Screenwriting : Nudity in film by Brian McAndrew

Well...that all depends on the movie. In movies where nudity isn't "gratuitous"...like in the sexual realizations of motivations between characters, I would call nudity "essential" to that scene and film. Film is a sensual - and sexual - medium, too, at times. Or in scenes where a director is going for what would be considered "natural" visual elements of a scene - like non-sexual bedroom scenes...bathroom scenes....locker room scenes...strip-club scenes...non-sexual brothel scenes...wild party scenes, etc. - where people are naturally nude at times...those natural/logical visions could be considered appropriate in scenes that "move the story along," even though that nudity might not necessarily be moving the story along. I think it's important to note the distinction between what is "natural" in those settings, versus what is "gratuitous." I'm sure some people would have differing opinions on what is considered "gratuitous" and "natural". For example, if two cops or hoods are in a strip club discussing something that moves the story forward, and we see naked strippers in the scene....would you call that "essential", "natural", or "gratuitous"?" I'm sure the opinions of some people would differ. I'd call it "natural", like "scene color", as long as it was not overdone. There's a fine line between "natural" and "gratuitous", don't you think? Not getting hung up on your term "move the story forward in film"....there are a lot of visuals in scenes - nudity and non-nudity - in films that don't necessarily move the story along, but are there for sensory stimulations, and other cerebral and visceral reasons.

Excellent response, Bill

Well, they usually kick me out of the cinema when I do it.

My opinion: Nudity by itself doesn't move the story. The context of it does. If it's like the strip club mentioned in Bill's post above, the act is just window dressing (aka natural). If it's a story where one character invites another one in emotionally that keeps their emotions locked down, that would show them being closer. This concept could easily be done without nudity though.

@William, they might let you stay in the cinema longer if you buy a ticket first.

I think Shame is a good example of how nudity can be a part of the story that, not only lends the scene authenticity, but is a real part of the plot of Brendan's struggle with sexual addiction.

I just watched a film where nudity was necessary to the story. It was poorly named Hot Hot Hot. Although it sounds like a bad 1980's Ski movie, it is no such thing. It is about a very repressed individual having to deal with his own humanity including sexuality. It is a good example of how nudity may be required. That all presupposes that you are not writing a bad 1980's T&A script. Look at Devil's Advocate. Would the scene in the church where Charlize Theron (as Mary Ann Lomax) hits a critical point in her break down be as graphic if she were not nude when she takes off the coat to show all the cuts? I think not. But it also was not a long drawn out thing. Just long enough for you to realize that she had crossed a critical point and would stand nude bearing her entire being. She was not simply naked. She had everything down to her soul exposed. The nudity was a visual way to show where that character was.

that's what I was saying earlier. Nudity by itself doesn't move a story forward. The context of the nudity is what moves the story. As stated by John, "She was not simply naked. Shea had everything down to her soul exposed." Although lots of movies have nude scenes that could have been easily cut since they didn't serve a purpose in the particular movie.

Unless the nudeity is part of the actual plot - then it isn't. In the same way the gun seen in a draw is part of the plot. Although, nudeity could form part of their character. Then again, some genres require nudeity.

It's part of the show don't tell rule. Would you rather have two characters talking about seeing boobs or just see the boobs?

I'm using nudity in one of my scripts to define a character, it's brief, but enough to get the point across.

T&A on screen to show or build character? I would suggest that the real reason is for the director to mainline a prurient visual to cause an emotional reaction directly in the audience. Any honest straight man will tell you that full-frontal fem nudity only causes the mind to click off at that instant to just enjoy the show (or just squirm as his spouse/GF/daughter sitting nearby causes mental dissonance)—so how exactly does that advance the story or reveal character? Going more subtle, using the Bill Theiss Titillation principle—make the viewer expect to see the naughty bits pop out, even though they never will, due to the magic of costuming and editing—can be just as if not more effective, is not outright offensive to the more sensitive viewers, and gets the movie past the ratings boards.

Yes, nudity can be used to define character! How about the elderly man who wanders out of his house without clothes? I've established he has Alzheimer's..or the teenaged boy whose clothes are stolen from the shower stall, I've established he is a victim of bullying....or the woman looking in the mirror for the first time after her mastectomy...none of these situations should be perceived as offensive, but rather powerful moments in a persons life.

All fantastic uses of nudity Lisa. One of my characters is in a shower scene and it's to show she feels "dirty" both psychically and mentally.