Improvisation is an innate part of acting. While it’s not universally applicable, some actors express their spontaneity by lifting their characters off the scripts and taking full control for a moment. Many times, it’s these moments that make the audience wonder whether what just happened was really meant to happen.Such improvisations mostly (but not always) appear when a character is having a reflexive moment, such as an angry slap, emotional outburst, or an impromptu kiss. When one actor improvises, the co-actor follows the lead.In a business such as filmmaking, where everything is meticulously planned far in advance, there isn’t a lot of room for doing things off the cuff—except for acting. This is one aspect of filmmaking where speaking off the top of your head can actually pay off.Having said that, there is one very important thing to be noted: physical intimacy, including a kiss, must always be consensual, regardless of whether it’s scripted or otherwise. There are many instances mentioned in this article where one actor kissed another without her or his knowledge. The ethicalness of this can be subject to the personal and professional dynamic between the actors, but these atypical incidents must never be ritualized. Whatever “authentic” cinematic impact it may create will never be worth the trauma it may cause.Now, let’s dive (conscientiously) into these unscripted kisses.1. Justin Sands and Helena Bonham Carter (A Room With a View, 1985) Sometimes directors ask actors to carry out a certain performance without informing the other actors involved in...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today