"I have a goal - to capture the screens": Nikita Kologrivy - about fame, creative plans and the TV series "Two Hills"

- Nikita, tell us about your character in the series "Two Hills".

He lives in the future, under matriarchy.

What is it like for him?

He is lonely because he is in such a world.

This is the whole problem of the character - in spirit he is from the Two Hills, and in his body he is with primates, so to speak, behind the elite world, thrown into some kind of garbage dump.

He, of course, does not like it, he dreams of getting into Two Hills, to see how they live there.

He knows that there are only girls there, and, naturally, he is looking for love.

How do you think he differs from an ordinary man who lives in our society?

Does matriarchy somehow change it?

- I think no.

He is the personification of the dregs of society, primates, which, of course, has a peculiar effect on his behavior.

But, nevertheless, he is a positive character for me - with a dream, with an inner goal, with a core.

He is not discouraged by these facts, but rather uses them to his advantage.

He's a smart one. 

- Tell us how and where the shooting took place.

We shot more on location or on chromakey - after all, it's fantastic ...

- Basically - nature.

It was in the Moscow region, in stunningly beautiful places, as well as in Krasnodar - in Galitsky Park, where they built a whole scenery.

There were also pavilion shootings, everything was built there on purpose, very cool, high quality.

In general, all conditions were created for our existence in the frame.

- And all the futuristic details that are already visible in the trailer have been rebuilt?

- Certainly.

They float, everything moves.

- Have you ever participated in any difficult stunts?

“It's not an easy project at all.

Here we constantly jumped, rode motorcycles, bicycles, fought, we were hit by a car.

We tried to do everything ourselves.

Naturally, stuntmen staged dangerous stunts, but we tried to do elementary things.

It was an intense project in every sense.

I don’t even want to say banal things here - everything was as it should be in a good, expensive, large-scale series.

- Did you yourself strive to participate in stunts or was it originally intended?

- To be honest, I do not aspire to participate in them - this is not my business, not my profession.

You can strive, and then not work for a very long time, so I try to consult with professionals.

We did everything with the permission of the stuntmen.

Falls, somersaults, fights - the guys line everything up, watch, and we do it.

There was no heroism.

• © From the personal archive of Nikita Kologrivy

— Judging by the trailer, the series is very funny.

Did the filming take place in the same cheerful atmosphere?

- The shooting was terrible: everyone was crying, quarreling and fighting.

Of course not, there is such a composition - the actors worked in comedies, the team filmed comedies, the producers were also brought up on them.

They know their business.

Now let's see how the viewer reacts.

- Despite the comedic tone, the series raises many important, serious topics - this is gender equality, abuse of power and so on.

What do you think is the most important and useful thing the viewer can get from this story?

I think he'll just draw attention to himself.

It is always useful for everyone - to look from the outside at some things that the guys and I laughed at in the series.

Is it relationship related?

- It is connected with everything - with life, relationships, double standards, provocations ... We laugh at how people can invent themselves, they are easily led to some instructions, they quarrel without knowing the reason for what is happening.

There are a lot of social problems, personal ones, a lot is said about love, we joke about all sorts of gender issues, and so on.

In general, we laugh at everything that the world scolds.

- Did you yourself, while working on this story, discover something new in yourself, in those around you?

- First of all, I discovered the first main role, which I really liked.

At the same time, I ran into difficulties - with a lot of text, work, spent a lot of time in the frame.

I also discovered new people, an amazing team and future prospects - that's what is most valuable. 

— When you think about whether to take part in a particular project or not, are you often guided by what problems and questions it raises?

- To be honest, no.

I just read and understand if it hits me, I like it in terms of energy, atmosphere, is it interesting.

As well as I would look from the side of the viewer.

About meanings - later.

I'll probably be older, then I'll think about it.

While I myself do not know anything and am in search.

• © From the personal archive of Nikita Kologrivy

- And now there is some burning topic for you that you would really like to talk about on the screen?

“Of course, there are plenty of them.

And I have directing and producing ambitions.

I hope that I will say this by deed and not by word.

Are you already moving in this direction?

- I am moving, but so far there is no clear result that I could demonstrate.

At least I try to pay attention to this - study the issue, get to know the guys.

I think it will work out soon.

For now, my goal is to capture screens.

Once I do, I will move on.

- Do you plan to receive additional education or prefer to study on the site?

- I already have enough cinematic practice, and it's never too late to learn.

If there is an opportunity, financial and temporary, I will go to study, with great pleasure.

It will never be redundant.

- Returning to the topic of "Two Hills": in your opinion, which form of society is more optimal, more promising - matriarchy or patriarchy? 

I can't answer this question because I don't know myself.

I have not seen examples of matriarchy.

If I see, and it will be worthy - please, why not, what's the difference.

I believe that there should be common sense in everything, and from whom it is broadcast is completely unimportant.

We live together in this world, and in balance, or in imbalance, we will live in it.

There will simply be those who will try to seek harmony, and those who will create disharmony.

I prefer to treat the former.

- Over the past two or three years, a lot of bright and high-profile projects have come out with your participation.

Tell us how your life has changed as a result.

Do you feel popular, have you started coming up on the streets more often, writing on social networks?

- You stop noticing it over time, it becomes natural.

But I will not say that millions of people fly up to me on the street.

So, someone finds out, I rejoice.

Sometimes they tell me about the film where I starred, and they look at me back to back, they don’t understand that it’s me.

- You tell then that, in fact, it's you?

- Sometimes, when you really want to brag.

But more often I try not to say anything - if you didn’t recognize it, then you didn’t recognize it.

How do you react when they come?

Ready to chat, take a photo?

Of course, this is my profession.

With adequate people, I'm always ready, but if drunk, strange - no. 

• © Viktor Krivoguz

- Also among your works there are roles in TV series and films, the action of which takes place in different years in the past.

How do you prepare for filming in such projects?

Do you read or watch something to understand the era?

- Yes, but here's the thing: the hero in the film does not play an era, he lives in it.

You need to understand the surrounding life in order to immerse yourself in it, the dialect is different, but otherwise everything is the same.

Even if you are not prepared, you will come to the site, and they will tell you all this, chew it up, and the consultants will show you.

If you read the script, the story will become clearer.

But I try to be nourished, inspired by films, some references, life stories.

Do you already have a favorite era?

- Not only did I work in this era, but I would really like to try to get into some kind of story about the Vikings, about the Cossacks.

I like historical projects.

— Do you shoot in so many projects because all of them are genuinely interesting to you, or are you just a workaholic, and are happy to act in films as much as possible?

- I'm more of a workaholic, but how can a workaholic not like his work?

I also like projects, so it's two in one.

You just need to understand that work cannot always be easy and well given, not everything will always go smoothly.

Look at all the successful actors - they have a thorny path to fame and success.

I also want success and am ready for any bumps.

I use the opportunities that life gives me.

Before, I didn’t have them, and even now there’s not much for me to choose: give me this, or that.

Now everything will gradually change and, I hope, I will have the opportunity to work pointwise, choose cool projects for myself, prepare for one role, and not eight at once.

But for now, if you like to ride, love to carry sleds. 

— By eight at once?

Does one interfere with the other?

“Someone must be bothered.

- Do you easily manage to abstract from one image and switch to another?

- Yes, it's a game.

I think an actor is a player.

And if a player is heavy, gloomy, thoughtful, then what kind of player is he.

It should be fun to grab and do, and that's it.

There is nothing so complicated there.

Even if everyone around were brilliant, then I understand.

And so, you look and think: “And what, and what’s the point of you preparing there for six months?

You can't see it on the screen because you're a bad actor.

You can prepare for at least five years, but it won't change anything." 

- Also with your participation, the series “Passengers.

The Last Love on Earth" on an unusual topic - it's about a carrier of souls.

Does this topic resonate with you personally? 

“I can probably believe in everything.

It is unlikely that someone male transports people to the next world, but it is not excluded.

At least in the movies I have to believe it.

- Let not in this form - the carrier - but in general ... 

- Certainly.

Here, remember, they say to Posner: "Christ is risen."

He replies, "Perhaps."

I will also answer: "Maybe."

• © From the personal archive of Nikita Kologrivy

- There is information on the net that you used to go in for sports - boxing and swimming, even became a CCM in boxing ...

- Oh, this is nonsense, I'm not CCM, I have the first sports category.

This is so, they wrote it for a red word.

Candidate Master of Sports is a very worthy sports title, it is difficult to get it, so I will not train these regalia for myself.

But I have the first adult category, this is also enough.

- Have you thought about a professional sports career?

- I thought about it, entered the pedagogical one, as a coach, I wanted to continue boxing and performing.

But I'm not a boxer at heart, I'm an actor.

I am lucky that I chose the path that gives me more strength.

And sport is self-discipline, the development of courage.

I am infinitely grateful to boxing, and in general to the love of the sport.

And I was not only engaged in boxing - and karate, and wrestling.

I love martial arts, and I have many friends from this area.

- Do sports skills help you on the set?

- Yes.

There is a wonderful film called "Russian Raid".

There I am and many wonderful actors - Sergey Podolny, Ilya Antonenko, Alexei Maksimenko ... The world champion in MMA, Vladimir Mineev, was filming with us.

And we all fight there.

I mainly play characters with testosterone, so I have to often fight, shoot, do something else.

Therefore, of course, both physical skills and psychological ones help.

When you as a viewer watch films with fight scenes, do you criticize because everything is done wrong? 

- I criticize.

This is immediately visible. 

- Can you give an example of a film where you especially dislike such scenes?

Not from Russian, so that no one is offended, from foreign ones.

- Rocky.

Stallone is a very bad boxer.

But the paradox is that after watching this film, many went in for boxing.

He played well, but boxed badly.

But nothing, I believe that he is a pioneer, therefore he has the right.

- Not so long ago, you wrote on social networks that you owe your profession to your grandfather.

How did he influence your choice?

- He sent me competently, suggested that I go to a theater studio so that I could pay attention to creativity.

I went, and there I was advised to do.

If it weren’t for his guidance… And he also guided me in every possible way, talked with the rector, with the dean, when I had problems with my studies, in a word, supported me.

- Did the other relatives support you?

- Rather yes than no.

That is, there were doubts, but they were left behind.

And doubts are always present, this is normal.

And there was no such thing that everyone was against it, but I ran away and acted.

Whose work inspires you in your profession?

- From the British school, I really like Gary Oldman, his career.

From the young - Tom Holland.

Nice guy with a good career.

Of our guys, I would say that we have similar goals and directions with Sasha Kuznetsov.

Although in general we are completely different people.

So, he released the film "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore", I wrote to him, supported - I understand that this is an important stage.

I like the way Danya Kozlovsky works.

He does not stop in place - and produces, and shoots, and directs.

All the guys who are in our top right now are great.

I will beat them, but at this stage they are on the right track, and I wish them only good luck.