Mexican Student in Russian Academy

A piece that ran on Russian TV on my brother, the first american and mexican to do the full directing AND acting track at the St Petersburg academy of theater.

Transcript:

Correspondent: His suitcase stands in plain view in his room, but fifth-year student Ricardo Marin is in no hurry to return home. Hes grown accustomed to the harsh conditions of his dorm and to the uncomfortable (for a southerner) climate. He even keeps a diary in Russian, diving into his setting. He always takes his exams on time. For a student of an artistic college, hes unusually sentimental, like a character in a Mexican soap opera. He wont part with his teddy bear, a gift from his beloved, who studies in the US. He can only communicate with her and his family online. He travels to his native Monterrey but once a year, but his meetings with his old classmates are strained.

Me: They all generally have professions different from my own, like chemical engineer or something of the sort, more useful professions, so that when we meet they dont know what to talk about with me, where to start. Theyll say something like, Oh, theatre. I was in a theatre maybe once in my life

Correspondent: Mexican plays are interesting to read but difficult to stage, asserts Ricardo, even if the author is your own grandfather (sic) who was himself a playwright. Ricardo has a complicated relationship with his native culture; he doesnt eat burritos and when he plays guitar, its not like a mariachi (street performer), but European pop. For his pre-thesis project, he chose a play by a Spanish author: Fando y Lus (sic), a drama about domestic violence. But the young director is staging it about love. The production budget is zero, meaning that hes forced to be inventive. The handicapped chair of the female lead was made from the remains of a baby stroller he found in the trash, and the decoration is made of pieces of wrapping paper.

Fando: Youre too heavy.
Lis: Fando, that hurt.
Fando: And you still dare complain?

By morning director, by evening - actor. A Midsummer Nights Dream is currently being performed on the stage of the [Academys] Student theatre. Ricardo has a small part, but he doesnt mind not getting a lead.

Me: My place is behind [the scenes]. That is, backstage, among the audience. I prefer directing.

Correspondent: In the next few years, theres not much for Ricardo to do in Mexico. There are no repertory theatres there, only plays for profit. People go to see plays either if they star famous actors, like the screen heartthrob Diego Luna, or are adapted Broadway musicals. But this future master of the stage plans to make great reforms.

Me: [Public] interest in theatre is returning, so whats necessary now is for me, with my experience, to work together with others who have studied in Europe or elsewhere to take Mexican theatre to a new, international level.

Correspondent: Half the world studies at the Theatre Academy. Some come here out from the joy of being in a place associated to Stanislavsky and Meyerhold. Others are attracted by the fact that they receive a quality education at a reasonable cost. Both types stay in St. Petersburg.

Galina Byzgu [my Acting/Directing professor and director of A Midsummer Nights Dream]: For the Japanese students who study here, returning home is a catastrophe, because they say that at home they dont find the same amount of personal attention because they traditionally dont look each other in the eye. That doesnt mean that its a bad thing, not at all. But one girl told me, I feel that Im an open individual here, while at home I feel like part of some mechanism.

Correspondent: In the Academy, they say that the majority of its foreign students become professors/instructors when they return to their homeland. But a few achieve renown. For example, the Italian Juliano Di Capua has become a famous Russian actor and director, while his classmate, Kseniya Rappoport, has become Italys leading actress. The Finn Ville Haapsalo immediately became the hot property of two countries. One can successfully demonstrate the Russian school anywhere, given enough talent. Anna Melnik, Vsevolod Kiselyov, Alyona Vorobyova for Vesti, St. Petersburg.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• theater
• st. petersburg
• directing
• acting
• monterrey
• mexico

[NeoLeones1]

Woo, en Rusia si pronuncian bien "Monterrey" :o

[IXIRoyIXI]

mexiacn в России, как здорово у меня нет проблем с мексиканскими я рад приветствовать Вас в Россию

[deederflye]

@54m4rV1ll4 I'm mexican american, and i was very disappointed this video didnt have subtitles but you're so right... America is so nosy :( i wish america would stop getting into everyones freaken business :/

[1p4142136]

I just heard "Monterrey" lol!

[Mark123USA]

@54m4rV1ll4 Go Fuck yourself

[Mark123USA]

Your brother has no accent when he speaks Russian, he is very good with the langauge. I am Russian I cannot speak spanish, but when my mexican friend was teaching me a few words, and I was just read some words in spanish, my friend said I had a perfect accent when I spoke spanish.

[54m4rV1ll4]

Stupid America criticizing other countries like they know whats best....... they should fix there fucking problems before sticking there cocaine noises to others countries achievements and criticizing them. America today looks pretty mush like a third world country compare to other countries... snap out of your bubble and please don't believe everything you see in Hollywood movies dumb gringos.

[nariko47]

Latinos in Russia... interesante = )

Saludos a este joven

[neophytetroll]

@meecrobhead I do see both nations becoming more influential in the world, though right now, it is just the begining because of many changes going on that make the road to success very bumpy (fight against corruption, reforms,etc). Its always good to think positive and hope for the best and take any future opportunities that exist. I've seen pictures of russia and is a beautiful country regardless of the problems it has.

Good day

[neophytetroll]

@supermonk3y07 You're correct; The only problem is income inequality and corruption, which causes can cause a lot of problems in any nation. I've seen a lot of progress in Mexico because of the information I read, especially pertaining to national projects. (have you heard of the highest bridge in the world in Mexico being completed?)

Russia and Mexico have one of the greatest potentials on earth if they enact efficient policies and even do more trade with each other.

[meecrobhead]

@supermonk3y07 It sounds like the situation in russia. The rich people in the european part of russia are one of the richest in the world and the poor people most of them living in the asian part, eat shit and live like in stoneage. I hope both countries get a competent and good government one day without corruption. Mexicans and russians deserve a life in better conditions, because theyre hard working people with a lot of smart heads.

[supermonk3y07]

@meecrobhead actually Mexico is a rich nation, believe it or not. Mexico is currently the world's 11th largest economy, more than south korea, canada and spain. Its just that the wages are very low in mexico and the quality of life, although it is getting better. a lot of times the rich are really rich and the poor are really poor, but its not really like before, I think that Mexico will become a great country one day and in our lifetime and become a great influence to the world