Whether you want to pursue an acting career or you just want to have fun in school plays, you may have to kiss someone on set. It can be an unpleasant situation, especially if it's the first time and you don't know the other person well. The secret to giving a credible kiss is to feel at ease, that is, to understand the atmosphere of the scene and keep trying until it becomes a natural gesture.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Understanding the Scene
Step 1. Read the script carefully
To prepare yourself well for a scenic kiss, it is important to understand what happens in the scenes that precede it and in those that follow; this can help you decide the best way to represent the kiss. Read the entire script thoroughly so that you understand your character's emotions and intentions in the kissing scene.
- Make sure you consider the relationship between your character and the one you need to kiss. For example, the first kiss of two lovers will be hesitant and delicate. If instead it were to happen between two people who reunite after a long separation, it could be more passionate.
- Also consider the character of your character. For example, if you are playing the role of a person who tends to hide their emotions, the kiss could be the moment they come out of their shell.
Step 2. Talk to the director
Whether you're taking part in a school play or a Broadway play, it's the director's job to make sure all the actors know exactly how to play their parts and all of the individual scenes. The stage manager probably has a clear idea of how the kiss should be represented, so he can suggest to you and your colleague what you should do. If the director hasn't given you directions to the kissing scene, don't be afraid to ask for his advice.
- The director has probably directed many similar scenes in the past, so he can give you useful tips on how to make the experience less embarrassing. Let them know if you feel embarrassed so they can give you some pointers on how to feel more comfortable.
- If the director wants to shoot the kissing scene differently than you imagined, keep an open mind. Try it by following his directions, and if you don't feel comfortable or the scene doesn't feel natural to you, ask if you can try it your way.
Step 3. Remember you are acting
Having to kiss an actress you don't know well can be an unpleasant and embarrassing experience. However, it is important to remember that even if you have no feelings for your colleague, your character has a connection with the one she plays. You and she must not be attracted to each other and not even have mutual sympathy; you just have to make the audience believe that your characters love each other.
- Try to consider kissing like any other stage action you wouldn't do in real life, like yelling at another character or doing violence to him. It's just a fiction.
- Playing a kissing scene can be especially awkward if you're engaged. It is better to discuss sincerely with your partner rather than avoid the topic. This way you can reassure her and let her know that you are just playing your role.
Part 2 of 4: Talk to your colleague
Step 1. Get to know yourself
For most people it is very embarrassing to have to play a stage kiss with a stranger. The best way to alleviate this discomfort is to get to know your counterpart better. If you feel more comfortable with each other, it will be easier to shoot the scene without feeling too embarrassed.
You don't have to spend a lot of time with your scene partner to get to know her. Just have a coffee together or chat during breaks
Step 2. Discuss the motivations of the characters
While it will be helpful to feel comfortable with your partner, it is equally important to understand what happens in the kissing scene. Talk about your characters' motivations, so that both of you can understand what the kiss means and that you can find the best way to bring it to the stage.
Remember that the kiss may not have the same meaning for the two characters. For example, one of the two might be really in love, while the other might just try to manipulate him to get what he wants. Again, you and your co-worker will need to agree on the overall tone of the kiss, such as tender, passionate, or delicate
Step 3. Establish rules
So that you and your partner don't feel too embarrassed during the kiss, it will be helpful to set clear boundaries on what you are willing to do. You might agree to actually kiss during the scene, but do it with your mouth completely closed. If, on the other hand, the embarrassment is too strong for both of you, you could agree to a fake kiss, in which the lips don't really touch. Find time to discuss how close to get together so that neither of you feels uncomfortable.
- Regardless of what the director or your colleague thinks, you should never do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. It's normal to feel nervous and embarrassed, so don't be afraid to give your opinion.
- If you don't know how to start the conversation with your counterpart about the limits you want to impose, you can say, “Since we don't know each other very well, I'd rather keep our mouths shut during the kiss. Looks good on you?".
Part 3 of 4: Choreographing the Kiss
Step 1. Plan a real kiss
The most important aspect to feel comfortable during a scenic kiss is to think about the specific movements you will perform. When you and your co-worker have set boundaries that you shouldn't cross, it will be easier to plan the kiss. Try to focus on the technical details, so as to avoid embarrassment. This means that you should decide whether you will be standing or sitting and in which direction you will move your head.
- The kissing style can help you choose the right movements. For example, if it's a tentative first kiss, you'll need to move slowly and the contact will be short. For a passionate kiss, however, your gestures will be quicker to express your trepidation and the contact will be more prolonged.
- Don't just focus on the kiss. Think about where you will keep your hands, for example on the cheeks of the scene partner, and decide if you will hug her.
Step 2. Try a fake kiss
In many cases, it is not necessary to touch your coworker's lips to stage a believable kiss. One of you can affectionately put one hand on the side of the other's neck, so that the fingers are behind the ear and the thumb can rest on the other person's lips. When you approach for the kiss, you will be touching your thumb and not your lips. This is the ideal choice if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of staging a real kiss..
- If you want to adopt the fake kiss method, ask an experienced actor to show you how. It may not be easy to use this technique if you have never tried it before.
- Make sure you cover your lips with the thumb of your hand furthest from the audience. That way it will be harder for viewers to understand that this is not a real kiss.
- In some cases it may not be possible to use this trick. Talk to the director to find the best fit for the scene.
Step 3. Try the kiss
The first time you kiss (even pretend) your colleague on stage, you will feel anxious. To ease the tension, be sure to rehearse the kiss as many times as needed to make sure you get the best of it and get familiar with the scene.
- While you and your stage partner may prefer to rehearse alone the first few times, you should practice in front of the rest of the cast and crew on at least a couple of occasions to get used to the audience.
- Try the kiss at least a couple of times with stage costumes. That way, if you or your co-worker are wearing a hat or other garment that can make the kiss awkward, you'll know in time.
- The director could give you suggestions on how to improve the scene after watching your rehearsals. If the actions he recommends don't make you uncomfortable, incorporate them into the scene.
Part 4 of 4: Interpreting the Kissing Scene
Step 1. Take care of your hygiene
A scenic kiss is more enjoyable if both actors involved pay attention to their own hygiene. Shower before you step onto the stage and spray yourself with deodorant. Above all, make sure you have good breath by brushing your teeth before acting.
- If the kissing scene takes place at the end of the play and you are worried that your breath is not fresh at that point in the performance, you can take mints, chewing gum, spray or mouthwash with you. During breaks or scenes in which you do not act, you can freshen your breath in view of the kiss.
- If you are going to give yourself a real kiss, you can use lip balm to make sure your lips are soft.
Step 2. Make sure you know your side
It may seem like a trivial piece of advice, but memorize all the lines that precede and follow the kiss. If you concentrated only on the kiss and were very nervous about its success, you would run the risk of forgetting the lines during the rest of the performance and ruining the scene. Repeat lines more carefully than in other scenes to make sure you know them by heart.
A trick to remember the lines of the kissing scene is to try them while doing something else, for example while crocheting or bouncing a ball. This can help you simulate the distractions you will experience on stage and the thought of the impending kiss
Step 3. Recite the kiss as in rehearsal
If you want the kiss to be perfect on stage, you should stage it exactly as you did in rehearsal. If you changed things at the last minute because you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, you would only make the situation worse, because you would take your colleague by surprise. Interpret the kiss exactly as you planned, so that you both know what to do and how to react.
- If you feel uncomfortable about the kiss, express your concerns during rehearsal. At the moment of the performance you will need to feel confident in yourself.
- If any last-minute changes to the scene are necessary, for example if you prefer a fake kiss because you don't feel well, be sure to communicate it to your colleague before going on stage.
Advice
- In most cases, the more times you kiss a person on stage, the more comfortable you will feel doing it. The first time will be the hardest.
- Even if you are not a professional actor, you should behave professionally. Try not to laugh and not to give too much importance to the kiss. This can make you and your company feel more comfortable.
- Always be honest with your partner and the director if any element of the kissing scene makes you uncomfortable.
