Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Gorky Film Studio, part of the Moscow film cluster, is reviving its own film production. On November 27, "Letter to Santa Claus" will be released. This family film has a New Year's spirit and a strong adventure element. The main character, lawyer Pyotr Bezuglov, finds himself at the epicenter of incredible events after his childhood wishes come true. Rivers of soda and mountains of sweets, animated soldiers, and Natalia Oreiro as his wife—these are just some of the surprises.
The characters in the Gorky Film Studio film find themselves in dangerous situations and engage in hand-to-hand combat. Director Kirill Kuzin and stunt coordinator Sergei Ryabtsev discussed how they created the most daring scenes of the New Year's comedy, produced with the support of the Cinema Fund, the Moscow Government, and Moskino.
Virtuoso tricks
The main character, played by actor Anton Filipenko, engages in a fight with Shaolin monks. The spectacular fight scene proved to be a significant challenge for those unbeknownst to us—the stuntmen.
"These are the monks of boys' fantasies. After watching the films, children would begin to imitate their signature moves. Our Petya dreamed of such fights too. But he lacked the courage, plus his dad wouldn't let him practice hand-to-hand combat. And now his dream has come true. Anton Filipenko, of course, had to undergo several training sessions before filming, as well as prepare for the flying and zip-lining. But the secret of this scene lies in the well-chosen stunt doubles. Both Anton and the monks, represented by Anatoly Tsoi and Azamat Nigmanov, performed admirably, but only until the moment when certain complex movements were required. Then, professional stuntmen replaced them on set," shared Kirill Kuzin.
Complex stunts are usually conceived and developed by a creative team, including the writers and stunt performers, who often offer interesting solutions. The team often resorts to tricks to replace actors in the shot. For example, in the scene with the monks, wide-brimmed hats were crucial. They prevent the audience from seeing the faces of the fighters and from realizing they are stunt doubles.
"Many of Russia's best stuntmen participated in the filming of 'Letter to Santa Claus,' and I think they did an A+. There were some challenging moments, but we pulled it off. For example, in our country, there are only a few stuntmen who can move and fight with the agility required for the Shaolin-style fight scene. I invited them to the project. Artem Yudin and Alexey Minaev performed the fights, and cinematographer Sher Dzhuraev not only filmed but also essentially choreographed the scene," explained Sergey Ryabtsev.
Directors have long since gotten used to the idea that some actors want to perform their own stunts. However, if there's a risk of injury, the work is still entrusted to professionals. An injury sustained by an actor can halt filming.
A stuntman is a shadow of the hero. They take on the difficult elements of a scene, helping to create a vivid image of the character, adds Sergey Ryabtsev. The stuntman performs the tricks effectively, and the actor receives credit because the film crew strives to make them the focus of attention. For example, in "Letter to Santa Claus," viewers are treated to a dramatic fall by Ivan Okhlobystin, down a ladder. It appears as if the actor himself is falling, but in reality, it was a stunt double.
As Sergey Ryabtsev emphasizes, the main principles of stunt production in film are beauty, impact, and, of course, safety. In addition to filming "Letter to Santa Claus," he has recently worked on several other projects for family audiences. In these films, stunts are performed not only by adults but also by children. Young athletes usually replace the young actors on screen.
The Incredible Adventures of Petr Bezuglov
In this New Year's comedy, the protagonist, Pyotr Bezuglov, is a lawyer, a serious man who has forgotten what it means to dream. His life is one of endless workdays and rules. But one day, his son, Vanya, discovers his father's childhood letters to Father Frost and sends them through a magical mailbox. Overnight, Pyotr's world is turned upside down: all his childhood fantasies overtake him—from rivers of soda and living toys to the appearance of Natalia Oreiro herself, the heroine of his youth. To stop the chaos and save his family, Pyotr must embark on an incredible journey, find that very mailbox, and cancel his wishes before it's too late.
Starring Natalia Oreiro, Ivan Okhlobystin, Anton Filipenko, Kristina Asmus, Ekaterina Temnova, Konstantin Karimov, Miron Provorov, Anatoly Tsoi, Azamat Nigmanov, Dima Bilan, Evelina Bledans, Igor Zhizhikin, Vladimir Sterzhakov, Zoya Berber, Roman Popov, Vladimir Simonov and other actors.
Gorky Film Studio is one of the largest in Russia and the oldest film studio in Moscow. It has produced over a thousand films, including "Seventeen Moments of Spring," "Officers," "Morozko," "…The Dawns Here Are Quiet," "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka," "Guest from the Future," "Moscow—Cassiopeia," "Carnival," "You Never Dreamed of It…," "Pirates of the 20th Century," "Three Plus Two," and many others.
Today, the Gorky Film Studio is one of the main venues of the large Moscow film cluster, actively modernizing its studio complex. The production center produces feature films and documentaries, popular science series, and series for youth and children's/family audiences. The studio also operates sound stages. virtual production studio, costume and props complex, digital content creation studios and a youth creative space Gorky Cinema Campus, and also pass excursionsThe film studio hosts festivals, exhibitions, and professional events for filmmakers.
Scenes from the war film "There Is Only MiG" were filmed at the Moskino Cinema Park.Scenes from the fairy tale film "Chudo-Yudo" were filmed at the Moskino cinema park.
The Moscow Film Cluster comprises infrastructure facilities, services, and facilities for filmmakers, developed by the Moscow Government as part of the "Moscow – City of Cinema" project. Its structure includes the Moskino Cinema Park, the Gorky Film Studio (with locations on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino Film Factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the Moskino Film Commission, and the Moskino Film Platform.
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