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- Kopeikin protects the stage: why did the creators of the TV series "Yugoslavia" spend the whole night in a bar
Kopeikin protects the stage: why did the creators of the TV series "Yugoslavia" spend the whole night in a bar
Monday night, an empty Chinatown. The doors of the famous Solyanka bar, which regularly attracts fans of antiques and pompous interiors, are open, but guests are not welcome here. Dozens of people who crowd into the halls and dare not touch drinks, onion rings and sausages are not idle revelers, but extras invited to the TV series "Yugoslavia". The filming of the project, which is being created by the World Russian Studios and NMG Studio with the support of the Institute for Internet Development (ANO IRI), has already crossed the equator. The online premiere is scheduled for 2027 on the Wink platform. Izvestia visited the site and now they tell us how the Moscow bar became the Brussels bar and why Vasily Kopeikin plays several roles at once.
From a swan to a cat
Filming starts at midnight, right after the bar closes the doors for the last customer. Rehearsals are scheduled for one-thirty: the set design team has an hour and a half to create the magic of cinema.
First of all, the film crew gets rid of the plasma TV and puts its pot-bellied predecessor on the bedside table. Then he replaces the paintings with reproductions in the style of French cabaret and Moulin Rouge. The windows facing the usually busy street are draped with red curtains, and the noble-looking sign "The Black Swan" ("Black Swan") is covered with a friendly "Le Chat Noir" ("Black Cat").
In addition to French interior items, the bar is equipped with elements of the era — according to the plot, the action takes place in 1997. The decorators paid special attention to the wall phone, which the main character uses to contact his friend in the hope of leaving Brussels as soon as possible: it was installed specifically for filming.
According to the director of "Yugoslavia" Mikhail Morskov, he treated historical authenticity with increased sensitivity. For example, in the hospital scene, a monitor that went on sale in 1999 had to be replaced. He explained the fundamental disagreement with the props by a technological discrepancy: in 1997, color LED screens had not yet been used so widely.
Different halls of the bar became locations for three scenes at once, and in total this filming shift lasted 14.5 hours. In one of the episodes, viewers will see for the first time Nika Zdorik, who plays the role of Serbian journalist Zorica. They immediately recorded her conversation with her father, which will be shown closer to the end of the story.
In between nighttime filming, the extras snore against the backdrop of a stuffed pheasant, mirrors in fancy frames, cages suspended from the ceiling, and antique books. Paradoxically, the latter seem to be the most common elements of the interior.
One person for multiple roles
The main role is played by Vasily Kopeikin; with Slava Kopeikin, he is united only by his surname, vocation and expressive look. His character Maxim is a Russian intelligence officer who was forced to run away from a CIA agent (represented by Yuri Chursin) shortly before the events that led to the partition of Yugoslavia and significantly affected the political landscape of Europe. According to Kopeikin, such a role is a real gift from fate.
"My character is always on the lookout, he has to change throughout the film," the actor shared with Izvestia. — Externally, internally, so that no one sees through it. It's great when you can play multiple images in one role at once with makeup, plastic surgery, and a different look. Although it's hard for me to talk about it, I haven't seen myself from the outside — I hope it's noticeable how Maxim is changing.
The artist was not immediately approved: the first verdict of the creators was the phrase "We need someone older." But, as Mikhail Morskov said, when he saw his performance in the TV series "Marik", the choice was already obvious.
"I'm sure that everyone who saw him there remembered him by his look," the director said. — Vasya is an amazing actor who knows how to play with his eyes. A great artist is always characterized by how silent he is. It happens that then he opens his mouth, and you think: "Holy shit ...", but this is not Vasya's case.
Kopeikin is far from the only one whom the director was delighted with. For example, Serbian actresses were initially considered for the role of Niki Zdorik, but the Lily of the Valley star beat the competition thanks to her "brisk energy." Also in "Yugoslavia", the Russian audience will see the still little-known Serb Vule Markovic: the director predicted his reputation as a "major discovery" and "crash" shortly after the premiere.
You need less chthony
Morskov was equally enthusiastic about "Yugoslavia" as a whole. The director admitted that he had always been interested in this part of the story, although his film colleagues hardly addressed it.
— I've always noticed how fragile our lives are.: We depend on people in power," he told Izvestia. — Someone decided: "Let's do this," and you won't change anything. Everything can collapse at any moment. How many lives were destroyed then, how many broken destinies and broken families… When I read the script of the first two episodes, I said, "Wow!" The concentration of events is very high. It just rolls over and won't let go.
The cinematographer also suggested that it is the high dynamics and sharp plot that make the series particularly exciting and allow it to hold the viewer's attention throughout the story.
— If we talk about difficult events extremely seriously, the story will merge into one. But you can use contrast. A white dot is always better visible on a black canvas. You can use modern technologies, add a sense of humor, life, and bright people somewhere. We're shooting a spy movie, an action movie, a drama, and a political thriller at the same time. There are even parallels with the TV series "Heirs". The most important thing for us is for the audience to be filled with various little things in the finale. And pieces of fruit, and red wine, and Serbian plum. I want the audience to understand that significant events took place then, which are still relevant today," the director concluded.
Morskov also stressed that the team deliberately abandoned the flat division into "good" and "bad" characters. All participants in the confrontation will receive their moment of glory: "Yugoslavia" will show the interests, motivation and logic of everyone. The key will remain respect for the people who directly fell into this funnel, especially those who were directly affected by the conflict.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
