First Kiss
March 10, 2014 8:55 PM Subscribe
Where do I sign up to kiss a hot stranger?
posted by bunderful at 9:03 PM on March 10, 2014 [19 favorites]
posted by bunderful at 9:03 PM on March 10, 2014 [19 favorites]
"to kiss for the first time..." Um, couldn't you have just asked them to kiss?
posted by me3dia at 9:14 PM on March 10, 2014
posted by me3dia at 9:14 PM on March 10, 2014
I loved it and have nothing snarky to say.
posted by rube goldberg at 9:18 PM on March 10, 2014 [25 favorites]
posted by rube goldberg at 9:18 PM on March 10, 2014 [25 favorites]
They found 20 people that age who'd never kissed anyone before? Many seemed to be quite good at it for newbies!
posted by axiom at 9:18 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by axiom at 9:18 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
YAY! HERPES FOR EVERYONE!
posted by Jacqueline at 9:23 PM on March 10, 2014 [23 favorites]
posted by Jacqueline at 9:23 PM on March 10, 2014 [23 favorites]
That was surprisingly adorable. And hot.
posted by desuetude at 9:24 PM on March 10, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by desuetude at 9:24 PM on March 10, 2014 [6 favorites]
Oh, please. None of this is true. This is nonsense.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 9:24 PM on March 10, 2014 [19 favorites]
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 9:24 PM on March 10, 2014 [19 favorites]
I would have enjoyed this more if one or more of the people involved were considered unnatractive by any standard - or by the person having to kiss them. This? This was just asking beautiful people to do what they do.
posted by bradth27 at 9:30 PM on March 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by bradth27 at 9:30 PM on March 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
That was so weird...
Was wondering how they set the pairs. Only one set of each 'gay' type based on gender. Or at least that's how I read it. Everything else pretty normal.
Why not mix it up more? Get people who are nothing alike in age, weight, height, sexuality, genderhurhur, economically mixed and make it random. That would have really made it push past the indie film feeling.
Soko is, of course, the best part.
posted by artof.mulata at 9:30 PM on March 10, 2014
Was wondering how they set the pairs. Only one set of each 'gay' type based on gender. Or at least that's how I read it. Everything else pretty normal.
Why not mix it up more? Get people who are nothing alike in age, weight, height, sexuality, genderhurhur, economically mixed and make it random. That would have really made it push past the indie film feeling.
Soko is, of course, the best part.
posted by artof.mulata at 9:30 PM on March 10, 2014
Wow this is one of those rare times when everyone looks like me!!! OMIGAWD!!!
posted by KokuRyu at 9:33 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by KokuRyu at 9:33 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is adorable. I love how the woman in the striped shirt at 1:14 shifts closer and they hold hands.
posted by mochapickle at 9:39 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 9:39 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
I really hoped it would be 20 random normal half-ugly people like me.
posted by cellphone at 9:40 PM on March 10, 2014 [19 favorites]
posted by cellphone at 9:40 PM on March 10, 2014 [19 favorites]
Oh, please. None of this is true. This is nonsense.
Damn straight! This so-called "kissing" is a lie spread by Big Chapstick! Wake up sheeple!
posted by happyroach at 9:42 PM on March 10, 2014 [29 favorites]
Damn straight! This so-called "kissing" is a lie spread by Big Chapstick! Wake up sheeple!
posted by happyroach at 9:42 PM on March 10, 2014 [29 favorites]
The two guys were the only "kiss a stranger" kiss that seemed real to me. A genuine nervousness, and sort of a peck on the lips.
I didn't like it for the same reason that other people have already stated - a bunch of done up beautiful people.
posted by tkappleton at 9:48 PM on March 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
I didn't like it for the same reason that other people have already stated - a bunch of done up beautiful people.
posted by tkappleton at 9:48 PM on March 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
This might be obvious, but one of the folks doing the kissing also gets credit for her music. Other folks in the credits have IMDb profiles, modeling credits, play guitar for OK Go, etc., etc. So yeah, it's a film. But still a very sweet one.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 9:48 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Monsieur Caution at 9:48 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cool! A neat investigation on how humans physically relate to one another. I liked the beginning where the touch boundary had not been crossed yet... the dynamics in those moments really showed how... it is indeed a boundary.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 9:59 PM on March 10, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by gemutlichkeit at 9:59 PM on March 10, 2014 [9 favorites]
Well, they mention in the film that one of the women is an actress. I suspect they did kind of a casting call, but that even though a lot of these people are actors, their reactions were genuine and they were kissing strangers. What's the point, otherwise?
I liked it a lot. It did seem so sweet and first, and then the kissing started, and holy cow. So hot.
While I would've liked to have seen some more "mismatched" people, I suspect they wanted some sexy, romantic footage. Having the people fall into a passionate make-out was super sexy, and that would've really hit some bumps if we'd occasionally cut to, say, some cute college girl squirming as she kissed some homely old grandpa.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 10:01 PM on March 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
I liked it a lot. It did seem so sweet and first, and then the kissing started, and holy cow. So hot.
While I would've liked to have seen some more "mismatched" people, I suspect they wanted some sexy, romantic footage. Having the people fall into a passionate make-out was super sexy, and that would've really hit some bumps if we'd occasionally cut to, say, some cute college girl squirming as she kissed some homely old grandpa.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 10:01 PM on March 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
"to kiss for the first time..." Um, couldn't you have just asked them to kiss?
Well, it looks like some of them will be doing that again.
posted by jimmythefish at 10:01 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Well, it looks like some of them will be doing that again.
posted by jimmythefish at 10:01 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Aw, I thought that it was sweet to see that there were plenty of signs of nervousness. Even actors and models and musicians and exhibitionists and free-spirits dissolve into giggling when facing down the person they're going to kiss, they feel compelled to run through some tongue-in-cheek formalities, and they blush afterward.
posted by desuetude at 10:07 PM on March 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by desuetude at 10:07 PM on March 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
I have this vague recollection of Allison Janney telling of once being on an elevator and there was this guy, complete stranger... something clicked and they just grabbed each other and started making out. When the elevator stopped at her floor they composed themselves as the doors opened and she walked off the elevator, never saw him again. I've always liked that story.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:07 PM on March 10, 2014 [11 favorites]
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:07 PM on March 10, 2014 [11 favorites]
There must have been some sort of .. meeting beforehand. I have no idea how they matched the couples, but there must have at least been some kind of predetermination of, I don't know, "Hey, you don't smell wrong*."
Kissing is very good, though. These people appear to enjoy kissing. All my thumbs up for kissing†.
* Not "bad," WRONG. I am not in a position to explain it right now but pheromones and stuff.
† Full disclosure: I watched without the sound on. Thumbs revoked in full if there were gross foley kissy slurping noises, because that is the worst.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:10 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
Kissing is very good, though. These people appear to enjoy kissing. All my thumbs up for kissing†.
* Not "bad," WRONG. I am not in a position to explain it right now but pheromones and stuff.
† Full disclosure: I watched without the sound on. Thumbs revoked in full if there were gross foley kissy slurping noises, because that is the worst.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:10 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
I'd assume they're all actors who answered a call on LA Casting that mentioned kissing would be involved, but that doesn't make it that much easier.
I act a little, and one time I did a scene where I had to pretend to have sex with someone. This was someone I knew, and even though there was space between us, it was underneath covers, and with with a person I knew and trusted, it was still very awkward.
We didn't even have to make out! I couldn't imagine doing that with someone I didn't know, "acting" be damned. Because even if they're acting, you still usually have a barrier of time, to talk things out first. I guarantee you, before Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry did that scene in Monster's Ball they at least had a cup of coffee first.
posted by joechip at 10:16 PM on March 10, 2014
I act a little, and one time I did a scene where I had to pretend to have sex with someone. This was someone I knew, and even though there was space between us, it was underneath covers, and with with a person I knew and trusted, it was still very awkward.
We didn't even have to make out! I couldn't imagine doing that with someone I didn't know, "acting" be damned. Because even if they're acting, you still usually have a barrier of time, to talk things out first. I guarantee you, before Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry did that scene in Monster's Ball they at least had a cup of coffee first.
posted by joechip at 10:16 PM on March 10, 2014
posted by disillusioned
If not eponysterical, at least apropos.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:26 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
If not eponysterical, at least apropos.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:26 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
And people are just people,
They shouldn't make you nervous.
The world is everlasting,
It's coming and it's going.
If you don't toss your plastic,
The streets won't be so plastic.
And if you kiss somebody,
Then both of you'll get practice.
I enjoyed it.
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:26 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
They shouldn't make you nervous.
The world is everlasting,
It's coming and it's going.
If you don't toss your plastic,
The streets won't be so plastic.
And if you kiss somebody,
Then both of you'll get practice.
I enjoyed it.
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:26 PM on March 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
This video has been brought to you by Valtrex™.
posted by crapmatic at 10:28 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by crapmatic at 10:28 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Photoshopped.
posted by schwa at 10:34 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by schwa at 10:34 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
This lady is so not into it - likely how I would be - not that I'd even do it. How about that one woman totally grinding on the guy? Obvs he met her approval.
posted by smoke at 10:34 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by smoke at 10:34 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
In 2008, I placed a craigslist add looking for someone to make out with, without ever speaking. I took great care to write it in a way that would not come across as creepy.
I set up a meeting with the first woman who responded. I would get there first. She would know me by the sunglasses I held in my hand.
It was a full moon. I sat at the end of a bar, nursing a glass of wine. A scruffy guy a few seats down held his beer glass up to me in a toast, and said in a rasp "it's gonna be a wild night". I nodded. Moments later, a tallish, striking, dark skinned Chinese American woman strode confidently into the bar, sat down beside me, and without a single word we began to kiss.
We were there for an hour. It was perfect.
This film isn't quite the same, but it brings back that evening as if it was yesterday. Thanks so much to whoever posted it.
posted by MeanwhileBackAtTheRanch at 10:59 PM on March 10, 2014 [54 favorites]
I set up a meeting with the first woman who responded. I would get there first. She would know me by the sunglasses I held in my hand.
It was a full moon. I sat at the end of a bar, nursing a glass of wine. A scruffy guy a few seats down held his beer glass up to me in a toast, and said in a rasp "it's gonna be a wild night". I nodded. Moments later, a tallish, striking, dark skinned Chinese American woman strode confidently into the bar, sat down beside me, and without a single word we began to kiss.
We were there for an hour. It was perfect.
This film isn't quite the same, but it brings back that evening as if it was yesterday. Thanks so much to whoever posted it.
posted by MeanwhileBackAtTheRanch at 10:59 PM on March 10, 2014 [54 favorites]
I wouldn't call them all beautiful as others have, but they obviously didn't invite any totally unkissable/butt-ugly people (or introverts, natch). The girl in the striped shirt is so hot and also a great kisser. It's been so long since I had a first kiss and this reminded me how fun and exhilirating it can be.
Depressing to think that Stripey is probably young enough to be my daughter *sigh*
posted by Devils Slide at 11:01 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Depressing to think that Stripey is probably young enough to be my daughter *sigh*
posted by Devils Slide at 11:01 PM on March 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
One day back in college, a club set up a kissing booth as a joke, and I bought a kiss as a joke, and the guy and I ended up making out like crazy and it was actually really hot/fantastic.
Anyway, I'm glad they paired up people likely to find each other attractive. I think not doing so would be skeezy and just not nice. Being asked to kiss someone shouldn't be a *bad* thing.
This makes me wish for just one last game of Spin the Bottle. Being twelve years old was shitty in all kinds of ways, but games like that were one way it wasn't!
posted by rue72 at 11:09 PM on March 10, 2014 [10 favorites]
Anyway, I'm glad they paired up people likely to find each other attractive. I think not doing so would be skeezy and just not nice. Being asked to kiss someone shouldn't be a *bad* thing.
This makes me wish for just one last game of Spin the Bottle. Being twelve years old was shitty in all kinds of ways, but games like that were one way it wasn't!
posted by rue72 at 11:09 PM on March 10, 2014 [10 favorites]
This brought me back to my first kiss with my now-boyfriend. Good times.
posted by sockermom at 11:17 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by sockermom at 11:17 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
The "art projects where two strangers achieve a moment of intimacy on camera" of the last couple of years are a steadily escalating arms race whose inevitable endgame is porn.
posted by belarius at 11:24 PM on March 10, 2014 [11 favorites]
posted by belarius at 11:24 PM on March 10, 2014 [11 favorites]
It made me smile.
I wonder what exactly their instructions were. Were they told to "make out"? To "kiss"? Was it suggested that they talk about how they feel while/before/afterwards? Did they get to choose partners from a crowd?
posted by lollusc at 11:26 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I wonder what exactly their instructions were. Were they told to "make out"? To "kiss"? Was it suggested that they talk about how they feel while/before/afterwards? Did they get to choose partners from a crowd?
posted by lollusc at 11:26 PM on March 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
A bit more authentic, perhaps, and spontaneous is this Mistletoe kissing prank filmed in downtown Tempe.
posted by disillusioned at 12:05 AM on March 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by disillusioned at 12:05 AM on March 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
I would like to see this attempted with bonobos.
posted by vverse23 at 12:08 AM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by vverse23 at 12:08 AM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
I accidentally had this going in another tab. I was like, "Man, this is a lot creepier than I thought it would be from the comments. Oh."
posted by klangklangston at 12:10 AM on March 11, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by klangklangston at 12:10 AM on March 11, 2014 [6 favorites]
Too attractive. Too white.
posted by azarbayejani at 12:20 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by azarbayejani at 12:20 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
+1 for exposing Big Chapstick.
posted by jscott at 12:22 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jscott at 12:22 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
We played Spin the Bottle once in our 20s as a joke (or something, I don't remember how it started) and it ended up being quite memorable.
But that was way back during the Clinton administration.
posted by i_have_a_computer at 12:29 AM on March 11, 2014
But that was way back during the Clinton administration.
posted by i_have_a_computer at 12:29 AM on March 11, 2014
Voice Over: We've replaced several of the human participants in this production with cleverly disguised velociraptors...
posted by Pudhoho at 12:52 AM on March 11, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by Pudhoho at 12:52 AM on March 11, 2014 [12 favorites]
while it was fascinating, tender, hot... I could not do that. I could not touching a stranger in any way... let alone something as intimate as a kiss.
posted by greenhornet at 1:07 AM on March 11, 2014
posted by greenhornet at 1:07 AM on March 11, 2014
YAY! HERPES FOR EVERYONE!
Yeah, I think they only get to kiss one person each.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:42 AM on March 11, 2014
Yeah, I think they only get to kiss one person each.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:42 AM on March 11, 2014
YAY! HERPES FOR EVERYONE!
Yeah, I think they only get to kiss one person each.
YAY! HERPES FOR SOME, HALITOSIS FOR ALL!
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:46 AM on March 11, 2014 [5 favorites]
Yeah, I think they only get to kiss one person each.
YAY! HERPES FOR SOME, HALITOSIS FOR ALL!
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:46 AM on March 11, 2014 [5 favorites]
I enjoyed it. Most of the pairs seemed pretty into it although the gay males clearly weren't and the woman at 1:45 didn't seem to be either. It was cute how no one knew exactly what to do after.
Though I'll admit I spent the lead-up hoping everyone had brushed their teeth and used mouthwash beforehand.
posted by graymouser at 2:49 AM on March 11, 2014
Though I'll admit I spent the lead-up hoping everyone had brushed their teeth and used mouthwash beforehand.
posted by graymouser at 2:49 AM on March 11, 2014
their reactions were genuine and they were kissing strangers.
I thought they were actors and models and so on? Professional performers performing in front of a camera for a director making a film that the performers know will be on their CVs forever are never going to have "genuine" reactions if that means reactions like they would have if there were no camera, no observers, and the kiss (or rejection of it) didn't matter to anyone but the couple. They are going to worry about how they look to that big unblinking eye watching them and how they will come across to all the viewers whose love they crave (including all the casting directors whose approval they need). They definitely aren't going to be afraid of rejection because both partners showed up looking for a chance to kiss attractively in a film.
posted by pracowity at 3:59 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I thought they were actors and models and so on? Professional performers performing in front of a camera for a director making a film that the performers know will be on their CVs forever are never going to have "genuine" reactions if that means reactions like they would have if there were no camera, no observers, and the kiss (or rejection of it) didn't matter to anyone but the couple. They are going to worry about how they look to that big unblinking eye watching them and how they will come across to all the viewers whose love they crave (including all the casting directors whose approval they need). They definitely aren't going to be afraid of rejection because both partners showed up looking for a chance to kiss attractively in a film.
posted by pracowity at 3:59 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
They must have been asked to kiss "passionately." I can't imagine being instructed to kiss a stranger and doing more than a quick peck.
Also, some guys' definition of kissing seems to involve EATING FACE.
posted by duffell at 4:34 AM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
Also, some guys' definition of kissing seems to involve EATING FACE.
posted by duffell at 4:34 AM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
I have a fear that, if placed in this situation, I would approach it with an entirely unsexy "like a bandaid" approach that would, in the video, make me look like a total psychopath.
"Kiss this woman? Okay"
*Facemonster attack*
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:13 AM on March 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
"Kiss this woman? Okay"
*Facemonster attack*
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:13 AM on March 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
That was great. Thanks for posting. Kissing is the best. My first kiss was as a Freshman in High School. I had been cast as the paperboy in Streetcar Named Desire, and I was kissed by the gorgeous Senior playing Blanche. It was really just a peck, but I'll always remember it.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:15 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 5:15 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I am pretty sure that video made me spontaneously ovulate.
posted by surplus at 5:29 AM on March 11, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by surplus at 5:29 AM on March 11, 2014 [6 favorites]
The guy at 1:45 looks like a terrible kisser. Don't eat her face, dude! Let her lean in some!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:31 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:31 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Sockhat and Yulia Tymoshenko really get into it.
Also yeah the lady TPS mentions looks like she is trying and failing at receding her head into her upper body as a turtle would. Ease up, bro.
posted by griphus at 5:56 AM on March 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
Also yeah the lady TPS mentions looks like she is trying and failing at receding her head into her upper body as a turtle would. Ease up, bro.
posted by griphus at 5:56 AM on March 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
I really hoped it would be 20 random normal half-ugly people like me.
Throw in disgustingly rich and we've got you covered (3:50 for the impatient)!
posted by IndigoJones at 5:59 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Throw in disgustingly rich and we've got you covered (3:50 for the impatient)!
posted by IndigoJones at 5:59 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Despite all the problems I see with the concept, watching the video still made me smile a smile I could not suppress.
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:17 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:17 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I don't even know the rules. Is there like a point system, or is it... to the death?
posted by blue_beetle at 6:32 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 6:32 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I expected to be bored or find a reason to be snarky about it, but really I had to close the window and go lie down for a while. Hawt. Would've been hawter with more diversity (come on, LA!), but still. Hawt.
posted by 1adam12 at 6:59 AM on March 11, 2014
posted by 1adam12 at 6:59 AM on March 11, 2014
"We asked twenty strangers to kiss for the first time..." yt
posted by disillusioned (59 comments total) [add to favorites] 20 users marked this as a favorite [!]
I have an idea for the next meetup.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:03 AM on March 11, 2014 [15 favorites]
posted by disillusioned (59 comments total) [add to favorites] 20 users marked this as a favorite [!]
I have an idea for the next meetup.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:03 AM on March 11, 2014 [15 favorites]
At least twice in my life a co-worker or semi stranger has kissed me out of the blue..unexpected and not drunk. Both times I was too surprised to get into it and just sort of laughed it off so as not to insult them. Neither good nor bad just odd...
posted by judson at 7:10 AM on March 11, 2014
posted by judson at 7:10 AM on March 11, 2014
pracowity: "Professional performers performing in front of a camera for a director making a film that the performers know will be on their CVs forever are never going to have "genuine" reactions if that means reactions like they would have if there were no camera, no observers, and the kiss (or rejection of it) didn't matter to anyone but the couple. They are going to worry about how they look to that big unblinking eye watching them and how they will come across to all the viewers whose love they crave (including all the casting directors whose approval they need). They definitely aren't going to be afraid of rejection because both partners showed up looking for a chance to kiss attractively in a film."
That's interesting, because I see your point and can agree, but also can readily see completely opposite conclusions:
People kissing in private don't have fully "genuine" reactions either when they kiss for the first time; they're usually self-conscious about how they look/feel to the other person. And the performers did have to fear rejection, and rightfully so, as it's clear that some of the kissers wound up not really getting into it.
Meanwhile, this was not on-the-street candid, it was planned as a short film, so the camera not just a big unblinking eye watching them in real time and broadcasting the good, bad, and ugly. It's reasonable for the performers to feel confident that it's going to be edited to make a pretty piece overall.
posted by desuetude at 7:31 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
That's interesting, because I see your point and can agree, but also can readily see completely opposite conclusions:
People kissing in private don't have fully "genuine" reactions either when they kiss for the first time; they're usually self-conscious about how they look/feel to the other person. And the performers did have to fear rejection, and rightfully so, as it's clear that some of the kissers wound up not really getting into it.
Meanwhile, this was not on-the-street candid, it was planned as a short film, so the camera not just a big unblinking eye watching them in real time and broadcasting the good, bad, and ugly. It's reasonable for the performers to feel confident that it's going to be edited to make a pretty piece overall.
posted by desuetude at 7:31 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I liked it better than I expected to. I thought it was sweet.
posted by not that girl at 7:36 AM on March 11, 2014
posted by not that girl at 7:36 AM on March 11, 2014
It was sweet. Very cute. I mean it sucks that it's only a bunch of white people, but it was kind of cute. I was surprised at how many people went for tongue. And then one dude is like biting lips and shit. You know at least a few of these couples got back together later.
posted by cashman at 7:40 AM on March 11, 2014
posted by cashman at 7:40 AM on March 11, 2014
There should have been at least one bald dude. Fail!
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:22 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:22 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
artof.mulata: " Only one set of each 'gay' type based on gender. "
And notably, the gay men didn't do any "icky" kissing; just a demure little lip-touch, followed by totally bro-acceptable hugging.
I hope it wasn't the decision of the filmmaker to censor their kissing; I sincerely hope they just happened to be so shy about kissing in public that all we saw is all they did.
Otherwise: propping up the homophobic media culture is bullshit.
posted by IAmBroom at 8:39 AM on March 11, 2014
And notably, the gay men didn't do any "icky" kissing; just a demure little lip-touch, followed by totally bro-acceptable hugging.
I hope it wasn't the decision of the filmmaker to censor their kissing; I sincerely hope they just happened to be so shy about kissing in public that all we saw is all they did.
Otherwise: propping up the homophobic media culture is bullshit.
posted by IAmBroom at 8:39 AM on March 11, 2014
IAmBroom: I hope it wasn't the decision of the filmmaker to censor their kissing; I sincerely hope they just happened to be so shy about kissing in public that all we saw is all they did.
It seemed like the couples didn't get much direction at all, if we are going by the number of them who started the video with something like "So, should we just start?"
posted by Rock Steady at 8:57 AM on March 11, 2014
It seemed like the couples didn't get much direction at all, if we are going by the number of them who started the video with something like "So, should we just start?"
posted by Rock Steady at 8:57 AM on March 11, 2014
A lovely inkblot in a sea of blue.
posted by echocollate at 9:00 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by echocollate at 9:00 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: Oh, please. None of this is true. This is nonsense.
(Do we still do that? I haven't posted in forever.)
posted by ivey at 9:06 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
(Do we still do that? I haven't posted in forever.)
posted by ivey at 9:06 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: Do we still do that? I haven't posted in forever.
posted by yoink at 9:49 AM on March 11, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by yoink at 9:49 AM on March 11, 2014 [9 favorites]
Well, let me know when the oral contact meetup comes up, so I can not be able to make it and sit at home unhappy.
Also, just a thought. What's MeFi's position on lightweight lip nibbling/not really biting?
posted by Samizdata at 9:57 AM on March 11, 2014
Also, just a thought. What's MeFi's position on lightweight lip nibbling/not really biting?
posted by Samizdata at 9:57 AM on March 11, 2014
I would have enjoyed this more if one or more of the people involved were considered unnatractive by any standard - or by the person having to kiss them.
posted by bradth27 at 5:30 AM on March 11
Give us a kiss.
posted by Decani at 9:58 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by bradth27 at 5:30 AM on March 11
Give us a kiss.
posted by Decani at 9:58 AM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
all-around beautiful people
I imagine that if you put out a call for people to volunteer as participants in a short film where they will kiss a total stranger you mostly get people who feel pretty self-confident about a) how they'll look on camera and b) how some total stranger will feel about kissing them. I imagine that self-selects out fairly readily to the youngish, better-looking-than-average set you find here.
Does anyone have a link to an interview with the director about the process? I Googled but couldn't find anything. It looked "genuine" to my eye; which is to say that I think the couples really didn't know each other before they kissed, on camera, in the encounter we see on the video. But, yeah, obviously they knew they were on camera and knew that they had signed up for this so in some sense they're also "performing" the encounter.
posted by yoink at 10:06 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
I imagine that if you put out a call for people to volunteer as participants in a short film where they will kiss a total stranger you mostly get people who feel pretty self-confident about a) how they'll look on camera and b) how some total stranger will feel about kissing them. I imagine that self-selects out fairly readily to the youngish, better-looking-than-average set you find here.
Does anyone have a link to an interview with the director about the process? I Googled but couldn't find anything. It looked "genuine" to my eye; which is to say that I think the couples really didn't know each other before they kissed, on camera, in the encounter we see on the video. But, yeah, obviously they knew they were on camera and knew that they had signed up for this so in some sense they're also "performing" the encounter.
posted by yoink at 10:06 AM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Jeez, Metafilter, do we need to sit in a circle and have a long talk about self esteem?
posted by Spiced Out Calvin Coolidge at 10:40 AM on March 11, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by Spiced Out Calvin Coolidge at 10:40 AM on March 11, 2014 [7 favorites]
As a promo for a clothing line, I'm not sure it's all that successful, but knowing it's an ad at least makes me understand why there's a parade of attractive white people. (Via)
posted by gladly at 11:14 AM on March 11, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by gladly at 11:14 AM on March 11, 2014 [12 favorites]
...they feel compelled to run through some tongue-in-cheek formalities...
I see what you did there.
posted by Kabanos at 12:20 PM on March 11, 2014
I see what you did there.
posted by Kabanos at 12:20 PM on March 11, 2014
I thought it was delightful!
posted by MissySedai at 12:59 PM on March 11, 2014
posted by MissySedai at 12:59 PM on March 11, 2014
So you don't have to go leaping straight for the clitoris like a bull at a gate. Nibbling the earlobe, uhh, kneading the buttocks, and so on and so forth. So, we have all these possibilities before we stampede towards the clitoris.
Good to know.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:01 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Good to know.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:01 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, just a thought. What's MeFi's position on lightweight lip nibbling/not really biting?
100% Pro, particularly when it leads to actual biting.
posted by bunderful at 1:02 PM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
100% Pro, particularly when it leads to actual biting.
posted by bunderful at 1:02 PM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Despite my best attempts, I couldn't watch this without envisioning Walter Sobchak standing in the background of each couple, arms folded and gaze stern, periodically yelling, "DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY?" I don't know what it means.
posted by Brak at 1:16 PM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Brak at 1:16 PM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
People kissing in private don't have fully "genuine" reactions either when they kiss for the first time; they're usually self-conscious about how they look/feel to the other person.
Not if the person kissing you is really good at it. (Had a first kiss a month ago and I swear the only thought in my head was probably something kind of like the Homer Simpson drool noise.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:30 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Not if the person kissing you is really good at it. (Had a first kiss a month ago and I swear the only thought in my head was probably something kind of like the Homer Simpson drool noise.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:30 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Jeez, Metafilter, do we need to sit in a circle and have a long talk about self esteem?
Yes. We also need a bottle to spin.
posted by klausness at 4:19 PM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
Yes. We also need a bottle to spin.
posted by klausness at 4:19 PM on March 11, 2014 [4 favorites]
Is the joy of watching diminished more by knowing it is an ad for Wren Clothing or by knowing that they are all professional actors and models?
posted by Lame_username at 4:44 PM on March 11, 2014
posted by Lame_username at 4:44 PM on March 11, 2014
Is the joy of having posted that dimished by knowing it was already posted?
(also, yes, sadly it does diminish it)
posted by cashman at 5:16 PM on March 11, 2014
(also, yes, sadly it does diminish it)
posted by cashman at 5:16 PM on March 11, 2014
As a promo for a clothing line
Ugh, this makes me feel dirty and manipulated and used.
Anyone wanna make out to help me get over it?
posted by crossoverman at 8:46 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ugh, this makes me feel dirty and manipulated and used.
Anyone wanna make out to help me get over it?
posted by crossoverman at 8:46 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Blech. Can I assume that Wren clothing initially looks good but rapidly proves unreliable, and if I buy some I'll soon feel betrayed and led-on by the first impression?
posted by benito.strauss at 9:02 PM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by benito.strauss at 9:02 PM on March 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Barack Obama (sp?) should jump on this show to promote health care!
posted by agog at 10:10 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by agog at 10:10 PM on March 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Who would you have him kiss?
posted by crossoverman at 12:19 AM on March 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by crossoverman at 12:19 AM on March 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Very nicely done. Yey kissing!
posted by jeffburdges at 3:10 AM on March 12, 2014
posted by jeffburdges at 3:10 AM on March 12, 2014
Did anyone recognize the actors? I recognized an actress who played Opal on All My Children in the 1980s as one of the kissers.....not really strangers kissing.
posted by Reflective Views at 6:44 AM on March 12, 2014
posted by Reflective Views at 6:44 AM on March 12, 2014
Reflective Views: "I recognized an actress who played Opal on All My Children in the 1980s as one of the kissers.....not really strangers kissing."
Strangers to each other, not necessarily to us. The idea is that she didn't know the fellow she was smooching.
posted by desuetude at 9:13 AM on March 12, 2014
Strangers to each other, not necessarily to us. The idea is that she didn't know the fellow she was smooching.
posted by desuetude at 9:13 AM on March 12, 2014
Who would you have him kiss?
Putin. I'm sure the slash fiction has already been written.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:33 AM on March 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Putin. I'm sure the slash fiction has already been written.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:33 AM on March 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
benito.strauss, ask and ye shall receive.
posted by Wild_Eep at 2:08 PM on March 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Wild_Eep at 2:08 PM on March 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
20 strangers jerk eachother off for the first time
posted by Joe Chip at 8:49 PM on March 12, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by Joe Chip at 8:49 PM on March 12, 2014 [8 favorites]
20 strangers jerk eachother off for the first time
Oh my god! I'm giggling nonstop.
posted by cashman at 9:08 PM on March 12, 2014
Oh my god! I'm giggling nonstop.
posted by cashman at 9:08 PM on March 12, 2014
And once I heard something about horse shaped swingsets and realized the music is something like nonsensical lyrics, it made me laugh even harder. Thank you, internet.
posted by cashman at 9:12 PM on March 12, 2014
posted by cashman at 9:12 PM on March 12, 2014
This is fucking amazing,
FIRST HANDJOB [NSFW]
We asked twenty strangers to jerk each other off for the first time... Pimm's Girl Comedy parodies WREN's First Kiss.
posted by Blasdelb at 12:58 AM on March 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
FIRST HANDJOB [NSFW]
We asked twenty strangers to jerk each other off for the first time... Pimm's Girl Comedy parodies WREN's First Kiss.
posted by Blasdelb at 12:58 AM on March 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
Shit
posted by Blasdelb at 12:59 AM on March 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Blasdelb at 12:59 AM on March 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
Last night I was flipping channels and caught Chelsea Handler joking about this project and suggesting making her staff do something similar (I was honestly channel surfing...I'd admit it if I were Chelsea Lately viewer, as shameful as that would be). The thing that bummed me out though, was that they showed a clip from it and Handler's audience all groaned in disgust when they watched the tattooed guy kissing the older woman. She's an attractive woman (probably) in her fifties and there was nothing gross about the kiss, so her audience must have been repulsed by the idea/sight of a middle aged woman kissing anybody, especially a younger man. I guess I shouldn't have expected more from a Chelsea Lately audience, but their reaction still depressed me.
posted by Devils Slide at 6:52 PM on March 13, 2014
posted by Devils Slide at 6:52 PM on March 13, 2014
That's the only kiss I've heard any complaints about - the young guy with the older woman. A friend called it gross. What really annoyed me about that is this friend is queer and gay kisses are still called gross in a lot of places - though I'm glad no one said that in relation to this video (that male-male kiss was so chaste, how could anyone get upset?), it's depressing that some people think women over 50 should be sexless. Ugh.
posted by crossoverman at 6:56 PM on March 13, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by crossoverman at 6:56 PM on March 13, 2014 [2 favorites]
Exactly, crossoverman. In their vapid minds, people should disappear from sight after age 35, much less still be sexual beings.
posted by Devils Slide at 7:04 PM on March 13, 2014
posted by Devils Slide at 7:04 PM on March 13, 2014
Devils Slide: "She's an attractive woman (probably) in her fifties"
She's 66, actually. (I hope I'm that cute when I'm 66!)
posted by desuetude at 7:42 AM on March 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
She's 66, actually. (I hope I'm that cute when I'm 66!)
posted by desuetude at 7:42 AM on March 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
First Lick: A Film by Jimmy Fallon
(Parody with dogs and cats)
posted by heyho at 8:02 AM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
(Parody with dogs and cats)
posted by heyho at 8:02 AM on March 14, 2014 [1 favorite]
20 non-model strangers kiss for the first time.
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:03 PM on March 14, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:03 PM on March 14, 2014 [5 favorites]
And there are non-white people in it, would you look at that.
posted by cashman at 2:47 PM on March 14, 2014
posted by cashman at 2:47 PM on March 14, 2014
I like kissing. I don't always like watching people kiss. And obviously the Vice video wanted to amp up the awkwardness to maximum. But overall, I still got a similar feeling watching it - knowing how awkward it can be before first kissing someone. Sometimes having to negotiate a height difference. Unsure of whether there's any attraction at all.
Unlike the first First Kiss video, the Vice one did make me feel a little bit uncomfortable - mostly the old guy who was trying to do a running commentary. Just shut up and kiss her.
But, yeah, I guess - the fundamental difference is these people weren't performers and were only getting a token bit of money for kissing a complete stranger. Still, kissing is awesome. Sometimes it's just not as awesome as other times.
posted by crossoverman at 6:03 PM on March 14, 2014
Unlike the first First Kiss video, the Vice one did make me feel a little bit uncomfortable - mostly the old guy who was trying to do a running commentary. Just shut up and kiss her.
But, yeah, I guess - the fundamental difference is these people weren't performers and were only getting a token bit of money for kissing a complete stranger. Still, kissing is awesome. Sometimes it's just not as awesome as other times.
posted by crossoverman at 6:03 PM on March 14, 2014
The Vice film was interesting as a contrast, but to be fair, the majority of the participants seemed to really take it in the spirit of something to endure as a paid dare. "Okay, we did it, that was 30 seconds, right?" (With the rather adorable exception of the first couple who "lost track of time.")
posted by desuetude at 10:13 PM on March 14, 2014
posted by desuetude at 10:13 PM on March 14, 2014
This was interesting - if just very mildly unnerving - but I can't for the life of me figure out what the guy with glasses (the bad kisser TPS pointed out) says to the actress. Also, it's neat (and sort of educational?) to be able to see clips of lots of different people kissing side by side, outside of a chick flick or something. I'm like, oh so that's how it works.
(And doesn't work, occasionally.)
posted by undue influence at 11:10 PM on March 15, 2014
(And doesn't work, occasionally.)
posted by undue influence at 11:10 PM on March 15, 2014
She's 66, actually.
I'll have what she's having!
posted by en forme de poire at 12:30 PM on March 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'll have what she's having!
posted by en forme de poire at 12:30 PM on March 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
A depressing fact: a week after this advertisement went viral, sales at Wren went up nearly 14,000%.
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:29 PM on March 25, 2014
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:29 PM on March 25, 2014
Why is that depressing?
posted by desuetude at 1:34 PM on March 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by desuetude at 1:34 PM on March 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
My guess is that it's depressing because people wanted to believe it was just done solely to make you think about things. To make you remember what your first kiss was like. To make you wonder about the world and your place in it. But instead it was saddled with lots of "do you think this will make sales go up and line the pockets of the less than a dozen already wealthy people who are at the top of this clothing company that uses who-knows-what kind of practices in manufacturing, hiring and human resources?" How much money? Enough that they can each get another car? Two cars? And so forth.
posted by cashman at 2:15 PM on March 25, 2014
posted by cashman at 2:15 PM on March 25, 2014
Weirdly, though I did feel a bit duped by the fact the video was marketing rather than sincere, the fact that it worked the way it was supposed to is actually okay by me. I don't begrudge Wren wanting to market their product. And with that sort of increase, I think it's sort of amazing. Good work.
posted by crossoverman at 2:50 PM on March 25, 2014
posted by crossoverman at 2:50 PM on March 25, 2014
cashman: "My guess is that it's depressing because people wanted to believe it was just done solely to make you think about things. To make you wonder about the world and your place in it. But instead it was saddled with lots of "do you think this will make sales go up and line the pockets of the less than a dozen already wealthy people who are at the top of this clothing company that uses who-knows-what kind of practices in manufacturing, hiring and human resources?" How much money? Enough that they can each get another car? Two cars? And so forth."
I hear what you're saying, but I wouldn't say that we're exactly being punked by our corporate mega Pepsi Blue overlords here. The video really was a small film project of strangers kissing...commissioned by Wren as a promo. I dunno, I don't see that as such a weird conflict of intentions.
posted by desuetude at 8:04 AM on March 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
I hear what you're saying, but I wouldn't say that we're exactly being punked by our corporate mega Pepsi Blue overlords here. The video really was a small film project of strangers kissing...commissioned by Wren as a promo. I dunno, I don't see that as such a weird conflict of intentions.
The video flashes “Wren presents” at the beginning and also mentions the company in the credits. “There was no part of it where this was a secret,” Coker said. Wren, a 7-year-old label, is not exactly a fashion powerhouse. The label, which is based in Los Angeles, has four employees, including Coker. The budget for the video was about $1,300, with the money used for studio space, a video editor’s baby-sitting bill, lunch and “chocolate and some mints,” Pilieva said. The kissing strangers are friends of Coker’s and Pilieva’s. Many are musicians or models. All of them worked free.More context/background in this Irish Times article.
posted by desuetude at 8:04 AM on March 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Construction Workers Yell Messages of Empowerment to Women in Snickers Stunt
posted by jeffburdges at 6:37 AM on March 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffburdges at 6:37 AM on March 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
bunderful: "Also, just a thought. What's MeFi's position on lightweight lip nibbling/not really biting?
100% Pro, particularly when it leads to actual biting."
I'm cool with that. But in the heat of the moment, it can be awkward working things out.
posted by Samizdata at 8:46 AM on April 2, 2014
100% Pro, particularly when it leads to actual biting."
I'm cool with that. But in the heat of the moment, it can be awkward working things out.
posted by Samizdata at 8:46 AM on April 2, 2014
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