Yuri Stoyanov and Gleb Kalyuzhny, still from the television series “Trepachi”. Photo: Premier PR service
The premiere of the series “Trepachi” with 66-year-old Yuri Stoyanov and 25-year-old Gleb Kalyuzhny will take place on September 21 on the Premier platform. The project was also presented at the New Season online film festival, where KP.RU spoke with director Simon Bagdasaryan. For Simon, the series “Trepachi” was his debut. According to Bagdasaryan, he simply got lucky, both with the producers, the Andreasyan brothers, and with the actors. In an interview with KP.RU, Simon told how many slaps Kalyuzhny received from Stoyanov, why Yuri Nikolaevich calmed him down and what the drunk did on the set.
– What is the main message of the “Trepachi” series? For whom?
– In fact, the project is as realistic as possible, it is for everyone. The main message is that it is possible to find friendship and vital support where you don’t expect it. This story can resonate with almost anyone because it is about family, broken people, and those seeking opportunity. Our hero, played by Gleb Kalyuzhny, helps everyone around him, because he is such a character: he is ready to sacrifice his dreams for the good of others. The hero of Yuri Nikolaevich is a former great artist who once collapsed and could not return. He finds in this young man the son that his own son did not turn out to be. And Gleb’s hero finds in him the father he has not had since childhood. His “chemistry” relationship with Yuri Nikolaevich is a story of fathers and sons.
Simon Baghdasaryan. Photo: Premier PR service
– Stoyanov already starred with Kalyuzhny in the television series “Vampires of the Middle Band”. In an interview, he said that his duet with Gleb in the current game project is different from the past, but in terms of the number of slaps there is no …
– As for the number of slaps, we are definitely losing, because on the set Gleb received from Yuri Nikolaevich, if I’m not mistaken, only two slaps on the head, and they are in the frame. And his work is definitely a master class. Gleb is a guy with infinite talent, he is physically and mentally prepared for any experiment in his work. They had a kind of family history with Yuri Nikolaevich. For Gleb, he is a kind of mentor. They are like father and son. At the right moments, Yuri Nikolaevich and Gleb moved away from everyone and some kind of whisper or magical instruction occurred. It’s not that something didn’t work out for Gleb, it’s just that after Stoyanov’s advice everything was even better. In general, Yuri Nikolaevich not only helped the actors with words.
– And you?
– Since I am a debutant and Yuri Stoyanov is a big star, of course I had some concerns. I was warned that big stars usually have their own personality and can impose something on the director. And I also have a complex character, and I was afraid that conflicts could arise between us, but there was never a hint that Yuri Nikolaevich somehow wanted to devote himself to directing. On the contrary, he helped me. He is an exceptional professional and a very good mentor. As a director, I could be worried or worried somewhere, and he, like a good guy, would take me aside and say, “Wow, everything is great. Take a deep breath. Whatever you feel is how it should be.” And I returned to the site in a completely different mood.
Frame from the television series “Trepachi”. Photo: Premier PR service
– Did Stoyanov immediately accept this role?
– The fact that you starred in the series “Trepachi” is the merit of my producers Sarik and Ghevond Andreasyan. I came to a project that had already been agreed upon with Yuri Stoyanov. How did I get there? I’m lucky. After all, I only had one short film that won a couple of awards. And then an offer came that there was the possibility of working with big producers. I said I was ready to film everything: videos, advertising. They told me that the project already exists. “I told him how I see it,” the producers agreed. Then we agreed everything with Stoyanov and work began.
– What was the most difficult for you as a debut director?
– Work with a huge group. Because a short film is one thing. You just gather 20-30 people with your own money and control everything. But a great series is a group of about 100 people and nothing depends on you. But you still have to control everything.
Frame from the television series “Trepachi”. Photo: Premier PR service
– Did any incidents occur during filming?
– When we were filming one of the scenes in a bar, a drunk man burst in and demanded to be served a beer. Nobody ever did. He got upset, cursed and left.
