information with you). Personally, I like when filmmakers are not afraid to show the "not so pretty" details, it makes it more relatable. Also I think it would depend on who your characters are, the kind of relationship they have, where they are at in the relationship, if they are in love or not, sweet and romantic or..not, the rating and genre of the film..I also think one can be creative in that department. What do you guys think?

I'm always disappointed in the love scenes that I write. Overly romantic and dumb...

Can you write a convincing alien scene if you've never met one?

Yes, thanks all. Not just sex scenes - authentic love dialogue between two people. It's a challenge for me, for sure!

She beckons.

He whips it out.

They go to town.

Ha!

Hey Rebecca! I think you absolutely can!

No I’m afraid not.

At the risk of sounding too harsh - yes you can. You're a writer, that's your job. You use a combination of imagination and research and if you can't do that, don't write.

Got it Pierre!

Rebecca D Robinson

You technically don't have to write anything. Seriously. Some writers will describe things. Some just simply state "Sex."

From the movie Annihilation (2018):

In bed. Having sex.

That's it.

Actually I think I'm really meaning seduction.

Jason, yes, I know I can. It is the most intimidating bit of writing for me. Failed marriage doesn't help any, either.

If worst comes to worst you can always use an editor to write that scene. Simply put a placeholder scene in, describe roughly what you want to happen and the editor will fix it.

It's the emotional content I'm going for...I'll try!

I understand you want a scene with emotional content that organically fits in with the rest of the story, and that's what an editor does, that's what I do for my client scripts. I fix scenes or create new scenes as though the original writer wrote those lines.

Rebecca D Robinson

Ah. Seduction. A tricky thing.

Are you thinking about seduction that takes place in one scene? Or over a certain arc in the story?

I don't know about love, but I have written many sex scenes. I wrote a bunch of Erotic Thrillers in the 90s.

But I think the key to writing whether it's love or sex is that the scene is about story and character, not the sex part or the kissing part. The scene is about something else - a decision or a change in the direction of the story. It serves a larger purpose, and that takes the pressure off the kissing or sexing.

There's a great kissing scene in NOTORIOUS where Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman discuss making a chicken for dinner. The conversation is about domestic issues - cooking and washing the dishes afterwards... so it's really about how this relationship is taking the next step. This is a serious relationship.

Kind of the same thing with a sex scene, you find the angle on the scene - the story or character element that it's really about.

Sex Scenes:

http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip138.htm

Thank you CJ, Owen and William. Good points all. My medieval girl and guy have very different expectations of marriage and love isn't really a factor. My guy falls for his wife - she resists but then finally acknowledges that she loves him too. I want it to be authentic when they finally get together! So thanks to you all for your help. I'm feeling a little more confident.

Christopher, yes to ongoing seduction. My characters are in an arranged marriage, and against all expectations, they end up loving each other.

Rebecca D Robinson Makes sense. There is a pattern in stories for relationships, romantic or non-romantic. It pretty much mirrors the vary nature of stories in general.

In broad strokes:

First meeting, they don't like each other - this meeting shows how far apart they are.

There is a brief moment when they see each other differently than expected, but something tears them apart again (could be pride, or third party interference).

At a point, one or both starts to realize that the other person isn't as bad as they thought, but they try to fight the situation anyway.

A situation brings them physically together, usually a crowd, a fight scene, stuck in a tight space. This is often the first kiss or other romantic situation.

Then something tears them apart again and they realize that the situation won't work unless one or both changes something about themselves deep inside. They have to have a breakdown before moving on...

Once that change is fully realized, they come back together in a way that is satisfying to both and the audience. "You had me at hello." - Jerry Maguire.

Thanks Christopher. I really like how you encapsulated the love arc!!

Yeah, they end up bonding post-battle! She’s a warrior chick wannabe and he’s her manly knight. They finally make it work!! And maybe alcohol played a part...

A warrior chick and a manly knight sounds like conflict to me. The wannabe warrior chick and the manly knight image are both in her head - her view. What's his view (the mighty conqueror overcomes/enslaves the warrior chick)? Watch War of the Roses.

Definitely!

yes. I love writing erotic thrillers, that border on x rated designation. but not triple x. I gotta draw the line somewhere. Love scenes is all about dialogue. It's like a Western. If the talking ain't good, the action will be weak. For example, a woman is sunbathing on a secluded less populated area of a beach, A man flying a kite runs along the fringes of the waves, flowing with the wind. She notices him frolicking like a fool, He's passionate about his kite and pays her no never mind. You can't fuck with a man and his kite, it's an impropriety. He sees her, but not seized by her. She wants what that kite has, His attention. She being a woman imprisoned by her hormones and helplessness fawns for his attention. She makes dead eye contact with the man. He grins, like a clown that found a cake. She imagines all sorts of bedroom body play. He grins at her, holding the kite string. His grin gets deeper, darker, and damn near creepy as hell. The moral, No grown ass man flies a kite. That motherfucker is a goddamn psychopath serial killer. This is how you write a love scene.

haha! I'm looking for something much more tame - just authentic feelings. But thanks for the warning about kite-flying guys at beaches...

That's a great example, Owen!!

Agreed Owen! The picture should say 1000 words if correctly done!

You should write sex scenes like you would an a fight scene. Just write what is necessary and let the readers imagination fill in the rest. Too many details will kill a screenplay.

Yeah to Carl and Dan. Since my lovers are a little star-crossed because of their arranged marriage, I'm trying to gauge the perfect time for their capitulation to love. And you're right - the less words the better!

One of the most sexy scenes in film making without love making was the washing of the car by the sexy blonde in " Cool Hand Luke"! All action from her with zero dialog...Case in point.

Rebecca perhaps start your love making scene similar with one actor being very provacative to spark the intensity....I'm spitballing lol

Yeah, I think her husband is going to have to sneak up on her for sure. This is one wary girl...with good reason, as it turns out.

When ones guard is up, it make her vulnerable to seduction Rebecca. In kind of a rough but sexy way...

" Sneak up on her", lol and cute....

Yes thanks Carl. That’s what I’ll do

Best of luck to ya Rebecca. Talking screenplays is so much fun....

Rome wasn't built in a day Rebecca. Just keep writing and perhaps watch," The Last Kindom". A great series on Netflix in a pre-medieval genre. It is very well done with love/seduction scenes....

Yes I love that series! My story is set 200 years later, just after the Norman Conquest. My lead character is a descendant of Aethelflaed's and wants to be a warrior queen like her! And yes, the love scenes are good:)

Nice Rebecca indeed! I and my better half love this genre hugh. Period films are labor intensive to write, direct, to execute from every Department but when done correctly are mesmorizing and rewarding in fact. It also really removes the audience superbly from their everyday lives. Break a leg Rebecca....

Thanks Carl! Yes very big budget! 2.5 of 4 films are completed and now looking for a home! I can’t wait to see them on the screen!

Convincing love scene? What aspect of love. The security love brings. The need to be accepted by the person you love. Knowing that they will support you. The dread you feel when you have disappointed them. The joy you feel when you see them.

These are all things you can lean on. I have a scene where a woman is in bed and she gets a call from her lover. She smiles, and snuggles into her pillow for the conversation, a huge smile on her face.

Joy of contact, feeling safe and warm.

Think of a moment in your life when you felt like you were in a love scene, and write that.

Thanks to all of you! I wrote the love scene and it turned out well!!