Show Halves

I learned about this show from my friends, I decided to watch a couple of episodes to give my own assessment of what I saw (and regretted the decision)

The meaning of the transfer

A romantic project and unique characters whom society does not want to fit into generally accepted norms and thus deprives them of the opportunity to find their soul mate, to be loved. The creators of the project will fix this, find a true soul mate for each hero and arrange a dream date that can forever change their fate. There are three heroes in each issue, each of which will have two dates to see if the hero or heroine is suitable for each other.
The project will not have a leader, but there will be experts whose task is to help them.
There will be a symbol in the show. Pendant in the form of a heart divided in two. If the heroes find their love, they will share it with the chosen one or the chosen one.

Well, everything seems to be clear - this is something like a marriage agency. They pick up a couple, go on a date and make a decision. There have been many such shows. What makes this show different?

Let's start in order

leading, experts.

Natalia Kholodenko and Boris Pahol

Their tasks: to get to know the hero, to pick up a mate for him, to guide the hero throughout the program (help with advice, action).

Heroes

I think, here is the main difference. Disabled people, overweight people, albinos, just modest people with communication problems, and many others participate in this program. Some of the series really turned out to be touching and light.

But. I don't understand, Why was it necessary to invite people to the program who frankly came there for fame? Great, they've done a lot of publicity, but it's almost impossible to watch "Halves" because of them.

If the heroes find their love, they will share it (the pendant) with the chosen one or the chosen one.

As a sign that they are ready to start a relationship with each other, they should exchange name pendants.

My opinion

The idea was good, but the implementation let us down. Somewhere you can see a frank staging, somewhere it's just unpleasant to look at freaks and people going to any program, just to be on TV.

The amount of hard-hitting overshadows the good, touching moments in the show.

Music(!)

That's what's in this show wonderful. The program has beautiful footage, which is accompanied by great music.

All in all, I don't think the show is necessary to watch, it might come in handy if you've had a hard day and want to take a break.

********* Update!**********

On Valentine's Day (14.02.16), they decided to please us and show special edition of the show "Halves". Here we will be told how the relationship of the characters developed after the project.

Everyone was invited to the ball. You can get there only through a mini-red carpet along which fans stand and through a conversation with expert psychologists.

Many couples stayed together, there are those who found their man outside the project. Several heroes began to meet with other project participants (that is, not with those whom the experts selected for them). I will consider the couples that interested me:

The guys came to the show together. After the project, Oksana's health has improved and she is becoming more independent.

This couple is an example of symbiosis from different series.

This couple didn't work out. Julia came to the ball with her boyfriend.

The most unexpected couple in my opinion

Maria, who suffered from anorexia, has changed the most

Everyone who watched the "Halves" project will surely remember how its heroes first appeared in the studio - "not like everyone else" either externally or internally. Boys and girls, feeling lonely, wanted one thing - to love and be loved.

For Valentine's Day, the New Channel filmed a special project about how the fate of the participants in this unusual reality turned out. In the meantime, we talked with the brightest participants in the project.

Marriage proposal at the cemetery

Sergey Levchenko is quite a healthy young man - cheerful, cheerful, positive and easy-going. His only problem is an artificial eye, his boyfriend lost his childhood. On the "Half" he met a charming blonde Ira Kuzmina. The girl's problem is poor eyesight. A spark immediately flashed between the young people.

On reality, the guys answered each other "yes" and continued to communicate. Today they already live together. Moreover, Sergei arranged for Irina a romantic trip to Lviv and made a marriage proposal. By the way, the guy was distinguished by his originality and for the solemn moment he chose not a restaurant or a picturesque place, but the Lychakiv cemetery. The girl appreciated the creativity and agreed.

When Seryozha told me that he made an engagement ring with his own hands, I realized that I would always be with this person, that this is my “half,” says Ira.

The king of glam rock Alex Angel found his queen

After meeting on the project, the life of the glamorous English-speaking performer and showman Alex Angel and Victoria Akhadova is literally in full swing - shocking Alex shoots new videos, and Vika arranges life for her beloved.

Our life has turned out great. All these months after filming, we met. And recently they decided to live together, - says Vika. - We never get bored, with Alex there is something to talk about. We are discussing future joint projects, possible participation in television shows, talking about ideas for Alex's videos. I like his songs, and I also love when he sings a cappella.

During the recording of the program, the singer admitted that he was not interested in any dummies, and since he is a king, his girlfriend should be a queen. This is how he saw Vika.

- "Halves" helped me find the relationship I dreamed of. Vika uses folk wisdom: "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." She tries very hard to cook all kinds of goodies, and she succeeds, - Alex shares. - And recently, at one of the romantic dinners, we had the idea to shoot a joint video.

Despite the fact that the couple has not lived together for so long, they already have established family rules.

When Alex and I wake up, we discuss my dress code in the apartment. He is the star of world music platforms. Therefore, the appearance of his girlfriend, even at home, must be appropriate, says Vika. - I shouldn't be walking around like a slut. Therefore, I try to take care of myself, I always wear sexy outfits that he chooses for me. Alex is a worthy and loving man. We are happy together!

"Demon of revenge" fell in love at first sight

Leonid Kubitsky always wore black and white make-up, was afraid to reveal his face in public and called himself "The Demon of Revenge". Project psychologists Natalya Kholodenko and Boris Pahol were able to find the reason for this particular behavior of the guy and helped him change. His romance with Christina, whom he met on reality TV, ended as soon as it began. Young people could not get along in one territory. However, Lenya was not left without a “half”. And now he is happy with one of the heroines of the project, whose name he does not want to name yet.

I saw the issue with this girl, and I liked her, - the guy admits. - Coincidentally, her relationship with the project participant also did not work out. We met, began to communicate, call up, correspond. After a while we decided to meet. Since then we have not parted.

Feelings at a distance

A few years ago, Oksana Kononets fell from the balcony of the 5th floor. The girl survived, but her cervical vertebrae were crushed, and for now she remains in a wheelchair. After participating in the project, Oksana believed in herself and saw an opportunity to build a career as a fashion model. Now she participates in all kinds of photo shoots and projects. The girl returned to active activities with a rehabilitation specialist and wants to move on her own again.

Denis Gud, who inspired Oksana to such accomplishments, became her very close friend. Denis did not participate in the project, but when he saw Ksyusha's profile, he came to "Halves" to meet her. Their relationship develops slowly due to the long distance: Oksana lives with her parents in Kyiv, and Denis in Melitopol. But in the near future the guy intends to move to the capital. So, very soon good friends can become a loving couple.

She loves yellow gerberas. They are hard to find even in Kyiv, but I try to please her every time, - says Denis.

Boris Pakhol and Natalya Kholodenko were the experts of the half project in 2015.
I must say that the project turned out to be really interesting:

Halves - Special Issue - 02/14/2016 (How was the fate of all the project participants? Why did Pavel Mishin come to the party alone?) expert psychologists Boris Pahol and Natalya Kholodenko invite all participants to the ball.

At 24, Vanya never kissed. Will he be able to attract Julia? Will the extreme girl Julia find a common language with the Buddhist Mark? Expert psychologists Boris Pahol and Natalya Kholodenko help our heroes understand themselves and change their stereotypes.

Ivan is the son of wealthy parents in a wheelchair. Vanya faced a serious choice. What will turn out for Vanya meeting with Yulia and Sonya.
All his life Alex was afraid of women. What will Marina do to wake up a man in Alexei? What decision will Alexey and Marina make?

Psychologists Boris Pahol and Natalya Kholodenko will find a way and do everything possible to find a soul mate for everyone.

Why does Masha weigh 31 kg with a height of 173 cm? Boris Pakhol's cruel experiment will make Masha rethink her whole life. Will Masha and Dima exchange pendants?
Pasha was born without arms and legs. And he really wants to be needed by someone. What will he do to win Taisiya's heart? What response will she get?

What prevents Katya from being happy? How did Oksana end up in a wheelchair? Nothing is impossible for our experts Boris Pahol and Natalia Kholodenko.

The main characters of the romantic show of the New Channel Halves are not like everyone else in terms of external parameters or worldview. Barbie girl and asexual, talented autistic and amputee fashion model, a former nun who returned to the world, and a gay who decided to become heterosexual. Society does not want to fit such people into generally accepted norms and thereby deprives them of the opportunity to be loved. The halves will fix this, find a true soul mate for each hero, and arrange a dream date that can change their fate forever.

Sergei needs a fire woman! Why is the beautiful Nastya so lonely? Experts Boris Pahol and Natalia Kholodenko answer these questions.

The main characters of the romantic show of the New Channel Halves are not like everyone else in terms of external parameters or worldview.

"Doll" Marina wants to remain a child, but is looking for a serious relationship. Nastya accuses the doctors that their mistake made her disabled. Psychologists experts Boris Pahol and Natalya Kholodenko find out what is really happening.

Why did Lenya choose the "dark side"? What does Julia want to see in a real man? Advice from Boris Pahol Natalia Kholodenko.

Why can't cover girl Elena find love? The mysterious Arius is looking for the perfect girl ally. They are assisted by project experts Boris Pahol and Natalya Kholodenko.

Why does singer Alex Angel need a soulmate? Albino Sergey and cheerful Anette need warmth. Boris Pahol and Natalya Kholodenko help them understand themselves and change.

NATALIA KHOLODENKO AND BORIS PAKHOL BECOMED THE EXPERTS OF THE PROJECT "HALF"

They will help to find a couple for the participants of the unique romantic project of the New Channel

It is difficult for the heroes of the touching and sincere show "Halves" to find love and believe in themselves. After all, they do not fit into the generally accepted norms of beauty because of their physical characteristics or worldview. But the experts will help the heroes overcome their fears. These are Natalia Kholodenko and Boris Pahol.

Natalia Kholodenko is a psychologist and personal growth coach. Areas of work: family therapy and personality harmonization. In the profession for over 12 years. Conducted trainings in more than 40 countries of the world.

Boris Pahol is a psychologist, business coach, consultant. Conducts training and consultations on issues of psychosocial development of a person, management consulting. 10 years of managerial and business experience, 20 years of teaching experience, 9000 hours of trainings and lectures, 2000 listeners.

They will become personal growth coaches, healers of souls and support for project participants.

“People come to our project for help, asking for love. They need not only to be supported, but also to be given real tools that will help them change and become happy,” says project manager Larisa Maltseva. – Natalia and Boris are the best in their business. Natasha is emotional. She says such words and in such a way that they immediately fall into the soul. These thoughts grow in a person's heart and soon bear fruit. And Borya is a rational. He hits the sickest person, realizing that this will make the person feel better. Gives bitter pills to make you feel better later. Each of them is a self-sufficient expert, but in tandem they are great. And as a result of the first filming, I'm surprised how accurate their predictions were.

"Halves" is a new romantic reality show that proves that true love knows no patterns or boundaries. Do not miss the premiere in the fall on the New Channel!

We are not accustomed to talking about our problems in public. We do not bare our souls with everyone, as the world around us is often unfriendly to the weak. This is part of our mentality. What then to say about people who have been living for years with a source of pain inside, mental and physical? Laura Maltseva, head of the "Halves" project, which premiered on Novy Kanal on September 22, 2015, says that all the heroes of this program went through "spiritual nudity". We talked with Laura about what the creators wanted to say with this project, about breaking stereotypes, the participants and the team, and also about how many couples formed in the end. There are many touching moments in the interview, as well as in the program, so we ask you to remove people with a callous soul from monitors.

Project info: The authors of the new romantic project "Halves" promise to help heroes who do not fit into the generally accepted norms of modern society find love. Every week, an experienced and all-seeing expert host will invite three participants to her place. And after meeting, he will try to find a couple for the heroes and arrange the first meeting. The authors of the show "Halves" will do everything possible so that young people get the most vivid impressions together, having been on a dream date, which may turn into love.

Original name:"Halves"
The country: Ukraine
Year: 2015
Genre: dating show
Number of episodes: 12
Channel:"New channel"
Project Manager: Laura Maltseva
Chief editor: Marina Gostra
Creative Producer: Maria Bila

How did it happen that you took on this project?

I came to Novy Kanal for this project. Initially, it is based on the British format "The Undateables" - "undateable" (Not to be confused with the American comedy television series of the same name, The Undateables, - approx. Mediasat) . This format prompted the channel's management to make a project about such people. I joined the project at the stage of the filmed "pilot".

The Undateables is a British reality documentary show. The participants of the show are people with physical or mental disabilities who in ordinary life cannot build relationships, but really want to love and be loved. The show premiered on April 3, 2012 on the public British television channel Channel 4. This year, viewers saw the fourth season of the project, which started on January 5, 2015. The first, second and third seasons had four episodes each, while the fourth season had five. The third season of Undateables in 2014 became the second most rated program of the broadcaster. Raising the controversial topic of building relationships with people with disabilities, the show caused a storm of emotions in social networks: up to 38 thousand (!) Tweets during one episode. British newspapers wrote that, despite the signs of a banal matchmaking, but the courage, humor and touchingness of his "stars" makes him "untouchable" and the viewer likes it. However, within one episode, people changed their minds from “this is indecent and offensive” to “this is the best show that you can’t help but admire.”

When I came to talk about this project and my work on the channel, I saw some kind of faith in the good in the eyes of people. I can honestly say that it is very rare for television people to talk not about the commercial side of the issue, but about people. At first I didn’t believe it, but I sat down comfortably in a chair and began to listen. And it was amazing what they told me. I stayed, and we ended up with a bright, but completely different project, not the same as in the UK.

As far as I know, the British at first did not take the name of the project very well, to put it mildly, “Not Suitable for Dating”. You probably took this into account when calling our product softer - "Halves".

We struggled with the name for a very long time. The format is British, respectively, the mentality of the audience is different, the economic situation is different, the presentation is different, the style is different. We will not work on a project called "Undating", "Not Suitable for Dates". We needed something warm, close to everyone, and the "Halves" somehow immediately took root. Every time people talk about love that has taken place, we say that such people are really halves.

To what extent are the formats strictly observed in the rest, or did you significantly deviate from the given mother standard?

Our project is so different that listing differences, talking about timing, or things like mixing and splitting stories within one episode is just ridiculous. I repeat that this project is unique, there is probably nothing like it anywhere in the world, at least I have not heard about it.

First of all, we have other participants. If in England we were talking about people who were not like everyone else, and these were people who were exceptionally ill, even if they were not in a wheelchair from birth, then our participants are different in spirit, they do not give up, they live a full life. They don't consider themselves sick, you know? Even those who were born with cerebral palsy or without arms. For example, one of our girls with cerebral palsy is a multiple champion in swimming. A hard of hearing girl is a champion skier. If the participants do not have sports regalia, then they are still unique: someone without fingers knows how to knit, embroider, hammer nails ...

Never in your life in another project will you see how cerebral palsy is engaged in banjo jumping. You will never see a girl who is hard of hearing do a bodybuilder jock on water skis. Or a girl who was brought up in a boarding school, whose peculiarity is that one leg is shorter than the other and there are no fingers on her hands, became a megasexual model. And with her such a photo session that many models who have five fingers on their hands never dreamed of such a thing. There is so much sensuality, emotionality and some deep, deep beauty in it.

And we see them like this: bright, interesting. When you talk about people who are not like everyone else, you really want there to be no such veil of heaviness that usually surrounds and crushes them, which reaches out for specialized festivals and stories. As a rule, a social project is a holy, kind thing, but, unfortunately, sad.

Did you manage to make the project different, not sad?

The project is primarily about love, and the program turned out to be bright and even cheerful. There is a feeling that "Halves" is like a sip of clean water. They also make those who touch it cleaner, whether they are those who work in its production, whether they are spectators or participants.

Regarding the name of the British "mother" format - The Undateables - a storm broke out on Twitter as well. And even before the audience saw the first release of the program, the British Daily Mail writes about this. The audience was outraged by the fact that the creators of the project ranked people with disabilities as “unsuitable for a date”, which is quite humiliating. To which the representatives of the TV channel said that the name reflects only the attitude of society towards such people and it is deliberately provocative and aimed at challenging stereotypes and stimulating debate.

How many people are working on the project, and how difficult was it to form a team?

The project team today has about 120 people. They were selected gradually, people crawled from everywhere, gathered, someone was eliminated. But now I am ready to subscribe to every word of this proposal: there are no random people here.

Who dropped out?

Those who were uncomfortable, uncomfortable. Who does not live this project. There were those who can not sleep, not eat, not drink, live by filming and for whom this is a normal mode. It was very difficult to find people, really. And not by skill level or track record. I understood with whom and under what conditions editors and directors would have to work, and I compared it with what I saw in the candidates who came. There are very few people on the market who are still able to believe in good, who love people. It’s not customary to talk about this, we don’t discuss “how we love people!”. But it either exists or it doesn't. When one of the candidates for the directors of this project told me: “Well, here I understand, but what are we doing with these disabled people?”, I thought and said to her: “Goodbye!”.

On the day we started this project, our team had no idea what they were going to face. We were in such high spirits: "Oh, guys, let's help them!". But to whom - them? There are such people ... what to call them? Not like everyone else? Yes, perhaps not like everyone else. This, such a fairly common definition, is most of all fixed, because “people with special needs” somehow doesn’t sound very good. Honestly, in our country this definition has a special stamp, a special connotation, really unpleasant.

Why did you decide that there would be no traditional presenters, only expert psychologists?

And not a place for traditional leaders in this project. What to lead? What to present if we decided to help people in this project? Here, in fact, every minute in the frame and behind the scenes is help. Not only the expert equips the guy for a date (although he always holds his hand, reassures), but the guys from the set - cameramen, directors - also advise something. One, for example, they shaved before a date. It's impossible to film everything! And when one guy says to another: “No, dude, this is a mess, I’ll comb your hair!” is worth a lot.

How did you search for "not like everyone else"? This is a difficult question, because such people on television, and even in a program about love ... not everyone will decide.

I can’t even count how many paths were sent to search for our heroes, because they were looking for the whole world. When we entered the project, the casting department, which is on Novy Kanal, rushed to help us. They are very big smarties, sent all their strength to help us. They searched through social networks, published a profile on the site and gradually, quietly found people. And then they generally searched for the whole TV channel and found it in McDonald's, on the street, at bus stops, in the neighbors.

What were the criteria?

Very blurry. If you are not like everyone else, and because of this it is difficult for you, because of this you are alone - come here, to us! This is the most important criterion. And we realized that we are not like everyone else - on every corner. So ask yourself: are you like everyone else? Are you not a white crow? Maybe you are hiding it carefully?

Many of the people who become our members have physical features, but this is not a prerequisite. They are not like others, it is more difficult for them to find love, they are not always understood and accepted, but they have not given up and are shocking by the very fact of their existence, by the way they live. The saturation of life. Now, if they have not laid down their hands and are really ready to fight, we take them.

In parallel with such people, we have others. One episode of "Halves" is 90 minutes, for a TV project - a lot of time. There are two stories in the episode. And next to those who have physical features, in one program there are people with psychological features.

For example?

For example, you can see in the project one line about a man who was born without two legs and without arms. Next - about a guy who is 23 years old and he has never kissed. Special. Or someone who really wants to be noticed. And the best thing I came up with was taking pictures of my butt and posting it on social networks. It is not customary to talk about it, but it happens in society. These are our people.

Your colleagues said that more than 3,000 people took part in the castings.

Castings are a separate epic. Our members are big smarties because they come and they are ready to talk. I am grateful to everyone who became a participant, and to those who came, but did not. It is a big - a big step - to speak openly about your problem, not wanting, in general, publicity and stardom, and despite the fact that this project exposes everything. Moreover, we have “nudity” both literally and figuratively. Everyone bares their soul, it is impossible to remain “dressed” in this project. Strip naked and deep. But it is very difficult for our people to open up.

Did psychologists help?

Yes, psychologists worked on the project. They really got involved and helped. But I take my hat off to our editors. The Halves editors are the people who interviewed the casting participants and then led them all the way to the set.

Castings were difficult emotionally. From time to time, the cameras turned off and the casting was stopped, because the editor got up from his seat, came close to the person, knelt down and explained - I am also alive and I feel like you, I want to hear you, I will not hurt. And during the filming of the project, at first the cameras turned off quite often, because people were uncomfortable. In a teaspoon hour, the editors taught our participants to open up, to face the situation boldly, even if there were some flaws. This must be done so that the dream becomes a reality, so as not to be a loner anymore.

Probably, this is also the difference, because Western people are more liberated.

Certainly. In the West, there is a different mentality, for example, in our country they only heard about ramps. And you walk around New York - people with hearing aids, in wheelchairs share the road with ordinary passers-by. And these people in wheelchairs fully move around the city themselves. They go in for shopping, sports, there are a lot of them on the streets, but we don’t. And not because there are fewer such people in our country, but because there are no conditions for them, and they sit at home.

At the same time, look how beautiful they are, both physically and spiritually. But they do not have the conditions for life. Here is a simple example: a guy, inviting a girl to a restaurant, remains downstairs because there is no ramp, and he cannot overcome the steps in a wheelchair.

How were the meetings organized? Were the wishes of the heroes of the project taken into account?

We took into account, and all and the most impossible too. We generally understood here that the impossible does not exist. A huge staff of people - I'm talking about the creative team, and administrators, location managers, cameramen, sound engineers, technical support - people all over the world fulfilled the wishes of crazy lovers. How these people know how to love, you never dreamed of! Their imagination knows no bounds. But what it cost us to realize their dream of an ideal date, only the people who made these desires a reality know. There were underground dates, where, under the threat of the life and integrity of the equipment, with a huge amount of lighting equipment, wet cables, cameras in the rain, film crews barely squeezed between the pipes so that the boy could arrange a dream digger date. Dates on planes, under planes, with parachutes, at night ... There was almost everything you can think of.

There was a date where, for the sake of love, a man on prostheses instead of legs climbed the bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral. This is a holy place, an observation deck, from where only physically trained photographers take pictures of Kyiv. When you look at this, you want to do the impossible. In this project, everyone did the impossible. The word "no" did not exist. We have a project about love, which you can’t approach formally - we do this, but we don’t. These are not only butterflies and rainbows, although they were also present in abundance, both rainbows and butterflies.

What impressed you the most?

Much. But, probably, it was important to feel that we seemed to be helped from there, from above. For example, there was a story about a guy who remained a virgin deep into his thirties. This is an absolute problem, he needed to change something in himself. At that moment, when his possible half spoke about this problem for the first time, it was raining like a wall. As soon as they started talking and got out of the car, a rainbow was halfway across the sky. How can it be?

And how did you search for "halves" for the main characters?

We posted profiles of participants on the site and people who would like to try to build relationships with them came to us, called and so on. Somehow they got in touch. We even talked to people from other CIS countries. But at the same time, we understood that we have enough potential heroes of our own, this is the first, and the second - due to the situation that has developed in the country, it is physically difficult for people from other countries to come to us to shoot. But we still filmed our own, no matter what - the Crimeans, and the guy from the Donetsk region. What effort did their arrival cost? How much nerves, effort, time was spent by the project team? This is a different story.

The results of trying to pair up were sometimes very unexpected. For example, a girl who had a problem with her face participated in the program. One part is normal, beautiful, and the other ... the other, as if two different people. This topic is insanely painful for a girl who is really beautiful, who plows over her body, who is aimed at success, which this part of her face pulls down into the abyss, does not allow to be happy.

This girl spoke quite sincerely about her problem and her loneliness. When she was offered to build a relationship with a completely nice guy, who, in fact, was the last thing interested in her external feature, the couple did not work out - they did not agree on the characters. It's not about physical moments, but about what happens in our head.

There were many couples that formed, can you brag?

But after all, very little time has passed since the moment of acquaintance?

Yes, it's been a while. The guys had essentially two big dates, but each one was like a small life. Such a date could go on during the day and into the night. After the dates, where they were led, they were guided by experts, after talking with the group, people with or without a couple left the project different. They even changed their manner of speaking, gait, posture. I did not accidentally cited this girl as an example. A wheelchair, a prosthesis is something superficial. People are made lonely by their cockroaches in the head. Therefore, this project is not about people with special needs. This project is about each of us.

As far as I understand, the project has already been filmed completely?

Today (September 21 - approx. Mediasat) last shooting day. But work on the project continues, castings do not stop. I don't know if we can talk about the second season, and if we will talk about it, but anything is possible. Filming ends, work on the project - no. If you think that after filming, our editors stop communicating with the heroes of the project, then this is not so.

People sometimes get the impression that this is exactly what is happening - the project was filmed and that's it.

I can say for sure that when the shooting is over, the crew doesn't let go of the contestant, and the contestant doesn't let go of the crew. This project is related and you know what a common holiday it is when someone loudly announces: “Oh, Vanya wrote that they kissed again!”. It became our main victories and medals.

What was the most difficult or unexpected thing for you?

I don't want to talk about difficulties. What is unexpected? I knew that this project would be a revolution, but I did not think it would be so much. To be honest, I did not expect that it would be possible to break the ice to the end, to reach out to people. I never thought that our participants, people who had to defend themselves all their lives, would be so grateful, so open to love and good relations. And this breakdown, when the girl, who always spoke in a whisper, already says in a well-trained voice: “I am beautiful!” ... I thought that this only happens in the movies.

It was very difficult for me to be in all places at the same time. We had six film crews working, three of them, alternating week after week, filmed their stories in parallel. And when something urgent happened to everyone at the same time, and this is something - a revolution of the world and the demolition of the brain - it was not easy. For example, the police came to the site to someone, somewhere the film crew refuses to leave the site at three in the morning, because the heroes have a romance, which means that we won’t sleep for another day. And the film crew does not drink champagne with the characters, declaring their love and soaring on wings. But they understood that it was necessary. And in the third film crew, for example, suddenly the hero decided that he needed a parachute. Yes, he must jump for the sake of his beloved and definitely tomorrow morning! And this is a guy with cerebral palsy, and this is at night. It's impossible to do so quickly. But in this project, so much desire was concentrated to make love real and change life, that, I repeat, everything was possible.

I am very glad that such a project happened in my life, because it is happiness for a TV man to do what you want, and the way you want.

11:35 24.09.2015

Perhaps, I didn’t wait for a single TV premiere this season as much as the start of the Halves project on Novy Kanal. He intrigued me at the idea stage: what can be done with the British Undateables format after the chic American version? Generally, I was very curious how the team of Laura Maltseva would cope with its adaptation. And in general - how such an outlandish television plant will look like on Ukrainian soil. After all, our society, you see, is not as tolerant as in countries where this show is taken for granted.

After watching the trailer, already from the first story, I was expecting something that tickled my nerves. More precisely, a person who, due to physical characteristics, cannot count on the attention of the opposite sex.

And here is a pretty girl.

Two arms, two legs. Proper facial features. No seemingly flaws. Well, except for excessive thinness: the first heroine of the first issue of "Halves" is an anorexic. And then - thinness under the dress. And in general, in our society, as is customary: the thinner, the more beautiful.

However, you should not be surprised: I remember that the creators of the project told me that they decided to move away from the format as much as possible and create their own in a British wrapper, focusing on mental anguish. Well, let's say: sincere - so sincere. Although they, these mental torments, we now have heaps in any project, including a talent show. But the "Halves" still intrigued others.

This concludes my claims. Believe it or not, for the next hour and a half I searched in vain for something to complain about. And I don't think I found it.

Here is at least an interview with the heroine: clearly, not drawn out, but emotionally and dramatically very clearly built.

And the story turned out to be really creepy: a beautiful 16-year-old girl 8 years ago decided to just kill herself by refusing food. Now she already weighs as much as 40 kg with a height of 173 - she finally agreed to go to the rehab center. And once she weighed 31 kg and calmly told her mother in which dress to bury her.

As the psychologists of the project found out, all this was in order to punish the father, who did not pay due attention to his daughter.

By the way, about psychologists. I thought for a long time who Natalya Kholodenko reminds me of. Remember the program “Understand. Forgive"? It's like they took it from there. And the coach Boris Pahol clearly claims the laurels of Dmitry Karpachev: he spoke menacingly to the heroine, immediately denounced and demanded to immediately apologize to his relatives for bullying them for so many years. Well, in the end, each channel needs its own Karpachev.

In any case, psychologists in "Halves" are not the main characters. They are something between presenters and a tool for interrupting between stories. One of their main functions is announce the decision of the producers decide which person to “assign” as half of the hero.

For example, they decided to bring the depressive and withdrawn Masha together with a cheerful red-haired bearded man - toastmaster Dima by the name of Krendel.

As for the second hero... Sorry, I didn't introduce you to the second hero. That's where the story is! For her, one casting of "Halves" can be put a solid "five".

Pavel Myshev was born without legs and hands - "congenital amputation" - and was abandoned by his parents in an orphanage. But at the same time, he did not become bitter, he remained a romantic, skates, dances, goes in for sports, draws, embroiders ... And he still hopes to forget the girl who left him ten years ago for his own "full-fledged" friend, and meet a man who will appreciate his heart.

At this point, even I, I confess, wept.

In general, they found a suitable, seemingly suitable woman for Pavel:

33-year-old Taisiya herself once survived a car accident, because of which she said goodbye to her beloved dances and her beloved husband. So they would obviously have something to talk about.

Well, let's go bye.

Masha with redhead Dima sent prepare chocolate (which the girl, of course, flatly refused to eat) and distribute it to passers-by

They helped Pavel arrange breakfast on the grass for Taisia

Then conflicts began: Masha and Dima - slightly far-fetched (he supposedly did not know that the girl was being treated for anorexia, and when she had to return from a date to the rehab center by eight in the evening, he was allegedly offended), Taya and Pavel - life: both - strong personalities, and no one wanted to concede.

Well, as without testing:

Taya with injured legs and fear of heights and Pavel on prostheses were offered to climb the bell tower of the Belfry of the Pechersk Lavra

Masha was taken ... to the cemetery

Where Pahol brought the girl to the grave with her name...

He put her, beating in hysterics, in a coffin and began to throw earth at it ...

Cruel, but effective: in the coffin, Masha rethought everything and suddenly wanted to live!

And then the cheerful Dima asked for a date with her parents and immediately explained to Masha's dad that he was wrong in relation to his daughter.

Dad, characteristically, immediately realized everything

And, finally, the most exciting moment: will the couples work out?

Here, in my opinion, everything was quite logical: Dima suggested that Masha “be friends for the time being” (well, at least, honestly).

Taya said “yes” to Pavel. It is difficult to predict whether their couple will form outside the frame: I hope the Halves team will someday shoot the release of Life After the Show. But the main goal, I think, has been achieved: people who had no hope got it. And we, healthy and "ordinary", saw that there is another world. And that its inhabitants also need love and attention.

The "Halves" lasted almost two hours (without advertising - an hour and 35 minutes), but there was no irresistible desire to switch. Everything had an effect: high-quality casting, development of stories, and correct editing (I say nothing superfluous), and a very moderate, just in the right “dose”, the presence of psychologists, and sufficient, but not speculative drama.

In general, congratulations: the show has learned worthy. It remains only for the audience of the channel to appreciate it. So far, the figures are as follows: 5.79% and 6.95% for audiences 18-54 (50+) and 14-49 (50+).

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