Siberian Education For Accidental Actor

Acting alongside Hollywood legend John Malkovich would be a daunting prospect for many actors but a student from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) with no acting experience whatsoever has just finished filming alongside the Oscar-nominated star.
Third-year BA (Hons) Film Production student, Jonas Trukanas, was discovered while trying to find actors for his own film. He will now star in the film adaption of the bestselling book, Siberian Education which will be released next year.
Jonas, who is 21 and from Vilnius, Lithuania, said: “The producers had been looking for someone to play the final lead role for some time. I was at a casting agency in Lithuania looking for actors for my own film when an Italian casting director asked me if I could act. I told him I had never done it before but he was eager for me to audition.
“Just a few days later, I was offered the role and what was even bigger surprise was that I had been given one of the biggest parts in the film.”
Siberian Education tells the true story of Nicolai Lilin’s time growing up in the criminal underworld in what was then Southern Russia. John Malkovich plays Nicolai’s grandfather who is trying to raise him to be an honourable crook.
Acting with John Malkovich was surreal,” Jonas explained. “It was really good because he's just such a nice person but it was still really hard to stop thinking about him being a major star when you’re about to act next to him.
“He doesn’t behave like a stereotypical star though and he was really helpful to us novice actors - offering advice and an encouraging word, which made you feel special.
“He's an amazing actor to learn from. He’s very intense on set and just before filming he spends a few minutes on his own becoming his character.”
Jonas was one of four unknown Lithuanian actors to be given major parts in the film which was primarily shot in the capital city, Vilnius.
Although Jonas has enjoyed his time in front of the camera, he says he is still itching to complete the final year of his degree at UCA Farnham and continue his quest to become a director.
Siberian Education is due to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 and will receive an international release soon after.
(BMcN)