– Kuzma, tell us about the shooting in the drama “UZZZ”: How did you work in Rostov, how did the bill go for the role of Rostov citizen? Local guys noted that the conversation in the series sounded very realistic, but there was no mockery in it ….
– Yes, a lot of emphasis was placed on the conversation. Apparently, it is somehow special among the older generation of Rostovites, but not only among them. Young people also have a certain voice: their speech is more free, melodic. And I wanted to add this shade to the speech of my hero Rav, but there was no special directive on this from the director Stas Ivanov.
In general, life in Rostov is completely different. There are still these courtyard gatherings, and there is even the architecture of some buildings, where the doors and windows stick together and everything is in full view – it is very different from the same Moscow, which few people know. neighbors. The flow of life there is also calmer. I think we managed to capture that on the show.
– What was the key to understanding your character, which fits carving and purposefulness at the same time?
– It seems to me that he is a very good boy – in the sense that he has his own childlike idea of u200bu200bhonour and duty. He doesn’t have many friends but stands up for all his loved ones. I think that characterizes it a lot. The fact that he is a hollow is true, and even the hollow is a little crazy – he believes that you need to move towards your goal.
— What was it like working with Anton Kuznetsov and Gela Meskhi? To what extent do you tend to “spy” on older colleagues with more experience?
– That’s all I dosmiling). In fact, in this profession you really learn by studying and observing and interacting with your more experienced colleagues. For me, this is my acting development.
As for Anton and Gela, they are true masters of their craft. I haven’t seen Gela in the theater but she is a super professional when it comes to cinema. Anton is great as he has such an absolutely inexplicable, very strong energy, he also messes with the frame. He also has a controversial rogue role in the series and is an absolute good-natured man in life.
– It seems that every character in the series is brutal and unites the people: although Koka and Smoke are generally bad people, they are not deprived of their sincere love. What is your rav’s weak spot?
– There is a certain recklessness, as well as a desire to always be first and never lose. I think that’s his weakness. Because such people often end badly, they cannot correctly calculate their strengths and do not feel danger. It can destroy Rava.
– Intimacy with Smoke is also a search for a father figure for the half-orphan Ravil?
— We didn’t put it in the script, but I think he definitely wants to be like Smoke. She is an example for him in many ways: both in how to run his business and how to start a family.
– The characters of the series seem to reflect the old and new world. With the old structure of the world this is understandable, but your Rav will come. What is it for you personally?
– I think the future belongs to people who let them do what they want, regardless of society – and without judging how profitable it is financially. It seems to me that if you sincerely burn with something, you will attract like-minded people and success.
– How was it working with the director of the series, Stas Ivanov? Earlier, you admitted that there were misunderstandings when working with directors.
– We had the same story as Stas: from the first days there was a misunderstanding, and in general – during the filming there were quite difficult relationships. But still, I have very strong feelings for him, and in many ways I think it was him as the author who drew both the show and me. We are from different worlds as I am the opposite of my hero and at first it was very difficult to actually play him. I don’t know how successful I was in the end, but I think exactly where it turned out, Stas is a great asset.
I repeat though, it wasn’t easy for us to work with at first. However, recently St. Petersburg, we crossed paths with Stas, and he very accurately summed up the path of our relationship with him: when I came to the audition, he immediately realized that it should be me, but when I arrived, the site realized that it was a mistakesmiling). Over time, of course, it became clear that not everything was a coincidence – and we succeeded. I am absolutely not ashamed of this work.
– Tell us the difference between working on the stage and working in the cinema. Is there a feeling that working in the theater helps you in terms of acting, which, as you know, is impossible to imitate?
“Of course it is. In general, I think that an artist should play in the theater, because theater always allows you to develop, not to stop in the profession. Moreover, in film. As a rule, they give the same to act, and in the theater there is more variety. Although there are difficulties in the cinema, of course For example, cinema is a non-linear process in the sense that today you can shoot the opening scenes and tomorrow the final scene and only then the middle stage.And if in theater you gradually speed up to the 100% you need in your role, in the cinema you can immediately start with that 100% and then jump like this It is difficult and you also need to learn how to work with it.
– Your statement: “The theater is closer – 100%. I haven’t quite tasted the movie yet.” Did you manage to taste the cinema after “UZZZ”?
– My story with “UZZZ” started a few months ago and should end on June 14, when the final episode will air – and it will also be my birthday (smiling). And now that I look, I’m doing the final work on bugs (which I am doing now), then this project will become clearer for me. And then I can answer the question: Did I manage to get a taste of the movie?
– You somehow admitted that you want success, but that you deserve it. What is a well-deserved success for you?
– When I can tell myself that a good, worthwhile job has been done. I don’t praise myself very often, but I sincerely think there is reason to praise myself, which is tantamount to well-deserved success. I don’t want unfounded reviews. Even if others praise it, but if I don’t feel it inside, there will be no feeling that I have succeeded.
Tell us about your childhood in a large family of 8 brothers and sisters. How interested are they in your career – and is there anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
I don’t know if anyone wants to follow my steps. Yeah, I don’t think this is a good idea. But they are all interested in my work, especially cinema, yes. Here is my daughter, she is three years old, she wants to follow in my footsteps and become an artist (to laugh). But this is understandable, the children of the actors also want to be creative.
– You said that the priest of the Pope did not interfere with your acting career. What does your family think of you now?
– My mother is always very worried when she watches projects with my participation. It’s hard to ignore the fact that what happened in the frame was actually my hero and not me. My father loves cinema and I think he will definitely watch “UZZZ”. He’s quite indifferent to my theatrical work, but that’s because he doesn’t like the theater very much.
– You have already mentioned your daughter, Ustinya, who was born at the age of 21. It’s surprising that many young people don’t want to start a family at an early age because it “takes them away from work” and you’ve seen the opposite: you started a family early because it helps you in the profession. How did you come to this?
– I don’t know, it somehow happened like that … But it’s true that when I had a wife and child, everything started to go better for me in the profession. Plus, since I live in a big family – and I have to be responsible for younger people since I was a kid, I got used to a lot of responsibility pretty early on. In general, it seems to me that you need to live not only for yourself, but with the understanding that your life’s work is necessary not only for you, but also for those close to you.
– The protagonist of “UZZZ” Smoke speaks of family as the “internal warning system” that is important to a man. Did it happen with your daughter’s birth?
– Of course: both with the birth of a daughter, and earlier – from the moment of marriage. I repeat, the feeling that your actions are always in me, and not only you. Every time I wanted to do something stupid, I knew it would affect my family. I am not alone, there are people behind me who will rake these jambs with me. That’s why the internal warning system has always been inside of me. Yes, someone might say it wasn’t my youth. I think, to hell with such youth (to laugh).
– In preparation for our conversation, I read several interviews with you – and you seemed to me, as they say, an “old soul” person. It’s like you’re more serious than your peers. Have you ever thought that older people are more interesting to you?
No, I’ve never had such a feeling. I have always enjoyed spending time with my peers. I don’t have a very large circle of friends: just two friends. Although I like to grumble, sometimes relatives say about me that I am a grandfather in a young body (smiling).
– You play several musical instruments, you had your own band and now you compose your own music. Didn’t have the idea to propose to composer “UZZZ” Kazi to create a joint track for the drama?
No, we didn’t argue. Moreover, the music I composed is different from the one in the series. However, if we draw a parallel, it is closer to what Elya says in Masha Matsel’s heroine “UZZZ”.
As for Kazi, I think he’s just a genius. Although I listen to other music in ordinary life, the compositions of its author impressed me a lot.
– There is no worse question for an artist than “what are your creative plans?” but given the fact that your film career is only accelerating, I think it’s appropriate to ask the question: what’s next?
– Now I’ll be on the set all summer and a feature film will surely come out later, but I can’t reveal the details yet. And from what I can name – a small but interesting role in the TV series “Cuba”.
Right now I want to act more in movies because I understand that it still needs to be mastered. And I’m an artist who knows everything about casting: I don’t have any prior preferences, I’ll choose what feels right to me.