Andrey Danilko in New York: “Serduchka is not boobs and tights”

Verka Serduchka in Times Square. Photo: Pavel Terekhov

Fashion Week in New York was not without popular actress Verka Serdyuchka. Andrei Danilko, who appears in her image, is already in the city for the second time in recent months. In March, the occasion was the premiere of the Hollywood comedy Paul Feig "Spy" (Spy) c Jason Statema and Jude Law In this picture, which gathered 236 for millions of dollars, Danilko played an episodic role in the image of Verka Serdyuchka.

The Forum met with the artist at a hotel in New York to ask if Verka Serdyuchka would become an American star. Andrei Danilko’s number turned out to be more than modest, like Andrei himself.

You've been to New York. Glory "Spy" does not let go?

We tried not to tell anyone about this, as the role in the film is episodic. Were sure that, having reported, we would face the criticism of this particular moment - they say, too much attention, but there are only a few seconds. But the news was sold out, and those who saw the film were pleasantly surprised by the fact that in an absolutely American film two worlds suddenly collided: typically screen - with well-known actors in American films, and so clear and familiar - with Serdyuchka, albeit in an episode.

How did you get the role?

We were very surprised that we were invited. This is the role of a cameo, a guest star, when you play yourself. When the offer came, I wondered just where the shooting was going and would we be paid for it? We didn't even know what the film was about. The decision was influenced by the fact that the shooting took place in Budapest, where Inka and I (Inna Belokon, playing the role of mother Verka Serdyuchka, Inna and Andrew are connected by an old friendship, never since the times of the Poltava school), and that there are excellent beer which at least once in my life would be worth a visit.

You starred in musicals in Russia and Ukraine. What is the difference between filming with first-rate Hollywood celebrities?

It was two filming days, everything went easy and calm. I was struck by the approach: there is a task, no delays - no one will forget to insert light bulbs, like ours, or fill the battery. Filming continues until seven in the evening so that the actor has the opportunity to sleep, relax and be fresh to start shooting the next day. We usually have everything turned upside down: for a start, you will be exhausted properly, and by six in the morning they will begin to make close-ups. By the way, we rewrote a bit and expanded the episode, and we brought some of our ideas. Everything that happened is absolutely my working situation and my approach. Plus, the pub went down, so the memories are chic.

How was the premiere, did you talk to celebrity colleagues? May have received new offers?

I tried not to draw attention: for us, for obvious reasons, everyone is running for photos and comments - everything shines, how can I hold on. In relation to others, this is not very correct, so we try to always come, take a couple of photos and leave. But I really liked that they correctly perceived Serduchka, that it was not fat and tsibule, or tits and pantyhose. They are interested in the character, which in twenty years, of course, has changed a lot.

The development of the character went from zhukhuhannoy conductor-zhlobihi - to the actress, the singer with her show, then “Eurovision”, and now she is a Hollywood star.

If she became a world star, it would be exactly what you need.

Is this arrival a promotional tour before the America tour?

This is a working trip and meetings with people who are interested in new projects with us. Looking at each other, who has what plans and what can we do together.

So this is not a talk about speeches at Brighton, but possible collaboration with the Americans?

I would not give a negative tone to Brighton, but these were other meetings. I came to understand how they perceive Serduchka and her mother.

And, of course, they absolutely understand both characters. There is also a drama of unfolded personal life for both, and an optimistic attitude that everything will be fine. Serdyuchka is a cartoon, and they understand it.

Serdyuchka and mom, like Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, one comes up with some kind of **, and the other goes after him.

Do you think people with a Western mentality understand this story?

If she was incomprehensible to them, they would not have invited us to the movie “Spy”, there is an absolutely clear perception of this star on the head of the character I play. Verka plays this star, and it becomes, by a twist of fate. Even the audience, which was on the crowd in Budapest, started up with a half-turn, everyone sang along. Serdyuchka - this is very clear to everyone, regardless of mentality, I think.

In New York you attended fashion week shows. Is this part of PR to promote the character?

We have no PR, everything happens by itself. There are many speculations and people who write from us to appeal to the nation or cry out from social networks where I am not and have not been. There are, of course, a lot of positive, but

I never understood posts like “I eat a banana, and you?”.

I don't have time for this. We were on two shows not super-famous designers and tied it up. This is not mine, I do not understand I'm in fashion. Yes, and it looked as if two monkeys were launched into the hall (Serdyuchka and her mother), everyone ran to be photographed, who knows and who does not. We got up for photos, sat down, got up, sat down ...

On your first trip to America - what do you remember what you saw? And what city has become a favorite after so many trips to America for many years?

Of course, New York, of course, Manhattan. The first visit was also here, exactly one month after the catastrophe with the twin towers. As soon as they arrived, they immediately went there. Even the smell of burning was. Of course, everyone's mood deteriorated for the whole trip. Well and, of course, any person who goes to America opens its mouth to these lights, buildings and scales.

What places do you go to when visiting New York?

The trips are mainly for work, so the choice of a place of stay is connected with the fact that it was easier to get to work locations. If they themselves chose a place to live here, then I would like something calmer than Times Square. In addition, at home there is no time to go shopping, and then expanse. It's nice when they find out that something is being presented, discounts are being made, this is like a separate entertainment.

We are going with a full suitcase of probes this time.

Verka Serduchka with "mom" in the Apple store. Photo: press service of Andrey Danilko

You are working on a new album - what will be there, will Serdyuchka change again?

There is a certain revaluation, as I grow up, the character matures. What I did at twenty, I can't do at forty. She (Serdyuchka) is changing, her humor is changing, this is more the irony already, she has become more restrained, more precisely by the reactions, and I like this Serdyuchka more. Although many, unfortunately, have not yet eroded the image of a conductor in a boa. In the new album there will be everything else - both in the lyrics, and in the quality of sound and music, there will be club music with a folk, delicious mat for the public 25 +. A lot of material, and I like it.

You also write music not for the mass audience, the films “Veselchaki” and “Belovodye. The Mystery of the Lost Country”, where you acted as a composer. What are your successes and plans in this field?

I am afraid of such wording - “composer”. It was more of an experience. If I took it now, then probably I did it differently. But it was important for me to understand how this is done. It is important because the music does not distract from the picture, and sometimes pulls it out. We even saved some scenes - they became more fun or dramatic - thanks to the music. But now there are few such offers.

Do you write such music only for sentences or is there a certain narrow circle of other Danilko admitted to the work?

There is no such thing. My music is for friends, they are all participants in the process, because we all work together. I still need an Inca (Inna Belokon, “Serdyuchka’s“ mother ”) to listen and tell, and so on, so everyone is involved in the process. It is easier to work with someone.

Now you are performing a lot in Europe, what is the reason: your visit to America and the complete absence of concerts in Ukraine?

I deliberately left the poster concerts, and this is connected with politics. Any word is perceived now differently. The character himself in a situation that has developed now in politics is not very appropriate. Serdyuchka is always a holiday and a positive, it is when you get everyone together for fun, so now, when people are dying, I can’t see it at all in poster shows.

In this regard, the question is particularly relevant now: should artists who are the benchmark for their fans express a personal opinion regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, given that many then become victims of these opinions and actions?

An artist is a person who can express his opinion like any other. But in relation to myself - I do not say anything, because it is necessary to understand this. So many concepts are being substituted now and such technologies are involved that one can be deceived in everything or vice versa. I only understand that people have a tragedy and I do not exactly understand how it could be allowed to happen. Among other things, my personal opinion will not change anything. The only problem artists, that any of their word (as people are public), one way or another, will be a continuous manipulation and phrases taken out of context. Such questions should be asked to those people whom voters have chosen just for answers. Regarding the signatories, many of them are hostages who are responsible for people and groups, and it is not known who would act in their place and having such responsibility to people.

Regarding the collective, does your “Danilko theater” exist directly under the character Serduchka or are they actors involved in other projects?

The last year and a half has been Serdyuchka and the band, as part of the 26 man. Basically, it is, of course, corporate parties. And I do not treat this as a hack.

I get upset if I can’t raise people.

It's still a character for a holiday, wedding, anniversary, birthday, when you need and communication, and humor, and dances, and everything must be of high quality.

Verka Serduchka with “Mom” in Times Square Photo: Pavel Terekhov

How do you "monogamous" in the work, do you have a routine in the team?

There are people who work fifteen years, and there are five. There are almost no flows, unless you choose a personal life, because the schedule is crazy. Now a girl has left who has worked for ten years and found a fiancé on the tour, got married and left for Germany. Very happy for her.

Almost from the very beginning you have been working with one producer, Yuri Nikitin, is it difficult to maintain normal relations in show business?

All organizational issues are taken by Yura, I don’t know how and where tickets are sold, for example. Everyone does his own job, we do the repertoire, and he does a tremendous job, so that we have where to present it.

Around your name a lot of controversial information about emigration, where have you gathered?

It is unbearable how much nonsense they write. I gave an interview during a tour in Germany, from there I learned phrases and made a story about my move. I watched this story on one of the Russian channels and was amazed how easy it was and how people believed everything. Very likely everything is mounted. It is ridiculous when even friends write messages: “how are you in Germany, and do you miss Khreshchatyk?”. What can I answer if I am at Khreshchatyk at this very moment, I have only fried potatoes. You will not run around and tell everyone that this is not so. It is easy to believe in lies, but sometimes there is another trouble with concerts - they do not believe that we will perform. But I would like to look at this double, which 26 people will carry with them on touring tours. A lot of lies around, and how to deal with it, it is not clear, people get lost in a lie and drown in it.

Do you have thick-skinned about such materials or is it still hurt?

I am always very upset. Although it used to hurt. But I try not to read it and not to look. We were not a project that was invented or taken and promoted, we came out of the people, such is the artistic initiative that has developed. People believed us when we were seventeen years old. And they continue to believe not the first decade.

What is new in America?

We here with Inka laugh all the time, our mouths hurt. We talk on the streets. Today they came up with a monologue of a security guard in Saks (a store on Fifth Avenue) and how Russians choose a T-shirt there, thinking that the sellers do not understand Russian, and there are a lot of such situations. The smell of manure in Central Park, for example. All this will be very clear and perceived here. Well, you can think of this only being here, you can not think of such a home or in a Kiev studio.

Why can a concert not take place?

My problem. There are situations and periods when you do not work accurately and which cannot be explained. And I used to be ashamed, and I understood that it was better not to go to a concert — and people understand it.

How to recover after “squeezing” at a concert?

Maybe it's age, but I have a mad longing for the past. I really like old movies. For example, “The investigation is conducted by experts”, a certain period, the year of the 1975 commercials. How people play, how they dress, say. This is all my childhood, when there was nothing, when pounding eggnog, having neither own kitchen, nor a toilet. But there was a feeling of happiness.

There is no money, but you go and earn money, take the foil off the bottles of champagne and give them away, as the most expensive.

You survive all the time. And I am grateful to my mother that she taught me independence. And Inca has the same feeling, that's why we laughed like that today and it was so good for us, because we have the same humor for life.