Starred with Guseva, Epifantsev and Any of the “Interns”: how a former employee of a cement plant became a movie star

At the age of 40 he came to the cinema and stayed: on account of the former master of the cement plant more than 500 roles

Sergey Gapeev was born in Kostyukovichi, Mogilev region, gave about 20 years to a local cement factory and did not even think about an artistic career. On the set he was brought by a friend - an extra actor. And fate took a sharp turn. Now the track record includes the roles of serious businessmen and rural simpletons, caring family men and balagurs, a bar and peasants. SB journalists. Weeks asked the actor about earnings, meetings with celebrities and the difficulties faced by newcomers to cinema.

On the hobby Sergey spends all his free time - now works as an adjuster at the Minsk mill of silicate products. In filmography – high-profile projects, says the interlocutor: – One of the most favorite works – in the Russian TV series “Ugly River”. Part of the episodes were filmed on the full-scale site of Belarusfilm. The screen adaptation of the novel was impressive in scale: it was possible to plunge into the era of the XIX century, when the action takes place in the book, thanks to the entourage and costumes. He got into two mass scenes - he was a robber from a gang of gold diggers and a rural resident. Russian projects in Belarus are often filmed. For the sake of historical cinema, they go to Smolewood (the natural site of Belarusfilm). Modernity is found in Minsk: one of the most popular locations is the picturesque Komsomolskaya Street. And in the empty buildings of the machine tool factory named after Kirov, they shoot pictures about the Great Patriotic War.

- In Russian cinema, which is filmed here, Belarusians are often involved. It's cost-effective. Our actors are also offered to shoot in projects that are filmed in Russia, because we are loyal to recycling and do not require high fees.

Professional growth is gradual: beginners start with extras, then grouping: in the foreground or middle, they create a lively atmosphere, but they do not get words. Next – types: actors embody bright, characteristic images in the foreground. The last caste before secondary and main roles are episodics. Here sometimes trust scenes with emotional intensity and extreme, shares Sergey: – Once did a trick instead of a stuntman. The main character had to hit me. It took several takes, where each time the fake scratched his face with a branch of an apple tree. He played a hostage in another movie. Instead of a stunt double, he fell off the bus ten times. Recently, Sergey is more often offered the roles of wealthy men – a billionaire, a director of a large company, but his soul lies in historical pictures. Jokes that in such projects I am ready to shoot for free, the royalties in the cinema, by the way, are not bad:

- For the replacement of extras pay 40 — 50 rubles, grouping and types — 70 — 80, episodes — 100 — 150 rubles. A part-time job in the cinema is especially beneficial for pensioners. If you have free time, why not? I know people who manage to get 15 or even 20 shifts a month. According to unspoken rules, having played in the episode, the actor can no longer appear in the project. But in the extras, where the artist is shown sideways or in the distance, at least five times: the viewer does not notice such nuances, adds Sergey:

- Tougher conditions in advertising: removed from the mobile operator - an annual moratorium on the appearance of competitors in the rollers. But it happens differently: with the manufacturer of tonometers I had a contract without restrictions. Fork payment usually starts from 400 - 500 rubles. If the stars spark Big Luck on the set - acquaintance with popular actors. In the collection of Sergei hundreds of memorable pictures. Impressions from meetings are also enough, recalls:

- I saw many famous artists at arm’s length, with some of them playing in the same scene. Some behave simply, can talk about life, but there are those who look down. I liked Ekaterina Guseva - open, soulful. From Vladimir Epifantsev, about whom there are many contradictory rumors, he received a master class: he shared with us, aspiring actors, how to exist in the frame, work with the text. Jan Tsapnik is a shirt-guy, Daria Povernova, Elena Valyushkina are good-natured and smiling, Roman Kurtsyn is a cheerful person. Svetlana Permyakova, aka Lyuba from “Interns”, in life one in one: noisy, talkative. I remember from the positive side Dmitry Lysenkov. He was busy and asked to wait with a selfie, and a couple of hours later he called for a photo. I even brought along a girl who was working in the extras for the first time and was afraid to come. Everyone has a chance to get to the cinema: this is an area where new faces are always needed. It does not matter appearance, age and even diploma, Sergey notes: – In the crowd I met people of different professions – teachers, sellers, lawyers. Once he was filmed with the director of a cannery. Doctors find themselves in the movies. If the role needs to make a bandage or put an IV, it will look as plausible as possible. Cinema is not about comfort. The main difficulty is the schedule. The shift lasts 12 hours, in advertising - 14 - 16. Sometimes you have to wait for the shot. The actor shares:

- One day I was called on a shift at eight in the morning, and came out in the frame only at five in the evening. While waiting, I repeated the text. Experienced artists know that it is not worth it: you will forget everything. That's what happened. The only thing that saved me was the key phrase on my hand.

More feature film Sergey likes documentary: easier to get the main role. These films allow for improvisation. The actor knows the script in advance, not his sample of scenes.

- In the documentary films he was both a general and a fascist. Lying in the trenches, let the automatic queue, hoisted the Soviet flag on the roof of the building. You feel like you're in a time machine. He starred in the Belarusian television project “Let’s Agree”, where they analyze difficult life situations. He even replaced an unrepresented actor. Make-up artists urgently changed their hairstyle, and the text repeated for the director between takes.

Cinema for the actor is a favorite hobby and a way to distract from everyday affairs. Sergey found himself in the theater, plays in dramas and comedies: Creative implementation is in the first place. I like the emotional intensity of the shooting and theatrical scene. Actors change thousands of masks, trying on as many lives as they want. It's inspiring. Movies like the opportunity to meet extraordinary people. Everyone has their own space inside. Studying it and sharing mine.