Most people are likely quite thankful that their first kisses weren’t caught on camera. All that awkward maneuvering – and saliva – is not something the average man or woman would want to revisit.
Yet one group of adults who had never before been kissed were’t quite as lucky to bury that cringe-worthy moment in the depths of their memories. Cut.com set each of them up with their first-ever kissing partner – with the caveat that the entire thing would be caught on camera in excruciatingly uncomfortable slow-motion.
The six-and-a-half minute clip shows strangers as they are introduced for the first time, knowing that in a matter of mere seconds they would be locking lips in front of an audience.
Pucker up: Six strangers who have never been kissed shared the awkward experience with each other in a video
Kissing strangers: The pairs weren’t told anything about their kissing partner and only learned their names mere moments before they locked lips
Never been kissed: Some of the strangers were asked why they have never kissed someone
Awkward introduction: Upon meeting their kissing partner, one of the participants noticed how uncomfortable he looked
It’s not uncommon for their to be some awkwardness upon meeting someone for the first time. But if someone is expected to kiss a stranger and on camera, it could get more than a little tense.
Luckily, one of the people on set was there to lighten the mood with some colorful confetti and icebreaker questions.
While viewers may be inclined to cast judgments on a group of adults who have yet to have their first kiss, there are number of reasons why these particular gorwn-ups haven’t had the opportunity to share a peck with a special someone yet.
In the first seconds of the video, one of the participants explains he’s never been kissed ‘because I’m a Muslim and Muslims aren’t supposed to do these things.’
Another participant says she hasn’t found the right person to kiss, but jokingly adds that the kissing partner chosen for her in the video wasn’t the right person either.
‘We aren’t supposed to do these things:’ One of the participants, pictured above, said he hasn’t kissed someone for religious reasons
‘What do I do with my tongue:’ One of the participants asked his partner how to kiss
Haven’t found the right one: Another said that she hasn’t found that special someone to kiss
After the four pairs are introduced, the camera person prompts them to start kissing – but only after some attempts at ‘loosening up’ are made, with one of the kissers even pointing out that her partner looks uncomfortable.
He isn’t the only one who seemed ill at ease. Another man asks his kissing partner, ‘What do I do with my tongue?’
A few words of advice later, the couples start moving closer to each other in slow-motion, with the camera panning to each couple before their lips finally touch.
About halfway into the video, the couples can be seen completing their kissing mission, accompanied by a bubbly song playing in the background.
The camera then cuts back out to the couples to show what the scene looks like without the slow-motion.
After the kissing ends, some of the participants crack jokes and give compliments. One calls his partner’s lip gloss ‘sweet,’ and another compliments their partner’s soft lips.
A shared experience: After the kissing was over, the pairs chatted a bit about how they felt afterward
Capturing the moment: The duo was told that their first smooch would be caught in a slow-motion video
Kissing and confetti: As the strangers were kissing each other, one of the crew members was fanning confetti around them
The producers must have been all ears because after the flattery, they ask if the pairs would want to do another take – this time with the kiss lasting ten seconds.
They all oblige and further practice their kissing skills – and even their ‘big frenchy’ prowess, as the cameraman calls it in the video.
After they all finish the second take, a round of applause ensues and the pairs chat with each other about their shared kissing experience.
One woman says that in the future, if she has somebody, she will ask that person to ‘give me a kiss’.
Another person says that he learned a little more about himself – and here’s hoping they learned a little bit more about the art of kissing as well.