Tatu Gets Run Out of Red Square (TheMoscowTimes.Com)Time of publication: 16.05.2003 |
Schoolgirl uniforms weren't enough to charm the police Thursday, as the authorities prevented teenage pop duo Tatu from shooting a video clip on Red Square featuring hundreds of young girls in plaid skirts and white blouses.
The group's producer, Ivan Shapovalov, had hoped to film the video for the song "Show Me Love" at Vasilyevsky Spusk, across from the Kremlin. But Moscow police prevented the shoot as Shapovalov had not obtained proper authorization, Gazeta.ru reported.
Police then ordered the shoot's organizers to disperse the more than 200 uniformed fans who had been invited to participate in the filming.
Tatu manager Beata Ardeyeva said Shapovalov was held for about an hour by the police and then taken to the Khamovniky district court, where he was issued a warning.
Ardeyeva expressed disappointment that the timing took place so close to Tatu's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia, later this month. "Apparently they are telling us that they're not interested in Tatu right before it represents Russia at Eurovision," Ardeyeva said. "They'll let Paul McCartney play on Red Square but not Tatu." McCartney will perform May 24.
Fans also expressed disappointment. "Of course we're upset," said Maria Fomina, 14. "We're not the biggest fans, but we wanted to be filmed."
It was the third time in two weeks that the video shoot had been postponed or cancelled.
London police last week prohibited the duo -- Lena Katina and Julia Volkova -- from filming the video across from the Houses of Parliament, citing a law preventing persons from gathering "near the House of Commons or House of Lords when parliament is sitting."
Shapovalov then decided to schedule the shoot in Moscow on Monday, but it was postponed until Thursday, due to what Tatu's production company Neformat called organizational problems.
At noon Thursday, over 200 fans -- primarily girls aged 13 to 16 adhering strictly to the plaid skirt dress code -- stood around at Vasilyevsky Spusk waiting anxiously for their heroes.
When Katina and Volkova eventually arrived, they were whisked into a white trailer, which was quickly swarmed by girls screaming "I saw her!" and "Julia, look over here!"
Many of the girls said they were contacted about the video shoot by modeling agencies or the Mosfilm film studio, and four busloads of fans were brought in. Nastya Kolesnikova, 15, who has been an extra in videos for other groups, including boy band Premier Minister, said she was contacted by Moscow modeling agency Vidi Vici. "They're paying us from 150 to 200 rubles, probably more," Kolesnikova said.
But not all of the would-be extras were contacted by agencies or studios. Some arrived after seeing an invitation on the duo's web site, which reminded them "don't forget a school uniform!"
Dima and Katya, 16-year-old fans who consider Tatu "different" and "more modern" than other contemporary acts, said they came to the originally planned Monday shoot, but left after it was postponed. "We even went to the store especially to buy matching shirts and ties," Dima said.
Their luck wasn't much better on Thursday, though they said they weren't too disappointed. "We were sitting in the bus [waiting for the shoot to be moved somewhere else], but they said it might take until 7 p.m.," Katya said. "We decided it would be more fun to go for a walk. Plus, at least we got to see Julia."
Late Thursday evening, however, Ardeyeva said the video had eventually been shot at Vasilyevsky Spusk. She could not confirm that everything had run smoothly. It also was unclear whether Dima and Katya had been able to show off their matching outfits.
Source: TheMoscowTimes.Com
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