The Consent of Choreographed Kissing
Kisses on the stage and screen aren’t as spontaneous as they look
When we see couples kissing in a movie, television show, or play, it can conjure up some inspiration — or even jealousy — because the kisses in our own relationships may never seem as intense or romantic or passionate as the ones we’re watching. However, according to Thalia R. Goldstein, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology at George Mason University, it’s important to keep in mind that these spontaneous-looking romantic moments are carefully planned from beginning to end.
“Actors don’t just kind of grab each other and go at it; everybody has to be exactly on the same page for kissing,” Goldstein explained. “When a kiss is done for other people to watch, it’s a whole other level of consent, so everybody has to really be on board with exactly which hands are going where and where lips are going.”
Although it’s important to hash out these details to ensure that each actor consents to all the minute aspects of a choreographed kiss, they are also tasked with making it look natural and spontaneous to the audience — as if these behind-the-scenes discussions never took place.
“Actors don’t just kind of grab each other and go at it….”
