Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Credit: Roscosmos, Channel One, Yellow, Black and White

Russia’s Channel One and Roskosmos are launching a competition, the winner of which will take the lead role in the first feature film shot in space.

The motion picture has a tentative title “Challenge” – with filming to take place at the International Space Station in October 2021.

This off-planet film shoot is a joint project of Roscosmos, Channel One and the studio, Yellow, Black and White.

“This is a kind of space experiment. The actress selected by a competition and a medical commission will perform the functions of a cosmonaut-researcher and become a full-fledged member of the crew,” explains Dmitry Rogozin, General Director of Roscosmos. “In this project, it is important for us not only to demonstrate the heroism and high professionalism of cosmonauts and industry specialists who ensure the safety of manned flights in outer space, but also to develop the possibility of accelerated preparation for such a flight and a mission to the ISS of a specialist (engineer, doctor, astrophysicist), in whom the need may unexpectedly arise on board the station,” he says in a statement.

Credit: Roscosmos, Channel One, Yellow, Black and White

Have-to-haves

To be selected, there’s a questionnaire with requirements, among them:

Citizenship – Russian Federation; Gender – female; Age – 25-45 years old; No criminal record; and a number of health and physical have-to-haves.

Alexey Trotsyuk, General Producer of Yellow, Black and White explains: “Despite the vast experience in the production of big movies, we first encountered a task of such complexity. In the shortest possible time, we need to find more than just an actress – we need a real superhero.”

Trotsyuk adds they are on the lookout for a woman who can play her role on Earth, and then endure the most difficult training, fly into space and there, in a state of microgravity, also solve the most difficult shooting tasks.

“That is why we, together with Channel One and the Roscosmos state corporation,” Trotsyuk notes, “are announcing an all-Russian casting. If you feel the strength and talent in yourself, and are ready to accept the challenge, this is your chance to become the first!”

Shooting stage – Earth orbiting research lab – the International Space Station (ISS).
Credit: NASA

Multi-stage competition

As the first stage of the competition, a selection committee will select up to 30 finalists for further participation in the competition.

At the next stage of the selection process, a medical expert commission will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the finalists of the competition for compliance with medical and psychological requirements, as well as the requirements for physical fitness, education and professional fitness necessary to participate in space flight and work in space.

Candidates who successfully pass the flight commission will be enrolled in the Cosmonaut School, where they will have to undergo a three-month training course (on a daily basis).

Based on the results of the final part of the competition, two winners will be determined – the future leading actress and her understudy.