Meet Gorica Regodić | Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gorica Regodić and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gorica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I could not say that I started my own business, I am my own business, but it is not yet in the aspect and scope in which I would definitely like to do it one day. And that business will certainly be related to film and music. It seems to me that we have started to underestimate the audience and I would like to change that. It looks like the more tools we have, the less we know what to do with them. Films that we remember and that bear the epithet cult became so because of the way of storytelling, the idea, or because they were the first to deal with certain topics, or they talked about them in a new way. Many of them were not technically difficult to shoot, but they dealt with some major life themes. Today, it seems to me that mainstream films tend primarily to be visual, film is a visual medium (av) and that is normal, but unfortunately at the expense of the quality of the story and characters. I’m afraid that it has become more important for us that the film is beautiful, than that it has something to say. I saw this advert somewhere online and it stuck with me: Maybe they’re called movies because they move people… attention must be paid to the story and the idea, because there are so many stories that could be told, especially now with so many tools, but it is necessary to choose stories that are essential, that are truthful , that are inspiring and timeless. The film deals with life and truth, not with imitation, but with capturing those life moments that make us human. And everything that is human is not foreign to me. So I have chosen my profession wisely, but I’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for me. I would like to make program for an audience that is ready not to be underestimated.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to do and have done various types of art, often encountering disapproval from the environment, because in difficult times no one believes that you will be able to make a living from art. So my choices encountered obstacles in the form of society already in elementary school. Strange nicknames, but also some of the real friends that I will remember forever. I was an excellent student, I went to competitions in mathematics, physics, drawing, writing (poetry), and none of the above ceased to interest me. But I realized that in acting I can unite all my loves and passions and that I will always have space to work on myself, to research and to develop.

When you’re an artist you’re your own business, and it’s not always easy but it is always fun, or interesting, new, and therefore exciting, and I don’t know many jobs that are always exciting, without risking your life. Everything you learn counts, knowledge is power, and there will come a time to use that skill you practiced, or a new language, and all of that will help you get the bigger picture of the world around you, understand it better and evolve as an artist, but most importantly as a human. And let’s not forget, the fact that you are developing as a human being does not mean that you are better than others, only that you are more aware and therefore have a greater responsibility to contribute to the community or the world. With great power comes great responsibility. The responsibility to, for example, bring young people closer to culture, to inspire them, to educate them and teach them to think for themselves, comment and discuss. To produce some eagerly awaited noble content. To experiment.

Since I deeply believe in the value of art and its application, I try to offer some solutions or some observations through it, to draw attention to some problems. Currently, in addition to acting, we (Nenad Grujić, Arsenije Čudić and myself) are working on our first album, the band is called Roditelji (The Parents) and I hope that we will present ourselves to the audience by the end of this year. Through our lyrics we talk about social issues…
Projects which I am particularly proud of, because they showed us how much art can influence the community, are Rijaliti u invalidskim kolicima/Reality in wheelchairs and Rijaliti sa belim štapom/Reality with a white cane, the creator of which is our well-known comedian and actress Sandra Silađev, and directed by Marta Fiš. These are two documentaries that you and your readers can watch on YouTube, which were aimed to draw attention to the infrastructural inadequacy for the lives of people with disabilities. We also dealt with the position of the disabled in our society, but I think that their position in most parts of the world is the same as here. At the moment when the films were shared with the public, we received messages with recordings from various parts of Serbia where neighbors and friends were making driveways for wheelchairs, etc. We have succeeded in something- we made people think, but not just that, we made them act! Art can help.

In general, I don’t think growing up is easy. My friends were always a good influence on me and we learned a lot through playing. My high school days were marked by socializing with juggling, bicycles, skates, roller blades, and many gigs. Juggling was possibly my first job. Not bad, right?
But that doesn’t mean that life isn’t full of obstacles. I learned that giving up is not an option…everything has its price, I don’t mean money…when the price is too high for you, then you give up. Although, first you have to see if there is another way, and that withdrawal does not have to be permanent, just immediate until the conditions are met, which is a normal, healthy option. It is important that you always give yourself the right to choose and an honest assessment of the situation. Both in business and privately, and time will play a role whether you want it or not, so it’s better to take it into account.

He who dares wins, as Del boy says. Risks are necessary, to move you out of the comfort zone, which is a yard for stagnation, to provide you with new possibilities, perspectives of observation… without risk there are no surprises. Risks are your choices, your hunger for change, which you consciously enter into. I think Heraclitus said that the same person cannot step into the same water twice, so everything changes and that’s normal and we don’t need a guarantee that everything will be ok, because maybe it won’t be, but that’s life, and when you’re born there is no sign that says that life has to be fair, good and peaceful, right?
Of course, not every risk is profitable, this time next year not all of us will be millionaires. But if you don’t try, you won’t even know, and regret leaves a bitter mark, because time passes and cannot be returned…maybe it’s a bigger risk not to take the risk?

I would never have done acting if I hadn’t taken the risk. my parents were not delighted with the uncertainty that this profession brings with it, I understood that, but I knew that it was my decision and that I would regret it for the rest of my life or not… after all, who can guarantee that you will be successful in whatever you study, success is not mandatory, no one can guarantee it, isn’t it better to do what makes you happy…for me, that’s success. And the ability to reset yourself, to find peace, your personal peace, to return to point zero after every task, because that is the only position from which you can continue creating. And creation in itself is the greatest achievement in every segment of life and profession, be it art or science. Success is also finding a measure, living in harmony with oneself, enjoying freedom on one hand and participating in the collective, working towards a higher goal, on the other. Success is making your life worthwhile. Giving yourself a purpose.

I also learned that persistence, playfulness, self-discipline, curiosity and luck are crucial to succeed, and I would feel much at ease if we let the audience judge the rest. As for my wishes related to work I would like to expand and test myself on the grater scale, and build on my experience with even more interesting roles in international and English language film productions. As for the ones you could see at the moment – the movie Vampir/Vampir is on Amazon on demand and Pored mene/Next to me with English subtitles on YouTube (Golden Arena for The Best Feature Film, Pula Film Festival 2015.). And we are expecting the new Hellraiser this year, yours truly, the Mother.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you have decided to come to Serbia, you come here because of the wonderful and hospitable people. Everything else depends on personal preferences.

if you are interested in going out and music, in addition to the Exit festival in Novi Sad and Belgrade’s nightlife, I also recommend the Zajecar guitar festival, Arsenal Fest in Kragujevac, for trumpet fans there is the festival in Guca, and for jazz fans Nishville and Belgrade Jazz Festival.
If you are a culture vulture you can find some of the oldest archaeological sites in Europe on the territory of today’s Serbia, hence you can visit Lepena Whirlpool, Sirmium, Viminacium, Vinča, Starčevo, Medijana, Gamzigrad, fortresses Kalemegdan in Belgrade, Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad, Diana (made by emperor Trajan, as Pontes and Trajan’s tablet) , Ram, Golubac fortress, Smederevo fortress…
If you like active holidays I can recommend visiting Lake Palić for some swimming and horse riding, Tara mountain a treasure trove of activities for adrenaline junkies- kayaking on the Drina river, cruising on the Drina canyon, swim and enjoy on Zaovine and Perućac lake, go on a canyoning hiking tour, go on a mountain bike tour, or a bear watching tour. Go to Divčibare where you will have dozens of opportunities such as archery, Adventure Park, Zip Line, Panoramic cable car ride, and numerous organized bicycle paths suitable for all levels, or on kayak adventure in Uvac where you will also be able to enter the Uvac cave system, which can only be accessed via the lake…
You shouldn’t worry about food in Serbia, we are known for our generous meals, don’t worry you won’t go hungry.

and before you decide to visit us, watch a famous Yugoslav or Serbian film, you might fall in love.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of people are responsible for my success…I would like to thank my closest friends because they put up with me when nothing went right. And to the family that supported me unreservedly, and still does. Then a big thank you to Stevan Filipovic for my first chance on the screen, and to Mira Karanovic for accepting me in her class and thereby enabling me to start my career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorica_regodic/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorica-regodic-b3356057/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4Vmfw2gbTzdkBz0DYYgbSQ

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6244405/

Image Credits
Kristina Lukic, Tamara Antonovic, Strahinja Bicanin, Mladen Maric.