Miloš Pejović: Building a career on the international stage is my goal

The well-known Montenegrin actor Miloš Pejović, although in the midst of numerous projects, has been spending some time at home, and during the interview for "Vijesti" he recommends the same to all citizens.

Since December 2019, he is a new member of the ensemble of this theater company, in whose (co)production he plays many roles. In an interview with "Vijesti", he pointed out at the very beginning that he feels at home in Gradski and that belonging to an ensemble is particularly important for every actor, for several reasons. Although he likes to try himself in various roles, he also reveals that he longs for a historical series or a movie with a medieval theme. However, he is currently engaged in the crime drama "12 words", which was filmed in Serbia until the situation with the corona virus interrupted all plans. In the series directed by Jelena Stolica, his character is at the center of financial malfeasance, crime, justice, and in addition to the fact that such a plot full of suspense, tension and uncertainty attracts the audience, such a topic is closer because we are all, "unfortunately, surrounded by these topics every day", he says Pejović.

He also spoke to "Vijesti" about his time at home, as well as about his cooperation with Nikšić beer, where he found himself in the role of a culinary master, and reveals that he also likes to cook in private and jokes that he might be "a chef trying his hand at acting"...

There are a number of current plays that are in the repertoires of theaters in Montenegro in which you play, and the most recent are your roles in the City Theater, of which you are one of the newer members, if I may notice. To begin with, how much does it mean to you as an actor to have a parent company?

It's nice to be a member of the City Theatre, these are the people I've worked with the most so far, and I feel good being a part of that house. What is important when you are a freelancer is that you fight and fight for your place and you have to try that with every role, and what is important when you are part of a permanent ensemble of a theater is that you do not lose that attitude towards work that you have fighting as a freelancer an artist.

The performances are in repertoires that have been postponed due to the current situation. How do you spend your free time (these days)?

I'm in Herceg Novi, resting, cooking, reading, watching series and movies, and hanging out on video games. I stay at home.

You play in the plays "Colonel Bird", "Nightingale", there is also "Death and a Girl" in CNP, formerly "Hurricane Heights". It's all about different expressions, different roles. How do you prepare and get into the character you play? And how do all those roles affect you as a person?

I don't have a special way of "getting into character", I prepare each role during the process of working on the play, and of course, often during the performance of the play some new things and new details are discovered, I always try to improve. I would say that I influence them more than they influence me, I think that is generally the case. I try to find a common point with each character and continue to build from it. They affect me in a way that makes me feel like I've met a new literary character.

You are also involved in a new series being produced in Serbia - 12 words. What role do you play and what is the show about, if you could tell the readers?

I can't reveal much about what the series is about, we will leave it to the readers and viewers to watch and enjoy when the time comes. The series is a crime-drama, we will see a combination of financial malfeasance, crime, justice and, at the same time, a variety of interpersonal relationships. The character I play is at the center of those events.

Is it and how challenging is it to play roles in different stories, genres, and do you have something that is your favorite or suits you the most?

I don't have a preference, I like to try everything. This is both the greatest challenge and the greatest beauty of this job. I would like to shoot a historical series or film, with a medieval theme. The era has always attracted me, I think that's what drew me to this in the first place.

You have played abroad as well, namely, you are part of the crew of the crime series "Rapl" produced by Czech television. What was that experience like for you, did you think about maybe staying or trying to build a career somewhere abroad? And also, since "12 words" is a crime series, does that mean that this genre attracts you, or maybe the audience?

Since this is several questions in one, I'll try to answer them all at once. The crime genre is always popular. It carries some suspense, tension and suspense, and everyone likes that. Another thing is that unfortunately we are surrounded by these topics every day, so they are close to us.

Building a career abroad and on the international scene is my ultimate goal, but it's not easy, you can't simply "stay and go", that is, you can, but then you're taking a risk that I can't afford at the moment. And filming in the Czech Republic and in Montenegro with the Czech crew was truly a valuable experience.

I must also mention your engagement with Nikšić beer. How did that collaboration come about and how did you as an actor find your way in that role?

I have been cooking and preparing in private for a long time, the commercial producer heard it and I responded to him with a character for the concept he came up with. I don't consider it a role and it wasn't a problem for me to manage, because I'm often better at cooking than acting.

In the world, it is a common phenomenon that actors who try their hand at cooking get/make their own TV show after a while, have you thought about that?

Not for now, but we'll see. I'll say it again, I was cooking before I decided to do acting. Maybe I'm a chef trying his hand at acting...

How relaxed are you in front of the cameras while working or do you still stick to the script, what about professional engagements, what about engagements for Nikšić beer? What are the advantages of your work in front of the cameras, and what is directly in front of the audience, are there any differences or are they all the same coin, only different sides of it?

As far as sticking to the script, it's always changing and adjusting depending on what you're doing. I always do this in agreement with the director and other colleagues. Sometimes the material does not allow you to improvise, and sometimes it is absolutely necessary. When you are in front of an audience, the advantage is that you can immediately see and feel how people are following and whether what you are doing is reaching them. The advantage of working in front of the camera is that the best frame will be chosen and that you can achieve a lot with minimal expression and produce strong emotions in the audience, or leave a strong impression. Which you often can't do in the theater, unless it's a small stage, or a camera format.

Does acting as a vocation provide reciprocally what you put into it, how do you see it? And is it perhaps more difficult to succeed in Montenegro, given that we are a small market?

It's always harder in a small market. It is fortunate that in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, almost everyone speaks the same language, whatever you want to call it. Well, to some extent, we can consider it all the same market. I don't think at the moment how much I work and how much I get back... I work... It will come back...

What are your plans for the future?

I'm staying home!

Is there anything you would like to add or tell the readers?

Stay home, God bless you!

Today you can save a life from the warmth of your home

"Get used to thinking carefully about what others are saying and, if you can, get into the soul of the person speaking. What does not benefit the swarm, does not benefit the bees", are the words of Marcus Aurelius, which the famous Montenegrin actor Miloš Pejović read at the beginning of his address to the public, as part of the "Stay home" campaign of the City Theatre.

As he himself adheres to the guidelines and everything that the current situation requires, he recommended the same to all citizens.

"There are rare occasions when you can do something truly noble like saving a life. You can do it right today, from the warmth of your home... Stay home! Read, enjoy, cook, devote yourself and your household, family. Let the children play or even watch with them one of the plays from the City Theater YouTube channel and enjoy. Follow the advice of the Institute of Public Health, it is a time when we all have to be responsible. Plain and simple - stay at home!", he points out in his video message as part of the city theater campaign.

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