Main points
- Volodymyr Zavadyuk plans to revive “Star Factory”, promising a new approach to music and talent search.
- The first winner of “Star Factory” was the group “Dangerous Connections”, which included Olya Tsybulska – she continues her successful career in Ukraine.
The first winner of “Star Factory” / Collage Show 24
Recently, showbiz was rocked by big news: Volodymyr Zavadyuk plans to revive “Star Factory”. This talent show was one of the most popular on TV screens about 15 years ago. The cult format will return to inspire and support talented young performers.
- 1 What is known about the “Star Factory”?
- 2 Where are the first winners of “Star Factory” now?
Volodymyr Zavadyuk promised that the restart will not repeat the old seasons – it will be as relevant as possible and will contain new approaches to music, talent search, and song release. 24 Channel will tell you more about the project format and who was the first winner of this show in Ukraine.
What is known about the “Star Factory”?
The idea for the talent show belongs to the Spanish television company Gestmusic, which is the one that launched the Star Academy format.
However, the project began broadcasting in France in 2001. Following it, “academies” opened in many other countries. This format was one of the most popular at the time.
In Ukraine, the first season of the “Star Factory” project was released in 2007, its producer was Anna Lipovetskaya. The role of the producer in the show was one of the most important, because it was he who was responsible for the participants and their improvement. The second season was produced by Natalia Mogilevskaya, the third by Konstantin Meladze, and the fourth by Sergey Kuzin.
Participants of the “Star Factory” / Photo from the New Channel's Instagram
According to the terms of the project, 16 musicians – 8 boys and 8 girls who lived in the “star house” – took part in the show. During the competition, they performed various exercises and improved their voice, artistry, plasticity, etc. Each week their work was summed up with a concert.
The jury chose the weakest, and the audience voted and helped choose who would stay – and so on until the winner.
Many of today's successful Ukrainian performers are alumni of the “Star Factory.” For example, Dmytro Kadnay, Volodymyr Dantes, Dasha Astafieva, Vadym Oliynyk, Svitlana Tarabarova, Vlad Darwin, Max Barskykh, Kolya Serga, MamaRika.
Where are the first winners of “Star Factory” now?
The first season of “Star Factory” aired almost 20 years ago on “New Channel”. The winner was the group “Dangerous Connections”, whose members were Olya Tsybulska and Oleksandr Bodiansky.
The duet “Dangerous Liaisons” on the “Star Factory”: watch the video online
After the show, the duo even started a romantic relationship. But it didn't last long: Alexander suddenly left the singer a note and left for Russia.
The singer is likely to remain there. After the start of the full-scale invasion, Tsybulska told how her husband reacted to the war.
When the war started, he wrote to me: “Olenka, how are you?”, I said: “Sasha, we have a war, don't you see?” And he wrote: “It's just the planet Venus from Mercury, this change of belts…” And I just couldn't stand it: I started sending photos of what was happening, articles that were published about children who were saved by doctors and who died, and everything else, and he said: “You think it will pass,”
– the artist recalled.
Olya Tsybulska and Oleksandr Bodiansky / Photo from Olya Tsybulska's Instagram
Now Olya Tsybulska is a famous singer and presenter who continues to develop her career in Ukraine, releasing songs, and giving concerts. She is one of the few from the first season of “Factory” who did not disappear from the information space and remained in show business.
I spoke Ukrainian when it was not the norm. Neither for artists, nor for participants, nor for presenters. After the project – a year of therapy. Because reality is not glamour, but a real express showbiz. I would not let my child into such a show. But I would say “yes” to myself again – without hesitation. Because this project gave me the most important thing – my viewer,
– Olya Tsybulska shared her thoughts.
Olya Tsybulska at the “Star Factory” / Photo from Olya Tsybulska's Instagram
What other projects are coming back?
The shows So You Think You Can Dance and Name That Tune will also return to television screens, where stars will demonstrate their knowledge of music.
Instead, new for Ukrainian viewers will be the show Destination X about little-known places in Ukraine and the program “Would I Lie to You?” with the participation of comedians from “Lions in a Jeep.”