Gregory Leps's daughter Inga on how to build an acting career in New York

The daughter of the famous Russian singer Inga Leps lives in New York, acts in independent films and writes scripts. In New York, she says, it is easier for an actress to make her way than in Moscow. In an interview with Forum, she talks in the first person about how to play an android, properly prepare for castings and learn to live in the chaos of a big city.

About Russia and study in London

I was born and raised in Sochi and after leaving school I came to Moscow to enter the university. At first it was hard, unusual. Probably, there was simply no feeling of being at home in the big capital. But after a couple of months, the family decided that I would go to study in London.

I have never been abroad and everything that happened seemed to me a romantic comedy. Tomorrow I'll wake up, and all this will be a joke.

But the process began - first English courses, to add at least something to my “How do you do?”, then college, then I entered the university.

My first education was at Media and Communications at Goldsmiths University of London with a focus on film history and photography. In the magistracy, I studied art at the Sotheby's Institute of Art. And for many years I have been working in this industry, but, obviously, my love for cinema turned out to be stronger.

About moving to the USA

Two years ago I returned to work in Moscow. I prepared exhibitions and worked in the gallery of old masters. And between projects, I got an internship with a very famous gallery owner in New York - Graham Arader (Arader Galleries), who deals with engravings, antique maps and books. The love for which I obviously inherited from my dad. I convinced Graham to take me on for a few weeks, and at the same time I wanted to take a summer acting course at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. The Academy offered me a full two-year scholarship and I realized that this was my chance - I quit my job in an instant, received a visa, packed my things and two weeks later I was already in New York.

About competition and stereotypes in the cinema

It is very difficult to find work in the film industry: a large number of actors and few truly interesting projects.

Because of what everyone is in constant race and competition with each other.

You almost always know the person who got the role you were claiming. And each time you try to learn just to go on, to overcome in yourself some kind of childish envy.

Now I mainly act in independent films and often work with people with whom I already have professional relationships - this allows me to feel comfortable and confident in my partners and team. And, of course, at this stage I am most often offered Russian-speaking roles or heroines with European roots, although I only played a Russian heroine once.

There is still a stereotype in the industry that a Russian girl is a tall beauty - blonde with blue eyes and an accent from a James Bond movie.

What is wonderful, but exactly the opposite of me.

It was harder for me to find a job in Moscow than in New York. In any metropolis it is difficult to find a place under the sun, but the Russian film industry is concentrated in Moscow. And it is very small: everyone knows each other, it is not possible to break through without connections.

About your roles and scenarios

This year, a film with my participation will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival in the program of short films - “Short Film Corner”. The film “Zf461” by French director Antoine Combelles.

My heroine is a kind of high caste of androids, something between a man and a machine.

The director wanted to achieve repetitive movements and facial expressions. I have not yet seen the finished film, but I hope I will see directly at the Cannes Film Festival.

My latest projects include the main role in the short film “Sivan”, where I play the mistress of a businessman who persuades him to kill his wife. My co-star in the film was Daniel Hilt, an actor from the Oscar-winning film Foxcatcher. In three to four months we will be sending this film to film festivals. Now I'm writing a script for a romantic comedy, it's a feature film.

This is my first attempt as a screenwriter, before I wrote only short stories.

Based on one of my stories, a script was written and a film was shot last year - “WaterRise”. we're on it collected funding through Kickstarter . Screenwriting is a completely different art. It should be fast, realistic, lively. So far this has not been easy for me, but I think it can be learned. Let's see what happens in a couple of years.

Inga Leps. Photo: from the personal archive

About social networks and Hollywood

Recently, in samples in Los Angeles, the actors began to ask how many followers they have on social networks, on Twitter and Instagram.. This was the determining factor if you would get the part.

In New York, I, thank God, have not yet come across this. I think it’s because the influence of the theater is stronger here, and in the actor’s career, talent and efficiency are still valued, not popularity on the Internet. Although, this approach in Los Angeles is clear to me:

the more subscribers you have on social networks, the more people you can bring, free advertising.

But I sincerely believe this is a degradation of art.

Inga Leps. Photo: from the personal archive

About casting

After two years in New York, I have, so to speak, “worked up” to the point where I have two castings a day. But this is rather a pleasant exception. It all depends on the season. The summer and before Christmas are quiet; most television projects screen actors in the spring.

And, of course, every casting must be prepared with full responsibility. It is necessary to learn the text by heart, so that the teeth bounce off, even if they say that it is not necessary.

As a rule, five actors out of twenty learn the role; these five usually receive a call.

About life in New York

My favorite place in New York is Metropolitan MuseumI almost live there. Love Neue Galerie and their collection of Gustav Klimt. And there in the cafe the most delicious apple strudel and Austrian coffee. New York is a very fast city, it's hard to find time for yourself.

We must learn to live in this organized chaos, there are no holidays in this city, everyone has four jobs each.

I, like many, work at several jobs at the same time. But I do not think about independence. I think about what I get in return: an indispensable experience and the opportunity to learn something every day, to meet interesting people.

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