New Year’s main firework display is to last seven minutes, the capital’s culture head Sergei Kapkov announced on Friday.
“We have organized a direct broadcast of the president’s address, and then on Vasilevsky Spusk high-altitude fireworks will take place for a duration of seven minutes,” said Kapkov. He added that the official program will finish at 2 am in the center of the city, but will continue in the city’s parks till 3 am.
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Vysotsky legend lives on
Lead actors’ names are usually a strong selling point for a movie, but Russia’s newest would-be blockbuster is gambling on a reverse strategy.
The producers of “Vysotsky. Spasibo, Chto Zhivoi” (“Vysotsky. Grateful To Be Alive”) – one of the year’s biggest and most anticipated domestic movies – are using a mystery around who played the main character as a major publicity tool, boosting the buzz about the movie.
It took $12 million, five years, three directors and an unnamed number of candidates for the main role to make the film about popular Soviet-era singer, songwriter and actor Vladimir Vysotsky. The picture is the year’s second most expensive domestic production after the second installment of Nikita Mikhalkov’s $45 million epic “Utomlenniye Solntsem 2” (“Burnt By The Sun 2”), which was released in May.
In a recent opinion poll, Vysotsky was considered the 20th century’s second most popular person in Russia after cosmonaut Yury Gagarin. But unlike the outer-space pioneer, Vysotsky was always a semi-official figure, which added to his popularity among ordinary people.
Vysotsky wasn’t a dissident; he was a successful actor on stage and screen, but his songs were quite far from the dominant communist ideology, and were therefore considered “undesirable.”
Recordings of his songs were mostly distributed via unofficial magnetic-tape copies, and many Soviet families in the late 1970s and early 1980s had those recordings. It was only in 1978 – two years before his death at age 42 – that a long-play album of Vysotsky’s songs was released by the Soviet Union’s sole record label, state-run Melodiya. Similarly, he was very rarely allowed to perform on TV.
Nevertheless, Vysotsky was one of the most popular singers/songwriters in the country, more popular than those who were constantly on television and whose records were released in millions of copies.
Curiously, his biography was never adapted for the screen until “Vysotsky. Spasibo, Chto Zhivoi.” He was only a minor character in Ivan Dykhovichny’s 2002 movie “Kopeika.”
The new film was produced by Channel One, the country’s main television station, whose films for the big screen have often become major hits, such as Timur Bekmambetov’s “Nochnoi Dozor” (“Night Watch”) and “Dnevnoi Dozor” (“Day Watch”). But not everything went smoothly, and the production took longer than expected.
Making the biography of Vysotsky also turned out to be a major challenge for directors. First to take a stab was Igor Voloshin, known for “Olympius Inferno,” a television film about the 2008 war in South Ossetia, criticized as a propaganda piece. Soon he was replaced by veteran Alexander Mitta but he didn’t last long, either. Eventually the film was completed by Pyotr Buslov, known for the two-part criminal movie “Bumer” (“Beamer”).
The movie does not aim to give the entire biography of the singer, focusing instead on one of the most crucial and dramatic episodes in his life: in July 1979 when Vysotsky was on tour in Uzbekistan, he suffered a cardiac arrest, experienced clinical death and was resuscitated. Hence the second part of the title: “Grateful To Be Alive.”
One of the biggest problems for the creators of the film was who to cast as the main character. Audiences in this country know well how Vysotsky looks on the screen, thanks to his numerous roles in films that can still be seen on television. Perhaps his most popular role was in the 1978 TV crime series “Mesto Vstrechi Izmenit Nelzya” (“The Meeting Place Can’t Be Changed”).
Casting an actor who looked noticeably different would set the Vysotsky film up for a disaster. The solution was found in using extensive makeup and computergenerated images, which also allowed the producers to come up with their major publicity stunt for the film’s release: the mystery about who actually played the main character.
“We were looking for an actor for a very long time,” Konstantin Ernst, Channel One’s general director who co-wrote and co-produced the film, was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. “[We] understood that there is no such actor, and eventually we came up with a combination of impressive performance, makeup and CGI. The name of the actor who played the main character is not on the credits.”
The name of the main actor was not revealed before the film’s release, and even the fellow actors could not leak his identity because, for the sake of the mystery, they only saw him already made up, according to the film’s producers. It took four hours every shooting day to put on the makeup, and another hour-and-a-half to remove it.
Meanwhile, many people who watched the movie in the first days of its release believed that Vysotsky was played by Sergei Bezrukov, which corresponds with reports from a few years ago that he would be cast for the role. Incidentally, he “officially” plays another character.
“Vysotsky” was written by Ernst, Anatoly Maximov, Nikolai Popov and Vystotsky’s son Nikita. The movie features such highprofile actors and showbiz figures as Sergei Shakurov, Ivan Urgant, Maxim Leonidov, Oksana Akinshina and Andrei Panin.
The involvement of Vysotsky’s son added a personal touch to the project.“[The film] is what Nikita wanted to tell,” Akinshina, who played Vysotsky’s mistress, said in an interview with Afisha magazine. “[It is] an emotional statement for the friends and family, for the time itself. And probably this is, if not the last opportunity, then the latest date when a film [about Vysotsky] could be interesting.”
Predictably, the release of “Vysotsky” is boosting interest in the legendary singer and actor. It is likely to bring heavier rotation of his songs, including cover versions, on the radio, re-runs of films in which he starred and various Vystosky-themed events.
One of the most interesting events is the exhibition “Shemyakin. Vysotsky. Dve Sudby” (“Shemyskin. Vysotsky. Two Destinies”), at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The show features 42 illustrations by artist Mikhail Shemyakin of Vladimir Vysotsky’s poems and songs, sketches, Vysotsky’s manuscripts and letters to Shemyakin.
According to the organizers, the exhibition is “a story of the meeting and cooperation of two Russians who happened to meet in Paris.”
“Their unquestionable talent and belonging to common cultural roots, their immense internal energy made them very close to each other, ‘alloyed’ their souls,” reads a statement from the organizers on the exhibition’s web site.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Kiev Becomes Eastern Europe's New Global Celebrity Hotspot
KIEV, Ukraine -- The capital of Ukraine, Kiev, is gaining popularity among Hollywood and world cinema stars by engaging them in world-class entertainment and social events.
In the past two months alone, local tabloids and leisure media featured dazzling reports of Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Pamela Anderson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sophie Marceau and Christopher Lambert relishing Kiev's vibrant social life.
The legendary duo of Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren were the first in the row to hit Kiev’s showbiz scene. Their new action thriller “The Expendables” was presented in Kiev on August 7.
Notably, in addition to Kiev, the actors have presented the movie in person only in London and Paris, making the city the only Eastern European capital to host this remarkable event.
Miss Ukraine 2010 was the second big occasion which attracted celebrities to Kyiv. Pamela Anderson, one of the world’s most famous “femmes fatales”, became the main headliner of the Ukrainian Beauty Contest.
The other jewel in contest’s crown was Ornela Mutti, invited to Kiev as the honored guest and the head of the jury of the contest.
The main male headliner of the Miss Ukraine was Jean-Claude Van Damme, who lately has become a frequent visitor to the Ukrainian capital. The famous Hollywood star has visited Kiev at least three times in the past six months.
National tabloids have enthusiastically reported on Van Damme’s amorous affairs in Kiev, publishing pictures of him and his alleged Ukrainian girlfriend in different locations and events in the Ukrainian capital.
Last but not the least in this celebrity parade is the lovely couple of Sophie Marceau & Christopher Lambert. The two actors were invited as the honored guest to the opening of a high-class restaurant in the heart of the Ukrainian capital.
The Ukrainian paparazzi have captured the couple walking and taking photos in the streets of Kiev and cuddling in the restaurants.
Traditionally Kiev has not been a very popular leisure destination among the world’s celebrities. It had been mainly Prague and Budapest which have enjoyed the reputation of Eastern Europe’s social life center.
This status-quo, however, is gradually changing, as the attractions of Ukraine become more and more appealing and difficult to resist.
In the past two months alone, local tabloids and leisure media featured dazzling reports of Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Pamela Anderson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sophie Marceau and Christopher Lambert relishing Kiev's vibrant social life.
The legendary duo of Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren were the first in the row to hit Kiev’s showbiz scene. Their new action thriller “The Expendables” was presented in Kiev on August 7.
Notably, in addition to Kiev, the actors have presented the movie in person only in London and Paris, making the city the only Eastern European capital to host this remarkable event.
Miss Ukraine 2010 was the second big occasion which attracted celebrities to Kyiv. Pamela Anderson, one of the world’s most famous “femmes fatales”, became the main headliner of the Ukrainian Beauty Contest.
The other jewel in contest’s crown was Ornela Mutti, invited to Kiev as the honored guest and the head of the jury of the contest.
The main male headliner of the Miss Ukraine was Jean-Claude Van Damme, who lately has become a frequent visitor to the Ukrainian capital. The famous Hollywood star has visited Kiev at least three times in the past six months.
National tabloids have enthusiastically reported on Van Damme’s amorous affairs in Kiev, publishing pictures of him and his alleged Ukrainian girlfriend in different locations and events in the Ukrainian capital.
Last but not the least in this celebrity parade is the lovely couple of Sophie Marceau & Christopher Lambert. The two actors were invited as the honored guest to the opening of a high-class restaurant in the heart of the Ukrainian capital.
The Ukrainian paparazzi have captured the couple walking and taking photos in the streets of Kiev and cuddling in the restaurants.
Traditionally Kiev has not been a very popular leisure destination among the world’s celebrities. It had been mainly Prague and Budapest which have enjoyed the reputation of Eastern Europe’s social life center.
This status-quo, however, is gradually changing, as the attractions of Ukraine become more and more appealing and difficult to resist.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Party in the park for Moscow folk
The third annual ShadeLynx Folk-Rock Fest takes place this Saturday, June 26 in Museon Arts Park. The event will feature performances by Tintal, The Dartz, Iva Nova, Anna Pingina, Doroga Vodana, Ulitsa Radio, Korni Ozer, Tol Miriam, Kalendar and Konets Leta.
Tintal and the Dartz are veterans of Russia’s burgeoning Celtic-folk scene, regularly starring at St. Patrick’s day gigs and parades with their skirl of pipes.
Meanwhile Iva Nova – who recently released their third album “Treat Tenderly” – began life as a raucous fusion of Slavic folk and punk before forging a distinctive blend which mixes everything from tango to blues in an energetic melting point.
Anna Pingina, previously with the group Bashnya Rowan, is also picking up a reputation for fusing folk sensibilities with pop-rock sounds and is a regular performer at the annual Dikaya Myata festival.
The organisers will hold the annual FolkTopTen awards of the ShadeLynx portal for “Achievement in Folk and Folk-Rock music.”
Scottish dance school Shady Glen and participants of historical reality reconstruction clubs will create the festive atmosphere with the help of producer and frontman Mikhail “Mike” Guliayev.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
IMAX Expands Partnership With Top Entertainment Developer In Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine -- IMAX Corporation and Triumf Media Group, one of the largest entertainment developers in the Ukraine, today announced an agreement to expand their relationship with the installation of three additional IMAX theatre systems in the city of Kiev and two other cities in the country.
The agreement doubles the number of IMAX theatres scheduled to open in Ukraine, bringing that total number to six, all operated by Triumf Media Group, and it was signed following the box office success of the first IMAX location in Kiev.
A second location from the original contract is scheduled to open in the city of Odessa and a third in the city of Lviv later this year. Under the terms of today's announced agreement, the first of the three additional systems is scheduled to open in Kiev in 2012.
"Our first IMAX theatre has demonstrated tremendous potential for the IMAX brand in the Ukraine, and through this new agreement we aim to capitalize on our initial success by doubling the number of IMAX screens in the country," said Andriy Shpyg, General Director of Triumf Media Group.
"Our single IMAX screen is consistently generating as much as 10% or more of the nationwide box office for major Hollywood IMAX releases such as Avatar, and demand for The IMAX Experience(R) has been so high on the weekends that many of our shows consistently sell out."
"Ukraine is a new market for IMAX and to have one of the country's largest developers double its number of IMAX screens based on the early success of its first installation is very encouraging," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
"The performance of the country's first IMAX theatre, as well as the significant success IMAX theatres are having in Russia, reflects the strong appeal of the IMAX brand in this part of the world, and we're optimistic about continued success and growth throughout the region."
The Triumf Media Group's first IMAX theatre opened at the Blockbuster Entertainment Complex in Kiev in September of 2009. All six IMAX locations will utilize IMAX's digital projection system, which eliminates the high cost of film prints, making the IMAX theatre business more attractive for exhibitors worldwide.
IMAX theatres deliver the world's most immersive cinematic presentations in both 2D and IMAX 3D, and showcase Hollywood blockbusters that have been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience.
The agreement doubles the number of IMAX theatres scheduled to open in Ukraine, bringing that total number to six, all operated by Triumf Media Group, and it was signed following the box office success of the first IMAX location in Kiev.
A second location from the original contract is scheduled to open in the city of Odessa and a third in the city of Lviv later this year. Under the terms of today's announced agreement, the first of the three additional systems is scheduled to open in Kiev in 2012.
"Our first IMAX theatre has demonstrated tremendous potential for the IMAX brand in the Ukraine, and through this new agreement we aim to capitalize on our initial success by doubling the number of IMAX screens in the country," said Andriy Shpyg, General Director of Triumf Media Group.
"Our single IMAX screen is consistently generating as much as 10% or more of the nationwide box office for major Hollywood IMAX releases such as Avatar, and demand for The IMAX Experience(R) has been so high on the weekends that many of our shows consistently sell out."
"Ukraine is a new market for IMAX and to have one of the country's largest developers double its number of IMAX screens based on the early success of its first installation is very encouraging," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
"The performance of the country's first IMAX theatre, as well as the significant success IMAX theatres are having in Russia, reflects the strong appeal of the IMAX brand in this part of the world, and we're optimistic about continued success and growth throughout the region."
The Triumf Media Group's first IMAX theatre opened at the Blockbuster Entertainment Complex in Kiev in September of 2009. All six IMAX locations will utilize IMAX's digital projection system, which eliminates the high cost of film prints, making the IMAX theatre business more attractive for exhibitors worldwide.
IMAX theatres deliver the world's most immersive cinematic presentations in both 2D and IMAX 3D, and showcase Hollywood blockbusters that have been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Eurovision: Ukraine decides for Alyosha
Alyosha is the winner of tonight's national final in Ukraine. The twenty three-years-old singer will perform her entry To Be Free in Oslo. There was a tie for the first place between her and Masha Sobko. The seven-member profession jury had the final say and decided for Alyosha.
The national Ukrainian final tonight has been held in Kyiv in the studio of Shuster Live. Twenty contestants competed for the victory and the ticket to the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. The musical show has been broadcast by NTU and New Channel. Although the participants had only two days to get ready for tonight's event, they delivered an exciting three-hour show, having presented different musical genres, from a ballade to folk rock music.
Alyosha got the ticket for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. Her real name is Olena Kucher. The lyrics of her song has been written in 1977 by B. Chukalyuk in America and had to wait so long to be represented in Oslo this year. To Be Free has been composed by Alyosha herself.
Here is the running order of the 20 participants in the Ukrainian national final tonight (the winner in bold):
1. Vitalij Kozlovskij - I-L@VE?
2 .Vasyl Lazarovych - I Love You
3. SH & BB (Briats-band and band Spalakhnuv Shyfer) – Ne Zhurys'
4. Oleksij Matias - Anhely Ne Umirayut
5. Band Zakliopky - Anybody Home?
6. Ivan Berehzovskij - Utro
7. Duet St'ereo - Ne Shodi S Uma
8. Iryna Rosenfeld - Forever
9. Shanis - Lechu K Tebe
10. Max Barskih - White Raven
11. Vladislav Levitskij - Davaj, Davaj!
12. Miya -Vona
13. Band Da Zzle Dreams - Emotional Lady
14. Masha Subko -Ya Tebya Lyublyu
15. Zlata Okhnevych - Tiny Island
16. Mira Gold - Crazy Lady
17. Nataliya Valevska - Europe
18. Yuliya Vois - Zavyazhy Mne Glaza
19. El Kravchuk - Fly To Heaven
20. Alyosha - To Be Free
Vasyl Lasarovych ended up on the seventh position in the tonight's competition.
The winner of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, Ruslana, came to support the competitors in the national final this year.
Last year Ukraine finished 12th at the 54th Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Russian capital of Moscow. The entry, Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl), was performed by Svetlana Loboda.
Ukraine will participate in the first half of the second Semi-Final of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest on the 27th of May.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Russian circus bear kills manager
An ice-skating bear with a touring Russian circus has killed a circus manager and seriously injured a trainer in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.
Kyrgyz officials said the bear turned on the manager, 25-year-old Dmitry Potapov, during a rehearsal.
The bear, who had skates on at the time, severely mauled another circus worker who tried to rescue the manager.
Kyrgyz police shot and killed the bear when they arrived on the scene. It is not clear what caused the attack.
The five-year-old bear attacked Mr Potapov, dragging him across the ice and leaving him with fatal injuries.
A 29-year-old circus employee who tried to rescue Mr Potapov was badly injured and is in a critical condition, said Kyrgyz doctor Gulnara Tashibekova.
The director of the circus arena in Bishkek said Russian circus workers dragged the two men away from the bear and closed the arena's exits until the police arrived.
Bears on ice are common in Russian circuses. Some are equipped with helmets and sticks and trained to play hockey.
Kyrgyz officials said the bear turned on the manager, 25-year-old Dmitry Potapov, during a rehearsal.
The bear, who had skates on at the time, severely mauled another circus worker who tried to rescue the manager.
Kyrgyz police shot and killed the bear when they arrived on the scene. It is not clear what caused the attack.
The five-year-old bear attacked Mr Potapov, dragging him across the ice and leaving him with fatal injuries.
A 29-year-old circus employee who tried to rescue Mr Potapov was badly injured and is in a critical condition, said Kyrgyz doctor Gulnara Tashibekova.
The director of the circus arena in Bishkek said Russian circus workers dragged the two men away from the bear and closed the arena's exits until the police arrived.
Bears on ice are common in Russian circuses. Some are equipped with helmets and sticks and trained to play hockey.
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