Russian actress and screenwriter Alya Mayer appeared on the Vecherka TV broadcast to discuss her dual career in cinema and the release of her new movie Alien Call. Mayer, who balances acting with screenwriting studies at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, shared insights into handling casting rejections, managing project taboos, and confronting professional fears ahead of the film's theatrical release.
The feature film Alien Call opened in movie theaters on September 10, following discussions on set between Mayer and the director concerning the resolution of her character's storyline. Mayer disclosed that she held lengthy discussions regarding the complex ending to ensure the audience would not hate her character, prompting the production team to shoot three different versions of the final scene before preserving the cut she requested in the final edit.
Born in Moscow in 2006, Mayer is the daughter of Russian film producer Dzhanik Fayziev and actress Olga Krasko. In 2023, she enrolled in the screenwriting and film studies department at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, widely known as VGIK, studying in the workshop of screenwriter Zoya Kudrya while building a career as an actress, producer, and screenwriter.
Balancing VGIK studies and class leadership
To manage the demanding screenwriting curriculum at VGIK alongside active filming commitments, Mayer informed her department masters early and enrolled in the university's correspondence division for added flexibility. She serves as the monitor for her class, striving to maintain top grades and submit assignments on time even when filming schedules and film festivals overlap.
Mayer emphasized that she does not view her dual pursuits as one-sided, noting that studying, acting, and concurrent projects complement one another. Although combining related yet distinct fields presents scheduling challenges, she expressed gratitude for the balance, explaining that navigating these difficulties allows her to discover new facets of her creative potential.
Her academic journey is backed by strong support from her primary instructor, Zoya Kudrya, who believes in Mayer's talent as a dramatist, supports her acting career, and writes roles specifically for her. Mayer recalled that Kudrya often advises her students to lie down on a sofa at home, smoke a cigarette, and conceptualize an entire story down to its finest details before putting pen to paper.
Mayer also praised her VGIK classmates, noting that they have formed a tight group over three years of study. Her peers step in to handle her academic responsibilities whenever she is absent for filming, ensuring that her screen work does not create conflict with her university education.
Coping with audition rejections and industry dependence
Addressing the intense competition and constant auditions of the acting profession, Mayer explained that performers must get used to hearing rejections even when presenting their best work. She stated that casting decisions do not strictly depend on whether an actor is talented or attractive, noting that no guaranteed formula for success exists.
Mayer stressed that surviving in the industry requires a blind love for the work and total confidence in one's choices. She explained that she has learned to transform feelings of hurt after failed auditions into the belief that the role was not meant for her and that better opportunities lie ahead.
Describing acting as a dependent profession, Mayer noted that performers rely heavily on being needed by casting directors and directors, a factor beyond their personal control. She asserted that actors must accept a career path filled with both rejections and approvals, adding that anyone unprepared to hear refusal has no place in the industry.
Mayer pointed to a key professional lesson learned at VGIK, stating that building trust on set requires individuals to honestly admit when they do not know something. In her view, striving to know everything deprives a project of its unique atmosphere, making an honest admission of ignorance far better than maintaining an illusion of omniscience.
Screenwriting logic versus acting flexibility
Mayer observed that having formal screenwriting training can sometimes hinder her performance during auditions. While screenwriters focus on structure, clear logic, and cause-and-effect relationships, actors must approach material with flexible perception and ask questions through their performance.
She admitted that she occasionally has to restrain herself during auditions to avoid explaining her character's motivations to casting teams. However, she noted that observing how novice directors formulate their ideas in contrast to written scripts remains a captivating part of the process.
When asked about the most difficult aspect of acting, Mayer highlighted the long waiting periods inherent in production, post-production, and film premieres. She explained that acting creates an emotional dependency, adding that performers must maintain a clear switch between themselves and their characters to protect their mental health from the emotional toll of heavy roles.
Regarding set dynamics, Mayer emphasized that a director must possess a human attitude, a clear internal core, and a firm understanding of what film they are making and for whom. She noted that open dialogue between director and actor makes work easy when the director can clearly communicate their vision to the team.
Dramatic roles and project development
Mayer expressed a strong preference for dramatic roles over comedy, explaining that portraying heroines with difficult fates or internal brokenness feels far more organic to her. Although she dislikes watching horror movies herself, she considers her role in the horror film Telekinesis to be an important milestone in her professional growth and rewatches it with pleasure.
For several years, Mayer has harbored a dream to portray the archetype of Lolita, a character originally created by author Vladimir Nabokov. She explained that she is drawn to the character's compelling mix of audacity and innocence, adding that she is interested in the core character type rather than a specific adaptation.
Looking ahead, Mayer expressed interest in exploring historical projects, biographical films, science fiction, road movie dramas, and a potential live action adaptation of the animated film Fairies. She noted her fondness for historical detail and biographical research when preparing for roles.
Production company leadership and career ambitions
Beyond her acting and writing, Mayer serves as the general director of a film production company. She has developed several original screenplays designed for her own performance, including a recently filmed television pilot about a young girl with autism spectrum disorder, which she described as a rewarding step outside her comfort zone that required careful character detail.
She is also planning a road movie drama centered on the romantic struggles of young people. Discussing her work taboos, Mayer revealed that early strict boundaries influenced by her mother, such as a refusal to swear on camera, have evolved into a desire to test her emotional boundaries, making material quality her primary consideration.
If given a real superpower, Mayer stated she would choose mind reading due to her habit of wanting to know and control everything, despite acknowledging its dangers. She noted that mind reading appeals to her more than abilities like flight or telekinesis.
Mayer defined her main career ambition as bringing kindness and joy to people through her work. She asserted that a sincere desire to communicate important ideas helps performers endure hardship, emphasizing that cinema is created for viewers and that acting solely for oneself leads to burnout.
In addition to Alien Call, Mayer's film credits include Telekinesis, Artek Through the Centuries, and a central role in the 2026 melodrama Your Heart Will Be Broken.
