Natural Selection, the Dating Dramady, Takes Top Spot with Six Million Views

Dramedy "Natural Selection", based on real unsuccessful dates, in two weeks has collected over 6 million views on the social network "Vkontakte" and has become one of the most successful Russian web series this year.

The main role in the series was played by actress Maria Korytova, known for the comedy "Halves" (special prizes of the "Kinotavr" and "In short" film festivals). Gleb Puskepalis, Vladimir Guskov, Ilya Smirnov, Rodion Tolokonnikov, Anton Loban, Igor Bychkova, Olga Mashnaya and others also played in the Natural Selection.


Natural Selection, The Russian Web Series, stars the Sons of Sergi Puskepalis, Aleksei Guskov


Link to all episodes: https://vk.com/datesandmates?w=wall-200074458_683

According to the plot, Alice, who is soon 30, is afraid to cross the same "irreversible boundary" alone and is intensely looking for her other half. She meets guys on the internet, apps, bars. But every time something goes wrong. Alice is a veterinarian and constantly compares people to animals. She tries to find someone who can understand and love her, but instead begins to understand herself better. Dating becomes a kind of therapy for her.

The script was written on the basis of several dozen interviews with girls and dating stories of subscribers of the popular blog about sex-clearance "Masha, come on!" Maria Arzamasova.


MIFF: The Opening Ceremony of the 42nd Moscow International Film Festival (Pics)


The director of the series is Kirill Alekhin, who worked on the tragicomedies Falling an Angel (2021), Happiness (2015), documentary cycles about e-sports Heroes of Warface (2018) and Rocketjump (2019), producer of short comedies Bribe ( 2018), Rooster (2015) and a number of other short films that have received international awards.

"We did not expect such a success. They released one episode every evening at exactly 20:00. The audience went on dates with Alice. We were worried about her. They wrote: "Alice is me." Then we started to get acquainted in the comments. The priest streamed episodes on YouTube and, using Alice's example, explained to the flock how a modern girl should live. And someone launched a flash mob on Tinder: links to the series appeared in profiles (I don't know how it helps with dating, but if it helped - why not?)," said Kirill Alekhin .

The Natural Selection project consists of eight episodes of eight minutes each. The first episode premiered on November 8.


Films as Evidence: Reconstructing The Nuremberg Trials


The series has been in development since 2017. In 2019 "Natural Selection" won the All-Russian pitching of debutants. Filming took place in Moscow in October 2020. In the new pandemic conditions, the entire filming process was diversified. The project has an international team. Screenwriter Keren Klimovski worked in Malmo (Sweden), composer Eduard Konovalov - in Paris (France). Preparation and coordination were carried out through Zoom and seventeen chats in Telegram, and many of the participants got to know each other on the set.

The series was created with the support of the Institute for Internet Development (national project "Culture"). Informational partners of the project are VKontakte and the cinema portal "Kino-Teatr.ru".


MIFF: XIV Moscow Pitching of Debutants Announces Winners (Pics)


Information about the web series "Natural Selection"

Production year: 2020

Genre: dramedy

Director: Kirill Alekhin

Screenplay: Kirill Alekhine, Keren Klimovski

Cast: Maria Korytova, Gleb Puskepalis, Vladimir Guskov, Ilya Smirnov, Rodion Tolokonnikov, Anton Loban, Igor Bychkov, Olga Mashnaya, Daria Girnik, Denis Meleshko, Vladimir Dubinin, Mikhail Guray, Dmitry Alexandrov, Anton Kapanin, Yuri Tsokurov, Maria Golitsyna , Denis Belosorochka, Nikolay Glebov, Anna Aprelskaya, Sergei Aprelsky.

Producer: Kirill Alekhin (showrunner), Pavel Roytberg, Elena Kosenko.

Operator: Oleg Horoshavin

Composer: Eduard Konovalov

Set Designer: Elizaveta Amelina
Make-up artist: Tatiana Tikhonova

Premiere (RF): November 9, 2020

Duration: 8 minutes x 8 episodes
Studios: Life Is Short , FakePublish

Haute Tease

  • Business News: The 25 Worst-Performing CEOs

    In a perfect world, good pay reflects good performance. Leave guests satisfied as a server, and you’ll frequently earn a generous tip. Close a big deal as a salesperson, then collect a sizable commission check.  

  • Nominees for Russia’s Golden Eagle Announced

    The National Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Russia have announced the nominees for the annual Golden Eagle, the highest honor awarded in the field of cinematography. The awards ceremony will take place on January 28, 2022.  

  • Business News: Why Hasn't The Force Awakened Disney's Stock Price

    After buying Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, The Walt Disney Company had to wait three years for its investment to begin paying tangible dividends. If, however, the initial box-office performance of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is a sign of things to come, then the wait was well worth it.  

  • Archeological Find Announced by Egyptian Government

    In the fourth major dig of the season, Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities, announced the discovery in the village of Saqqara 250 sarcophagi tombs, and hundreds of bronze statues dating back 2500 years.

     
  • Inaugural AFI Conservatory Expo Showcase

    The American Film Institute (AFI) announces the first-ever AFI Conservatory EXPO, a one-day festival showcasing 30 thesis films from the Class of 2017 introducing the AFI Conservatory's most recent MFA graduates to leaders of the film and television community.  

  • The Meyerowitz Stories Review - Flawless, Dynamic, Character Driven Performances

    The Meyerowitz Stories, from IAC Film and Netflix, presents life in Manhattan for three generations of the Jewish, dysfunctional, blended family who are coping with the transitions of life and are suddenly catapulted into decision makers.

Arts / Culture