James Franco felt awkward kissing Sean Penn in the upcoming Harvey Milk biopic Milk because the smooch wasn't exactly a quick peck on the cheek.

The two men play gay lovers in the Gus Van Zant film and Franco admits their first kissing scene was one of the toughest he has ever had to shoot.

He tells USA Today newspaper, "We're sitting on the curb, kissing... and it's not stopping. A minute doesn't sound like a long time, but, in front of 200 people, it's a long time. He (Penn) had a beard and the beard is scraping me. Afterwards, we were like, 'All right, how are those (Oakland) Raiders (American football team).'"

And Franco reveals Penn made sure he kept things light on the set - in between takes: "He would always ask me if my girlfriend was the better kisser."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Click to see photo gallery: