That black and white kissing video that everyone and their mom shared on Facebook has been watched more than 45 million times. If you had an Internet connection this week, you probably came across “First Kiss” — a video compilation of various strangers fumbling through a few awkward, adorable moments of intimacy.
A new viral Youtube video is born over night. First Kiss by director Tatia Pllieva has run up 21 million views in 24 hours. The video was made on a shoestring budget of $1,300, and the kissing strangers were all friends of of filmmaker and clothing designer. Contrary to previous reports characterizing them as actors, the kissers were just paid in spit. The singer Soko, who performs “We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow,” also participated in the video and has seen online sales of her song skyrocket. The video became an internet sensation and swirled around on social media, being widely circulated on Facebook and Twitter.
Time says “It was Strangely Beautiful” and Huffpost describes it as “A Beautiful Thing.The video showcases gay pairs, straight pairs, young and old pairs. The video begins with the 10 couples each facing off, some of them in awkward pas de deux. As the short film progresses, the couples kiss — a few of them passionately, some clumsily. They begin with an uneasy kiss which turns into a passionate one.
But according to The New York Times, the truth is much more nuanced. “First Kiss” was commissioned by Melissa Coker, founder of the clothing company Wren. Melissa Coker, 35, the founder and creative director of the clothing company Wren, commissioned the video to showcase her clothing line’s fall collection for Style.com’s Video Fashion Week.Style.com had created the video series for brands that might lack the financial wherewithal to put on a runway show during Fashion Week.
Overall, it was very interesting watch and honestly it was a fascinating to watch complete stranger be able to share a beautiful feeling in such little time. The gay couple literally hugged it out at the end and the lesbian couple attempted to establish a link pre kiss by looking each other in the eyes. Also the fact that they choose fairly attractive people for this probably made kissing a lot easier.
But what was it that made it resonate with millions of drive-by clickers? It would not have been the first time that a heartwarming video ricocheted around social media only to be revealed as the work of corporate America.
Confession of a shoppaholic 