A terrible role... and other signs

A man more superstitious than an actor, still to look for! Artistic brethren are subtle, emotional and impressionable people. The most suitable nature for superstition.

For many decades, centuries, very special signs of the theatrical, and then the cinematic world have been formed. This article will list only a few of them, especially since some actors have their own personal signs.

The main sign of the set -before the start of filming, break a plate “for luck”. The names of all those involved in the creation of the film are pre-recorded on this plate. Up to the assistants of junior assistants. The plate must certainly be broken on the camera tripod, and then among the fragments find the one that bears your last name. If the plate shatters, this is a happy sign: the shooting will be successful and no failures are expected.

The film set, following the theater stage, is a sacred place, and the actors try not to take liberties too much. For example, a categoricalprohibition on eating sunflower seeds. The tragicomic story between George Danelia and Sofico Chiaureli is connected with this omen. The two titans of cinema were connected not only professionally, but also by family ties: they were cousins. Sofiko loved to snap seeds, including on the set, and in vain the director scolded her and warned about the consequences. In a sense, the bad luck worked. After the movie “Don't grieve!” Danelia no longer invited his cousin to act in his films.

The famous Gaidai had his own special sign. He was sure that if they laugh more in the film than they should in the role, then the audience will take the comedy very coolly. That's why heforbade actors to laugh “not according to the script.” And I was very vigilant about it! There is no need to talk about the prohibition of whistling near and on the site. This promises failure for the audience. So if a careless actor or a member of the crew suddenly whistles, the most severe consequences await him.

A lot of signs are associated with dressing room. It is forbidden, for example, to look in the mirror over the shoulder of an actor or actress. This promises great troubles. Soap brought to the dressing room should stay there forever. You can't take it out, just like you can't lend it to colleagues. It is highly undesirable to decorate the dressing room doors with any pictures.

The most terrible thing for both a theatrical and a film actor is drop the role text. The sign was formed in immemorial times and at the same time an “antidote” was invented: you need to sit on the leaves with the text and sit for a couple of minutes. Even if they are lying in a puddle or mud.

Superstitious actors are very afraid on the set to lie down in a coffin, if it is required for the role. And if this happens, then with fear they are waiting for trouble in life.

And if we are talking about signs and superstitions, then how not to mention“fatal” roles! They, by the way, depend on the country. In Russia, the roles associated with Gogol's “Viy”, Bulgakov's “Master and Margarita” are considered “unlucky”. The role of Ivan the Terrible in any production also promises trouble. The actors who played the tsar in the cinema (Sergei Boyarsky, Nikolai Khmelev, Yevgeny Evstigneev) died shortly after the end of filming.

But still, the actors manage to overcome superstitious fear: no wonder there are already several variants of both “Viya” and “Masters” in the cinema, not to mention theatrical productions. But in the UK - and this is a well-known fact! - Shakespeare's play Macbeth is considered fatal. It scares those involved in the production so much that they call it a “Scottish play" and avoid saying the name directly.

In the United States, there is a legend that Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, “parents” Superman, cursed their offspring. And all because they unknowingly gave the producers all the rights very cheaply. True or not, several actors who performed or voiced Superman died early, became victims of a tragic accident or lost their careers. In Hollywood, the performance of the role of Don Juan promises a series of failures.

But there are alsohappy omens! One of them is connected with a mystical animal cat. If the cat voluntarily and without coercion goes on the set and walks between the actors, it promises the film a huge success. And it doesn't matter if you have to reshoot the episode after that!

Author - Nika Terentyeva