Positive people know how to be boring

The young Serbian actor Slaven Došlo plays one of the main roles in the new work of the Karadažić brothers, the film "Biser Bojane", which will hit theaters in mid-February. The contemporary, romantic action comedy will show the young Serbian actor, who is often compared to Miloš Biović, as well as the Spanish seducer Mario Casas in a completely different light. Although he did not plan to be part of the "Biser Bojana" team, Slaven was assigned a supporting role, and the young actor got the opportunity to play, but also learn from the bards of the Yugoslav theater - Mira Banjac, Mima Karadzic, Enver Petrovci, Mladen Nelević. In an interview for "Vijesti", Došlo talked about how he coped with filming, whether he lost our accent while working in Montenegro, about professor Mirjana Karanović, his career, the academy.

• You came to the casting to support your friend. At what point did you decide to try your luck yourself when it comes to the "Biser Bojane" project?

When I was invited to the inner circle, it seemed to me that I could be a part of this project. Initially, I was not particularly interested, because it seemed to me that I would not be able to perform some of the things that were written. Later, the script changed, and it seemed to me more and more that we could make a warm, likable comedy.

• What was it like to collaborate and socialize with greats like Mira Banjac, Enver Petrovci, the Karadzic brothers?

Shooting on Ada Bojana for a month surrounded by people who are a treasure of experience was very valuable for me. Everyone was very pleasant, but when Mira Banjac spoke about the golden years of Atelier 212, I found myself silent and absorbing every word. I am glad that I had the opportunity to work with such a team.

• The Karadžić brothers are known for being very expeditious and for the fact that the filming of series and movies does not take too long with them. How hard was the work on the "Biser Bojane" project for you?

Filmmaking is always unpredictable. There are various factors that can affect the shooting day, but somehow we managed to cope with it all. Milan basically gave us enough time for everything, although, I have to admit, I hadn't worked at such a pace before.

• This is quite a different role compared to the films "Panama" and "Beside Me", which are much darker stories. Is it easier to act in a suspenseful thriller or a romantic comedy?

I think it's not a matter of genre, but of collaborators and way of working. Shooting "Bisera Bojana" was a completely different experience for me than what I had done before. This is a big project that has its own rules. Filming has to be finished, and because of that he knows that some compromises have to be made, as well as that things change on the fly. It's a different principle than the long preparations and the right to influence the scenario that I had before. After all, the important thing is that we managed to bring everything to an end and that soon you will have the opportunity to watch a real family movie.

• For the mentioned two films, your mother said to you: "Do you always have to be naked". What will she say to you when she watches "Biser Bojane"

My mother has been quite enthusiastic about "Bisera Bojana" since the beginning. I think she will be very satisfied and won't have much room for objections. She is especially pleased by the fact that I am acting in the film with Vanja Nenadić, whom she has followed since childhood because she is also from Sombor.

• Critics say that you are the new Biković, and you are often compared to the Spanish actor Mario Casas. Do comparisons please you more or bother you?

It's normal for people to find some similarities with other actors. I have never had role models in that classical sense, so I have no relation to comparisons.

• You studied in Mirjana Karanović's class. What was it like to learn from one of the best domestic actresses? Was she strict?

Mirjana Karanović is an actress of incredible artistic integrity and gift. It was a privilege to learn from her, and even more so to watch her gradually build a character on stage. She taught us a lot and then let us do as we saw fit. She knew how to be very strict if we bothered her with trivialities, but if there was a serious problem, she was always there. The longer I've been in this business, the more I realize how few people like her really are.

• You entered the Academy for the third time, and today you are considered one of the most talented young actors. When you were dealing with failed attempts, who was your biggest supporter?

I entered the academy from the second time. After a year of going to the drama studio in Sombor, I decided to try Vlada Jeftović at FDU. I was convinced that they were only waiting for me. Of course, I was rejected. That crash was actually the best school for me. I realized that acting is not something that you own, but that it is a very delicate thing that you have to work on, that you have to think about and why you have to constantly question yourself. I am grateful that I was rejected then.

• You were also thinking about graduating from political science and becoming a diplomat. Considering that we see actors more and more often in the parliamentary benches and in responsible positions, when it comes to politics, what would you change if you were a politician?

I would fundamentally change the media and education. I would stop this mindless burying with completely irrelevant information and try to bring back topics that concern us or at least serve something.

• You are often involved in the theater as well. What do you like more as an actor - to play in the theater, film or to be engaged in some television format?

I really think it's all a matter of collaborators and the topic you're dealing with, not a certain format. At the moment, I really like to experiment in the theater, to establish my process of building a character and the continuity of playing in front of an audience. It can be difficult, discouraging, but after the premiere, everything is worth it.

• Directors see you as a seducer, does that bother you?

I don't have a problem with that, in the end I still wonder if I want to play something like that again. Of course, I would like to explore and develop in other directions as well. Positive people can be boring. I prefer some darker characters.

• It is known that the audience often knows how to identify actors with their roles. Which of your roles would you never like to be identified with and why?

I try to do what interests me and stand behind what I do so that I could never disclaim responsibility for something I have played. Nor do I think that as an actor I have the right to judge. Each character has their own reasons for the way they act.

• Often actors fantasize about world production, Hollywood. Do you have such ambitions?

Given that our industry is neither diverse nor particularly stable, I would like to have the opportunity to see how it works elsewhere and if it can be done differently. I'm not into the Hollywood lifestyle, I'm just interested in a different process.

• Is there any role you would turn down?

Now it seems to me that there are many. Some things do not personally attract and inspire me. I think that an actor's career is determined as much by the rejected roles as by the played roles.

• Have you ever forgotten the text you need to say and how do you fight against it? Is there improvisation?

For now, everything works as it should and there are very rare situations when I don't know what I should be doing while I'm on stage. I like to first conquer the space of safety with my colleagues, and later to deal with variations and improvisations. They often know how to create more interesting and stage-appealing solutions.

Montenegrin speech has a special charm and directness

• Usually, actors who are not from Montenegro have a problem removing our accent. How much easier was the role in the film "Biser Bojane" for you, given that you didn't have to think about that "detail" and did you try to remove our accent while shooting the film?

I generally adapt to the local accent very quickly. I feel that people understand me better if I address them in a way similar to theirs. It's not even a matter of accent, but more of that special Montenegrin charm and directness that hides behind the speech. I like it and it was interesting to play with it. I would love if at some point I would get the opportunity to play in Montenegrin.

Drugs bring serious consequences

• You appeared for the first time in the video "Tako disco" of the group "Etar", where you play a drug addict. How hard is it to fake dying? What would be your message to those who consume drugs?

I was just a kid then and it was very interesting for me to get involved in such a project. He was part of the "100% clean 100% own" action, which dealt with pointing out problems of addiction among young people. Everyone organizes their own life, but if you are going to do something that can have a huge impact on you, you need to know what the consequences are and what the responsibilities are.

Spoiling children's worlds

• You participated in the dubbing of the film "Alvin and the Chipmunks". What was that experience like, considering that in such projects you have to convey everything with your voice. Do you like working for children by the way?

I had many opportunities to work for children as a former employee of the Youth Theater in Novi Sad. It is interesting to fantasize children's worlds as an actor. Synchronizations require an incredible kind of presence and maximum engagement to convey the message clearly. It's completely different than a movie or a theater. I would love to do something like that again.

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