A Russian actress and director into space: they are going to shoot the first film in orbit

The Soyuz rocket left the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Thus, Russia seeks to score a point in the space competition and even get ahead of NASA.

In her petrol blue suit and her knees tucked under her chin, 37-year-old Yulia Peresild has been shown speedily circling herself in a small box in zero gravity. Since June 1, the Russian film star has posted on his Instagram account videos of his preparation in Baikonur for his next film, which will be shot in space.

They will be the first to make a fictional film in orbit, and for Russia this is the most important thing. (Photo: Instagram juliaperesild)

“My first thought when I was offered this movie was, ‘Is this really possible? But if it’s possible, I really want to do it ”, says the actress. Do I have a superhero patent? No. I am a normal and ordinary woman, ”she continues.

This patriotic film figure is about to play an ordinary doctor who goes on an emergency mission to save the life of a cosmonaut in distress in a feature film, provisionally titled Vyzov (The Challenge or The Call, in Russian). It will not be alone, because in addition to the mission commander, Anton Shkaplerov, a director who has trained a lot also flies.

In this photo provided by Roscosmos, actress Yulia Peresild, director Klim Shipenko, and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, left to right, members of the main crew of the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft, pose at the Russian launch facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Monday, October 4, 2021. (Roscosmos Space Agency via AP)

Twelve days to shoot the movie

“We try to learn everything in four months and, indeed, it is too fast with everything that has to be done. There was a lot of theory, practice, suit sports, seasons, ”says 38-year-old Klim Chipenko. “I think it is quite a feasible task,” he says.

Klim Chipenko and Yulia Peressild will have twelve days to shoot their film on the International Space Station before returning to Earth. The feat and the script are said to have delighted the Russian president. They will be the first to shoot a fictional film in orbit, and for Russia this is the most important thing.

In this photo provided by Roscosmos, actress Yulia Peresild, a member of the main crew of the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft, at a press conference at the Russian launch facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Monday, October 4. 2021. (Roscosmos Space Agency via AP)

In any case, the project has caused controversy in the Russian scientific community. The director of the Russian space agency’s manned space flight program, Sergei Krikalev, was fired last summer for saying the money would have been better spent on space research and innovation. The in-orbit film mission was announced in September, a few months after NASA unveiled a film project with American actor Tom Cruise.