Casting Director Ivanna Kolesnichenko

— Only four years. It feels like a very short time, but in fact, so much has already happened. I graduated from Karpenko-Karyi University, specializing in theatre management. But honestly, I never wanted to work in theatre — I wasn’t passionate about it. I was drawn more toward television. During my student years, I worked a bit on “Show #1” and “I Want to Be in VIA Gra.” Then I got married, had a child, and spent a full three years on maternity leave. It was intense! If I ever decide to have a second child, I won’t go on leave. Six months to a year max. By the third year at home, I was going crazy and started looking for any job I could find. At the time, my godmother was working on the series Krepostnaya and had some connections. She said there was an opening at the UPS company: the pay was low, but the work was intense — in six months you’d gain ten years of experience. I said: “I don’t care. I’m going!” And they hired me. The work really was nonstop: they just threw me in and said, “Do it.” But I’m glad I went into casting. I worked at a Ukrainian production studio, then at Victoria Films Studios, and for over two years now I’ve been with Film.ua — both as a casting manager and casting director. I’ve found my place. I feel comfortable here — I like the people and the atmosphere.

— All summer I was working on four-episode series. Before that, I was the casting manager on Crazy Wedding 2. I worked as casting director on Santa Claus Doesn’t Exist for IVORY. And the project The Devoted — that’s my pride, my headache, and my grey hairs. It was tough and painful, but it gave back something meaningful. I was a casting manager on that project, though I had to be the lead actress’s double, assistant, and basically the casting director, too. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I watched it four times and tell everyone: you must watch it and just enjoy it. Mostly, I’ve worked on four-episode series — not because I like them more, they’re just easier. The upside — or downside — is that prep and shooting go really fast, and it’s getting even faster. We shoot four episodes in 16 shifts. Some aim to do it in even less time. A feature film is definitely more enjoyable.

— So far, they’re usually discovered before they get to me. I had one feature film that never got released. Arthur Logai came to audition — back then, he had only acted in Kyiv by Day and Night. He was so technically sharp that I said: “Oh my God, Arthur, I’ve fallen for you.” But he didn’t get approved for the role. A year later, I couldn’t even get him in for an audition — he’s filming everywhere now.

— At first, I was afraid I wouldn’t manage, because it’s a big responsibility. Now, I’m not afraid at all. I feel confident. I love what I do.

— Definitely not a doctor, although everyone around me kept saying, “Become a doctor.” Around sixth grade, I started to imagine working in television — but behind the scenes. I always wanted to be off-camera.

— No. But I did try to get into directing school. Vakhtang Archilovich told me: “Girl, I don’t take minors.” I was crushed. Although maybe now I’m grateful. I gave up quickly — his words stuck in my head and made me think I really was too young for this career. Even though later he was totally fine accepting 17-year-olds… I guess he just didn’t like me.

— I love anything mystical. I’d love to work on a thriller with mystical elements. Of course, I’d love to adapt a really good book. But I haven’t thought about it on a global scale yet.

— Honestly, they’re not that different from other castings. The casting director and director select actors, and then there are usually several rounds of auditions. Sometimes there are none at all. Often we don’t even do partner readings — I or another casting director will just read opposite the actor. We record videos and send them to the producers first, if it’s a producer-led project.

— It depends. Sometimes three or four are enough. Sometimes two. But for lead roles, it could be 30 or even 50. I remember one project I worked on with Arina Petrova — it didn’t launch due to the lockdown and was shelved. It was going to be a great multi-episode comedy, clever and funny. It’s a shame — it could have been a high-quality series if things had gone differently.

— Yes, but I haven’t fully systematized it yet. Some are in my email, some in the Film.ua app, some just in my memory… I sometimes search on Facebook and use actor websites. There’s this old one — kiev-casting.com — I think no one’s updated it in ages, but it still saves me sometimes. I also look in theatre troupes. I never rely only on my database. I’ve got around 1,500–2,000 people, and that’s really not much.

— I’m a Gemini, so I can’t stick to anything for long. I used to constantly bake cakes, buns, gingerbread — but now I’ve lost all desire. I used to make handmade jewelry back when I was on maternity leave. Now I have a pile of materials, but even when I have time, I don’t want to touch it. I’m in a kind of creative slump.

— The past six months I’ve barely watched anything — my husband and I have completely different tastes. And I’m always sleep-deprived. Sometimes I want to watch something, but I know if I turn on a movie at 2–3 AM, I’ll be useless the next day. I really liked Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, even though a lot of people said “meh.” I think it’s a masterpiece! And I adore anything with Anthony Hopkins.

— I’m reading Sapiens — slowly, but I love it. I generally love the classics: Guy de Maupassant, Balzac, Remarque, Marquez.

— Traveling more. I’ve never been to Italy — I really want to go. Venice is a dream. I’d love to visit Hungary too. Honestly, I haven’t traveled much at all. Just Bulgaria. I don’t know why I’ve missed out so much at 28. My husband doesn’t want to go anywhere, and I don’t want to go without him. And I really want my own house. In Ukraine. I have no intention of moving abroad.

— Don’t message every two weeks on Facebook. Once a year is enough. Even once is enough for me — I remember the actor and save them in my database. Learn your lines for auditions. There’s nothing worse than an actor who shows up and says, “Wait, we were supposed to memorize it?” But overall — actors are amazing. I love them.