Interview with Anastasia Butko – one of the most creative and active members of «CinemaHall» team, project-manager of “Ukrainian acting school”, the Head of regional representative office of «CinemaHall» in Dnepropetrovsk.
Victoria Redko, journalist.
Victoria: What is cinema for you? Just a hobby? Passion? Or sense of your life?
Anastasia: I am a creative person. I used to have a fancy for photography and drawing. I used to sing in a music band, make videos and study at a TV-school. «CinemaHall» is not a single-discipline organization; it connects lots of creative and non-creative professions. Probably that is why it got my attention.
Victoria: «CinemaHall» brings the most creative people from all over Ukraine together. And not only from Ukraine. Tell us, how you happened to become a part of «CinemaHall»?
Anastasia: I became the part of the team in 2011, at that time «CinemaHall» was only 18 months old, but it was already a pretty famous organization in our city and lots of young cinematographers as well as my friend cooperated with it. I graduated from TV-school, met Ilya Svidler and got into the team. «CinemaHall» became the next stage of my creative development.
Victoria: TV-school? What did you study there? Would you like to continue developing in this direction?
Anastasia: At TV-school I mastered a few professions – directing, camera skills, assembling and production.
Now I am not involved in making movies, I am involved in organizational activities. «CinemaHall» is planning to make a large-scale movie-almanac about Ukraine and I will be a member of the creative group acting as an assistant director and stage administrator. I will also be responsible for PR campaign.
Victoria: What about acting? Would you agree to play the main part in some movie, if someone makes this kind of offer to you now?
Anastasia: No. I am not an actress at all and I am not striving to become it.
Victoria: If you had a chance (or maybe you even have it now), what kind of movie would you like to make? It seems to me, that it could be something really special…
Anastasia: My dream is to make a musical film.
Victoria: Really? Do you have any ideas about it? Tell me 
Anastasia: I don`t have any special ideas so far, but that would be great. It is not that easy to find cross-functional actors, which can sing and dance. Also this kind of work requires much more specialists than a usual movie. But it is worth it
Victoria: One musical needs at least an army of dancers and singers.
What movies do you like? What are your favorite ones?
Anastasia: All movies by Emir Kusturica, “Whatever works” by Woody Allen, “Everything is illuminated” by Liev Schreiber, Les Misérables by Tom Hooper, “Barfi!” by Anurag Basu, “Odessa…Odessa!” by Mikhal Boganim.
Victoria: My list of movies-to-watch has just become longer. In conclusion, tell a little bit about your plans. Is there something you would like to accomplish this year?
Anastasia: Yes, I would like to organize film and music festival. I will also continue working on all of «CinemaHall» projects – Ukrainian acting school, film school, work on our almanac “Ukraine.Love.Cities” and, of course, new General assembly with the members of our team in summer
Victoria: What project are you responsible for? Tell a little bit more about the “Ukrainian acting school”.
Anastasia: For now I am a project-manager of the “Ukrainian acting school”. I also supervise all «CinemaHall» projects in Dnepropetrovsk.
“Ukrainian acting school” is a great project that not only allows our guys to master the basics of acting, but also take part in castings and film-projects. This school works in most of the cities in Ukraine. To become a student of this school one should apply online using this link and our manager will contact you. For more information, click this link.
As for the festival – I will surely have a team
Victoria: I wish you success in everything you do and believe that all the projects that you plan will come true!
