YTFiles is back
Hi guys.
I have been away at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, working for NBC. I will be back to blogging now, so please check back to YTFiles.com for new and exciting stuff, as well as some Olympic recaps.
Yuliya
Russian Radio In Olympic Vancouver: Do Not Be Surprised To Hear Russian Language on Vancouver’s AM 650
Autoradio in Vancouver
That is right. Russian radio is coming down to Vancouver to air Russian music and commentary during the 2010 Games. Russia's top morning radio station Autoradio will broadcast from the Russia House 8 PM to 5 AM PST every day February 12-28. Autoradio will broadcast from Vancouver to all of Russia, so that their listeners half a world away can get their morning fix of news and music from within the Olympic capital where it all happens. But, Vancouverites will also be able to tune in. Vancouver station AM 650 has leased its airtime to the Russians for the duration of the Games. So don't be surprised to hear Russian jingles on AM 650 on your way back from work. The Vice President of AM 650 Brad Philips says he is not sure if their station will do the same and go to the Sochi Olympics in four years time, but he says they are hosting the Russian radio because AM 650 has always been a community station, and the 60,000 Russians living here in Metro Vancouver are part of that community as well.
"It creates a great profile for us and raises awareness about the station," says Philips. "And, it is just another way to serve the community and be part of the excitement."
When I wondered if the administrators of AM 650 were at all worried that their listeners might be surprised to hear a foreign language radio instead of the familiar station, Philips said they are making announcements ahead of time to prepare their audience. Philips says he hopes that AM 650 listeners will support the station. "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is not something usual, but we will be back to normal after February." Philips notes Russians will also play Canadian music as part of the CRTC rules that require all stations to broadcast a certain amount of Canadian content. But he says it is something Russians are happy to do. It makes sense for them to give the people in Russia a taste of the Canadian music while they are here.
AM 650 did not disclose how much Autoradio paid for their airtime, but Russians are sure spending big to get their presence in town noticed, all in an effort to promote their Sochi Olympics in 2014. Russians rented the Science World, one of the most spectacular and expensive venues in the city, to make it the official Russia House for the Games. The House promises to hold daily parties with lots of music and food. Russian athletes and celebrities are likely to pop up as well. Autoradio are planning their own party at the Russia House, bringing Russia's finest artists and musicians. But, I hear getting tickets to the Russia House might be tricky. So, line up early. And, give Autoradio a listen. Because are not music and passion for the sports the universal language we all understand?
Akhe Theatre: Russian Chaos Descends On Vancouver
The White Cabin
When I found out that Russian Theatre Akhe was making its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Cultural Olympiad, I got moderately excited. It is always a treat to see any kind of Russian theatre here in Canada, but I had no idea what Akhe Theatre was. When I started researching them, I was amazed to find out that the theatre has existed for 21 years now, which made me even more incredulous that I have never heard of them. Turned out Akhe is not your typical Russian theatre. In fact, it is very radically different. Akhe was created as an anti-statement to the classic Russian theatrical tradition. They don’t do Chekhov or Dostoevsky, nor do they try to convey any messages or set any contexts for their audience. When Akhe is on stage, it is always up to the viewer to try to make sense of it all. After watching their performance last week, my advice is - if you ever get a chance to see them, leave your logic at home, sit back and enjoy this Russian take on chaos.
I made a request with Akhe to interview them upon their arrival in Vancouver, which they have kindly agreed to. I was determined to watch their show before I sat down to talk with them, so I went last Thursday. The first thing that struck me when I entered the Performance Works Theatre on Granville Island in time for the 8 PM showing of Akhe’s White Cabin was a note on the wall that said, “WARNING: NUDITY AND SMOKING INVOLVED.” Turned out later there was not just nudity, and a LOT of smoking, but a lot of alcohol, water, ropes and newspapers involved too.
Backstage with Akhe
All throughout the play, I was stunned by how such powerful mental images could be created with completely minimalist tools, many of which actor Maxim Isaev says they pack with them from Russia. Whatever else they need, gets made on the spot. As I was talking to Maxim, actress Natasha Shamina was hard at work cutting a piece of white fabric for a makeshift prop for Friday night’s performance. I was also let in on a secret that all the wine and cigarettes consumed during the performance are absolutely real. Isaev says it is part of who they are as an “engineering” theatre, where it is not just about an actor on stage, but a combination of objects, light, sound and the perception of space – something no one else in Russia has attempted to immitate yet.
I asked Maxim if they chose the White Cabin for Vancouver because it has virtually no text, and so would be understandable across cultures. It turned out that most of Akhe’s shows intentionally have no words in them, whether shown in Russia or abroad. But, it seems the theatre has a special attachment to the White Cabin. The show has been in production for 14 years now, but Isaev says he never gets bored doing it.
“It was made to grow up with us … we change, it changes. It is about the things that are interesting to us all the time, regardless of what is going on.”
What became a revelation to me in the course of my conversation with Maxim was the way people perceive the White Cabin here vs. in Russia. Apparently, the way people choose to concentrate their attention is different. For example, Isaev said they were surprised by how much people laugh during their performances in Canada. As I was talking to Maxim, Natasha Shamina passed by and said with a bit of irony that one of the viewers came forward after one of their shows in Vancouver and said their performance was very funny. But, Maxim says the White Cabin was created to draw little if any laughter. Cultural differences? Isaev says it is hard to say because when people go to see them in Russia, they sort of know what to expect. For an unprepared viewer, Akhe can definitely be a riddle.
Maxim Isaev
As I was talking to Maxim, I could not help but think that it just can’t be the same person whom I saw on the stage yesterday. It was bizarre to meet these very abstract characters in person and see real people behind them. Maxim shared that they liked Vancouver a lot because to them it was unusual. When I asked what was so unusual about Vancouver, he said it had a very pleasant sensation of space. Coming from someone who gets to play with the concept of space on a daily basis, I thought it was an interesting observation about this city. But, it turned out it was not the first time in Canada for Akhe. They toured Quebec four years ago.
The theatre is now done with the PUsh Festival and is off to Toronto and Quebec City. I found out they no longer have a place to call home back in Russia. Their theatre in St. Petersburg was closed down over a fire threat concern after the tragic events at a Perm nightclub where over a hundred people died in a fire that started over faulty firecrackers. Given how much fire and smoke Akhe uses in their shows, it was deemed unsafe. So the theatre is going nomadic for now, visiting numerous countries on their way back. If you get a chance to catch up with them anywhere, you have my thumbs up.
Akhe’s Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/akhe/
Akhe's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/akhegroup
A Glimpse Of Alexander Ovechkin At The Bay Olympic Superstore In Vancouver: PHOTO and VIDEO
Alexander "The Great" Ovechkin has descended on the city of Vancouver to sign autographs this PM at the Hudson's Bay Company Olympic Superstore in the Pacific Center. Unquestionably, Ovechkin is one of the best players in the NHL, and he is becoming quite a socialite too. Today, over 500 people packed the Olympic Superstore waiting for hours in a long line-up just to meet Ovie.
Yesterday, I got an email from VANOC saying Ovechkin will be in town signing autographs. The only catch - I had to pre-purchase a merchandise item for Ovechkin to sign. It also said prices started at $98, which kind of made me abandon the idea of going, but than I figured I should go anyway to catch a glimpse of AO and take a few photos for my blog. But, when I walked into the HBC Olympic Superstore tonight, I saw hockey love all around -- people dressed in Ovechkin's jerseys itching to meet the big man.
I snapped a few pictures which you can see below. I also shot a video of the actual signing and the video of the insane line-up. Talk about "superstar" appeal, eh?
Worker And Kolkhoz Woman: A Soviet-era Monument Finds Its Way Back Into Moscow’s Landscape
Photo by Flickr user Intubator
Some call it the symbol of an era, others - a gigantic reminder of communism. The monument was gone for so long, Muscovites have almost forgotten about this enormity of a statue. But, the legendary 24-meter high monument of the Worker And Kolkhoz Woman is back next to Moscow's landmark All-Russia Exhibition Centre after six years of renovations. This ginormous 185-tonne statue was erected in 1939 and became the embodiment of the social ideals -- a mighty worker forging the nation's well-being with his hammer side by the side with an imposing Kolkhoz woman sure to feed the nation with her wheat-cutting sickle. The statue's idealistic design was bang on at the time, but is it relevant now? And, was it really worth it to spend six years of renovators' time and over a billion rubles to resurrect this symbol of the past? The grand re-opening of the monument was attended by hundreds of people, marked with fireworks and festivities. But, why all the buzz about the seemingly retrograde monument?
Well, the Worker And Kolkhoz Woman gained more of a cultural meaning throughout the years -- and the reason for that was the statue's use in movie pre-views. For millions of people in the Soviet Union, it became completely associated with movie openers -- much like the catchy tune and the sky-beaming projectors of the 20th century fox film studios that opened many of the Hollywood-made flicks. One of the biggest film production studios in the Soviet Union -- Mosfilm used the monument as their logo since 1947. Every movie made by Mosfilm opened with a video clip of the statue, so really any of the socialistic meanings that the statue's creators might have intended for it were pretty much erased by years of associations with the movie industry. So for one, I am glad to see the statue back, and not for any political reasons, but more for a nostalgic yearning to see a cultural symbol back.
Russian Style from Evelina Khromtchenko – on fashion choices that are uniquely Russian
Evelina Khromtchenko, the author of a new book that dissects what constitutes Russian style, is the No.1 fashion guru in Russia as voted by many. So, when she published her book defining what Russian style is, many people in Russia and abroad were eager to get a copy.
- Photo by Flickr User Max Chernitsov
Khromtchenko is the editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of a popular fashion magazine L’Officiel. In addition to managing one of the top fashion publications in Russia, Khromtchenko does a myriad of other things – she co-hosts a daily TV fashion show, attends top fashion weeks around the world, and even voices over in movies (she voiced over Meryl Streep’s character in the Russian version of Devil Wears Prada). From all that I have been reading and hearing about Evelina, I came to admire her incredible work ethic and professionalism. And, while I don’t always agree with what she has to say, the way she says it is always very commanding.
So, naturally, when I found out that Khromtchenko’s latest book – Russian Style was available at a local book store, I promised myself to check it out. And, here is what I thought of Khromtchenko’s work - in her book, Khromtchenko is on a mission that is very similar to what I am striving to achieve with this blog – i.e.: making sense of Russia for people who are curious... Evelina’s book is pretty much an encyclopedia of things that define the style that is uniquely Russian. What I thought was cool is that she named chapters in her book – Catherine the Great, Caviar, Maria Sharapova, Baboushka, Leo Tolstoy, Anastasia, Tovarisch, Lolita, etc, covering most of the stylistic, cultural and historic directions in Russian fashion. And, although some of the things she covered might have seemed common sense to me, to most North Americans they might be news. I have to say that the photos in the book are probably the funnest part – which (almost) justified spending $40 on buying this book. To me, the book is a bit overpriced, even though the quality, visuals and content are definitely there (the book is available online for $40, but regular book stores sell it for as much as $60). All in all, this book is quite an entertaining and glamorous read!
Welcome To YTFiles
Hi everyone! I’m starting this blog called YTFILES. YT are my initials and I thought the name was catchy and easy to remember.
I am based in glorious Vancouver, Canada, where I have been living for the last 8 years. I am hoping to blog about something very specific, something that I believe I have a unique perspective on. I want to bring a fresh take on everything Russia-related – news, events, culture, media, politics, fashion…the list of topics to explore is endless.
I speak Russian, I love my culture, and I want people to understand it. I feel that I can give an interesting take on Russia – a fresh perspective from someone who has been born and raised in the USSR, but grew up in North America. I want to steer away from the stereotype wrought, lackluster approach to Russia ubiquitous in the media nowadays. Hence, I am writing this blog!
In recent years, it seems the interest toward Russia has not ceased. In fact, it seems people are as fascinated by this country as ever. Winston Churchill once said, “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” I think, to this day, Churchill’s quote is quite characteristic of how many people feel about Russia.
So, through my insider knowledge, I’m here to try to make this great geographic and cultural enormity called Russia less of a riddle. I grew up surrounded by Russian culture, but having had moved to Canada in my teen years, I have come to accept the Canadian culture as my own as well. The West and the East juxtaposed in my view of the world have, I hope, negated any potential bias in me, so that I can present any story straight up.
With that, welcome to YTFiles!