Movies

Awkward: Justin Long and Drew Barrymore's Phone Sex Scene

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AP

The filmmakers behind "Going the Distance" were insistent on keeping it real in the romantic comedy about long distance relationships -- perhaps a little too real in the mutual phone sex scene between Drew Barrymore and Justin Long.

The scene, in which there is no nudity but a lot of of off-camera movement (and the discussed image of Marky Mark in his boxer shorts), has its humorous and uncomfortable moments. But it was even more uncomfortable to shoot according to the co-stars.

"We were comparing who had the most  awkward experience -- me as a guy in a room full of men," said Long. "Or Drew."

The filmmakers (for the movie opening on Friday) actually built two sets to represent the two bedrooms a country apart and allowed the actors to portray their sex-starved characters talking on the phone during the scene to make it even more real.

Setting the shot up was pretty awkward.

"All the guys in my room were making sex jokes to keep it light," Long said with an emotional cringe. "And it made it more awkward where I had to laugh and then get into this whole sexual mode."

"But Drew had it more awkward because everyone in the room was totally stone cold silent. And respectful. And it made it that much weirder for her."

There's really no way for a crew to win in that situation, so sounds like a draw. But Long might have won the awkward gold medal for the scene when director Nanette Burstein came up and explained the proper off-camera arm movement he needed for the scene.

"I was like, 'Nanette I think I know how to do this,'" said Long. "I have had a lot of experience."

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