Ukrainian actor Artem Pliondr has revealed he recorded the self-tape that won him his first film lead role in just 10 to 15 minutes, while his young daughter ran around in the background.
Pliondr plays Ivan Vyhovsky in Adventures of Cossack Vyhovsky, an adventure series premiering August 31 at 20:20 on Ukrainian channel 2+2. The character begins as a carefree nobleman before growing into a true leader.
The actor said he had been aware of the production through Ukraine’s small film community and hoped for a role, but no casting invitation arrived. He had all but given up when a casting director contacted him at short notice and asked him to record an urgent self-tape.
Pliondr was about to leave on a family trip with his wife and small daughter. He said they put on a cartoon for the girl, something they rarely allow, while he rushed to finish the recording. His daughter kept running around and shouting throughout, and he kept asking her to be quiet. They finished the tape just before leaving.
Two days later he was invited to an in-person audition with director Semen Horov. Pliondr recalled arriving in ordinary trousers and an embroidered shirt while other candidates were already rehearsing in costume. He said he was not fully satisfied with his two scenes but tried to carry out the task the director had set at the start.
He was approved for the lead role two days after that meeting.
Pliondr said Horov gave the cast complete creative freedom on set, encouraging the actors to inhabit their scenes rather than simply follow instructions.
