We recently connected with Andrei Kogolenok and have shared our conversation below.
Andrei, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
When I was 15 I dreamed that one day I would move to Hollywood to become an actor. I made it my goal to get better at English and started taking acting classes. Having never been to the States or even known anyone who has, I was determined to achieve my dream. For quite a while, my parents believed it was impossible. I took classes to prepare for the SAT and TOEFL (English-level exam). After 2 years of preparation and almost missing out because my scholarships weren’t enough I got an offer from a university in New Jersey. At 17 I moved to America to pursue acting. I enrolled in a college to study theater having never done it before. While I was in college I was able to get myself an agent and a manager. Now, navigating the early stages of my professional career, I’m forever grateful that I moved to another continent across the world from everyone I knew. I’ve embraced the culture and language that wasn’t my own. Looking back now, it was the biggest risk I’ve taken up until now. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career and life in general had I not taken that risk.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Andrei Kogolenok, I was born and raised in Minsk, Belarus. I moved to America at the age of 17 to pursue acting. I grew up speaking Russian and started learning English when I was 6. Over the years I’ve perfected my language and accent to a point that I can convincingly play American, British, and other nationalities on both screen and stage. I’ve done a variety of performing art from dancing and singing to now professionally acting. I’m also a filmmaker and I wrote several short films as well as a one-act play. I’m currently directing “For Them” – a short film about a painter who is reminded of his traumatic past on the most important day of his professional life. The story is told across 3 stages of his life and I’m playing the character in his twenties.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal as an artist is to launch my own production company and produce unique films that deal with complexities of human experience. I love cinema and the theater-going experience. When I was a child I couldn’t wait to go see a big blockbuster at the theater. Movies have always been an escape for me, especially great sci-fi and drama films. My works and writing have been inspired by Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, and Jean-Marc Vallee. Vallee, in particular, influenced my current project “For Them” in which I visually explore the troubled past of the character through paintings and flashbacks. I admire studios like NEON and A24 who have trust in the voices of their filmmakers. Growing up in Belarus and frequently watching European cinema also left a print on me. I love movies that get a bit absurd, trick you, and otherwise make you question the legitimacy of what’s before your eyes. I also love larger than life movies, practical action, and stunning visuals. One day I want to combine my two favorite genres: sci-fi and drama into emotional, intelligent, and visually compelling movies.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
1. “Life in mid-shot” by Les Chantery 2. “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey
3. “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie
4. “The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck” by Mark Manson
The first book will be useful to actors who want a more nuanced modern approach to acting. Theory books by Stanislavsiy and Meisner are all great but we live in a self-tape world where you get 10-20 seconds to leave an impression. I found the book to be a great tool and it changed the way I prepare for auditions. I highly recommend it.
“Greenlights” got me through some dark times. It made me think, laugh, and sometimes even cry. Matthew is this bigger-than-life figure whose experience and outlook on life might help us to see through the obstacles and potentiallt turn then into our own greenlights.”
Carnegie’s book is widely known for being a go-to manual for anyone who wants to work in business and other leadership-requiring positions. It’s a carefully written and inspiring book full of rich advice and supporting examples from Carnegie’s many years of coaching successful people.
“The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck” taught me to take ownership and responsibility of everything that happens in my life. I can’t control what happens to me but I can choose what I do about it. The book is an incredible take on what really matters in life and all the noise that’s out there. I love it and would highly recommend it for its personal and anti-preaching approach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://andrewkogolenok.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holy_and_rew/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/andrew.kg.02/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCHZQ4TZwun117rT7rQbCk0g
- Other: Actors Access: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/andrewkogolenok IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm11976943/
Image Credits
In order of images: 1 “Wander Woman” by Ina Tiernan Bailey 2 “1H22M” by Andy Liu 3 and 4 For Them” written & directed by me 5 “The Christmas Letter” by Michael Cunningham, Tori Hunter and Angus Benfield 6 “The Revolution” by Vince P Maggio and David O’Neill for Fox Nation