Casting Director Viktoria Nesterenko

– I think I’ve been doing this for about 15 years, maybe more. I came to Kyiv to apply for the acting program at Karpenko-Kary University. Before that, I graduated from a theater school in Sevastopol. It was the only one of its kind, really unique. I came very confident, with a well-prepared program, but during the very first audition round, I was given a failing grade. It felt like the end of the world. It was a terrible blow. But then, some fellow students from Sevastopol came up to me in the dorm to support me. I was crying… and they said, “Wait, why not directing?” At the time, directing seemed unattainable to me. Acting was a more familiar and clear path. I went back to Sevastopol and spent a year preparing, reading – not wasting time. And I decided to apply for directing after all.

– Yes, I gave it up quite easily. I realized that directing was truly my thing. I got accepted without much trouble, though it was the evening program, and I immediately started working. I began as a clapper loader, then became an assistant to the casting director. I worked a lot with Sasha Kirienko, and he helped me become a casting director. We did many commercials and films together, like The Gas Station Queen and Orange Sky. Then came Star Media and an attempt to start an actor agency called Dreamcast. That was so long ago, it feels like it never happened. I also had a project called The City of Actors, which I dropped because I got pregnant. Honestly, I was very tired of the constant hustle and running in circles. I was just burnt out. After my child was born, I started approaching work more mindfully. I realized that juggling four projects at once is a kind of heroism no one needs – especially not me.

Almost immediately after that, I was invited to work with Alexei Alexeevich German on the film Under Electric Clouds. It became a turning point for me. I worked remotely – we didn’t even meet in person. I completed that project and realized that remote work was much more comfortable for me. Plus, I now had three children, born one after another. I occasionally turned down projects. I no longer had the same burning drive for work as before. Surprisingly, a project that really shifted my perspective was the series Dr. Kovalchuk. It was my first Ukrainian-language project, and through it, I discovered a huge number of great actors I hadn’t known before.

– Probably still ahead of me. Even if a project was a favorite at the script stage, once I see the final result, I’m often disappointed.

– A Ukrainian-language one. As for genre – I truly don’t care. What matters is that it’s a film for thinking people, that it’s not limited by tight deadlines, narrow frameworks, or producers’ tastes.

– My fear is falling into a routine. But I have the freedom to choose, I don’t chase money, and I can be selective about projects. If the material doesn’t inspire me, then at least the team should.

– There are people I feel comfortable with. Some truly hear me, and I’m very grateful to them for that. And there are directors who are extremely hard to work with on a moral level. I no longer work with such people. Work should bring joy; it should lift you up.

– Dreams started to appear when I had a child, when I stopped and looked at my life from the outside. I started to set personal goals. I dream of swimming with whales. I’m a person of the sea – I grew up near it, and I really miss it. Ever since I left Sevastopol, I still feel like the sea is somewhere nearby. I want to get certified in diving. I’ve only dived once, and it was an incredible experience. Recently, I thought surfing might be amazing too – I’d love to try it. I’ve discovered fitness – I go to the gym regularly.

– I’ve really immersed myself in parenting and psychology. I’m a little into nutrition and dietetics. I love music, I adore dancing when no one’s watching (smiles).

– First and foremost – a person. My sons are so different from each other. The most important thing in a relationship with children, I believe, is to support and love them – love them unconditionally. You have to learn how to do that. I received this unconditional love from my own parents. Looking at our society now, I realize that many people haven’t experienced this. So after reflecting and reading lots of literature, I became one of those “crazy moms.”

– I can’t entrust the upbringing of my children to someone else. I have this strong belief that each parent should raise their own children. My husband and I are fully responsible for ours. Thank God we have a beloved grandmother – someone I completely trust with the kids.

– The same thing I’d advise anyone: keep growing. Don’t limit yourself. Try things. Explore.