Russian film crew to make first space film

A Russian actor and director left Earth aboard a spaceship this week to begin filming a movie. Russian officials said the film will highlight Russia’s success in space.

Dmitry Peskov is press secretary to President Vladimir Putin.

“We have been pioneers in space and maintained a confident position, ”Peskov said, adding that space exploration is great for Russia.

Actress Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko took off from a site in Kazahkstan on Tuesday with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov. They arrived about three hours later at the International Space Station where they will stay for 12 days.

The future film is called Challenge. It tells the story of a doctor who rushes to the space station to help an astronaut with a heart problem.

The passengers had four months to prepare for space travel.

Peresild said training for the trip was tough. But, she said, once they reach their goal, “it won’t all seem so difficult and we will remember it with smiles.”

Shipenko said he would finish the film at home after the space shoot. Two other Russian cosmonauts already on the space station will also perform in the film.

Dmitry Rogozin heads the Russian space agency Roscosmos and has been a major force behind the project.

“The space deserves to be shown in a more professional and artistic way,” he said.

Rogozin said he edited the scenario itself to properly represent the realities of space travel. “We are describing some real emergencies that can arise there,” he said.

Oleg Novitskiy is an experienced Russian cosmonaut. He will play the character with the heart problem in the film. When that is done, he will return to the captain’s seat of the Soyuz spacecraft and bring the actor and director back to Earth.

I am Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on an Associated Press report. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in this story

pioneer – not. someone who helps create or develop new ideas, methods, etc.

confident – adj. have a feeling or belief that you can do something well or achieve something

scenario – not. the written form of a play, film, television program, etc.