Actor and comedian Michal Kubovčík is known by many for his sense of humor and witty banter while appearing on many shows. However, he decided to develop his creativity with a goal other than just entertaining viewers. Higher. This is Michal Kubovčík as you (maybe) don't know him.
"I was already writing my sketches as a child and I was very much attracted to the things I saw on television as a child. It wasn't just films and series, but also authorial skits, whether it was Kaiser and Lábus, Bohdalová and Menšík, Lasica and Satinský or Radošinci. I felt that relaxation and joy from them. It's not just moving a piece of work forward, but also that I'm moving something forward to the world," Michal Kubovčík recalls of his childhood. In high school, he studied stonemasonry, which his grandfather introduced him to. After that, however, his steps led him to acting at the Academy of Performing Arts.
"I struggled a bit at school, even my classmates and teachers knew that I would write, rehearse, and perform. Only the artistic performance did I really say as it was written, I adapted the other texts and said them in my own way. Of course, with respect for the authors. I couldn't always do it, but when I could, I did it," laughs Kubovčík.
His creativity has always been something that has been struggling to the surface, so its natural outcome was his own project. "Tomáš Baťa already said that serve people and the world will find its way to your door. Even though it might seem that even that fun is "just" fun, it is also a big deal. If you bring fun, joy, laughter to someone who has either a more complicated, more difficult life, or is overworked, and with that humor they relax, the goal has been achieved, the service has been fulfilled. We don't have to look for art worthy of Dostoevsky behind everything. Bringing someone joy, relaxation, the opportunity to forget about worries, problems for a moment, bringing relief, perspective, that in itself is worth it." Nevertheless, his project Baťtrng (available onYouTube ) is not only about fun, but also about education and added value.
Bashtrng and SEPRP
Baštrng started as a quick crisis solution for young people before exams or graduation in compulsory literature topics. Michal Kubovčík presents literary works through Baštrng in various interesting ways - through song, stand-up, animation or drama. However, he knew from the beginning that Baštrng would also include his great hobby - first aid, and so the videos from the SEPRP (Sedlácka prvá pomoc) series were created.
"I've been doing first aid since I was about twelve years old. I attended the Red Cross club, went to competitions... I think that teaching people first aid is much more important than knowledge of literary works, so no one gets offended. Yes, literature is important for the culture and education of a nation, but if as a nation we die out on the streets because no one helps us, then there is no one to spread that culture to." Literature was therefore only Baštrng's first step towards people knowing that this channel is trustworthy and that they can rely on it. "I knew that when they learn to go to this address, they will then find what I consider to be the most important thing in life - first aid. Because if you don't know Mor ho, you'll probably get a 5, which you can fix. But if you don't know the basics of first aid, when someone close to you or a stranger is in a life-threatening condition and you don't intervene, there is no way to fix it."
Even though healthcare is his big hobby, he is glad he didn't go to study medicine. "If I were directly in the healthcare sector, I might not have the space, time and opportunities to do such outreach. But by being connected to media channels, I can serve the healthcare sector for outreach purposes, I can invent something, implement it and record it for them. The fact that it saves lives is an added value, but I really enjoy it," says Kubovčík.
He himself has found himself in a situation where he has used his knowledge from the first aid course more than once. "Some say I attract it, but I rather perceive and see these situations in my surroundings. And I am pleased that the people I have introduced, whether through personal contact or through an online project to first aid, have often used their knowledge and saved lives. That is great," Kubovčík is pleased and reveals that the stories of these people will soon appear on Baštrng in the section How Baštrng Saved Lives.
Come for a pint and other dimensions
Also new in Baštrng is the series Come for a pint – an interview during blood donation, which, in addition to interesting guests and their testimonies, also has the value of a bag filled with precious blood. "I choose respondents so that it has some meaning. First of all, they must be people who are not afraid to donate blood, are already former donors or are not afraid to be first-time donors, and also people whose opinions I want to spread. People who need to be given more space and have something to say," explains Kubovčík. The first parts can already be found onthe Baštrng profile , but you can also look forward to other great experts – doctors, scientists, mental coaches, educators...
This year, another dimension of the project – spelling – should be added to Baštrng in a playful and clear form.
Baštrng operates online on theYouTube channel, but Michal Kubovčík and his medical staff often visit pupils and students in person. "When 60 children try CPR, it gets more than 10,000 likes on social media. Because I don't know if anyone actually watched the video or ate and talked to someone while doing it. We don't want to live only digitally, that's why we visit schools."
Acting and Impersonation
Although first aid and Baštrng are Michal Kubovčík's great passions, his main profession still remains acting. He has played at the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra (DAB), the Radošín Naive Theatre, the Slovak National Theatre and others. "I currently have two performances at Studio L + S - The Destruction of the Titanic and Day of Joy. We were able to stage both plays ourselves with Svět Malachovský, with whom I perform in them, we have freedom in our creation. And together with Jožek Adamčík, we are now preparing a new play. We play what we enjoy. And that is really a dream. To do what I enjoy. How many people can say that?"
In the summer, the premiere of the film Miki, about a mafia boss, where Michal Kubovčík played the brother of Mikuláš Černák, was held. "We met a great group of people while filming Miki, we grew up together in DAB - Milan Ondrík, Martin Nahálka, Tuli Vojtek, Juraj Loj... We knew each other from school and from the theater, and even though the topic of the film was difficult, we got along very well together. And I also enjoyed filming just as much as an actor. With Baštrng, I take care of everything, the script, whether the camera is working, the sound is being recorded, whether it will be edited well, etc. But again, I have it all under control and it is exactly how I want it," the filmmaker compares with filming his own project.
In addition to his theater, film, and TV acting, Michal Kubovčík is also known for his impersonations. "Together with Juraj Ďuriš, who is also an excellent impersonator, we once had a duo, a battle, a collaboration, or whatever I call it. We both did various "mischief" with our voices over the phone," laughs Kubovčík. "I'm currently working on new voices, media- or artistically well-known, and there are even voices that no one has done before. Despite the fact that they are people that everyone knows, not everyone dares to do them. So I'll wait until it matures and then I'll go out with it."
Childhood memories
Since Michal Kubovčík is a customer of the Alain Delon brand and often hosts shows in our clothes, he also told us about his relationship with fashion. "It's obvious that I'm not a fashion icon. I prefer to wear T-shirts and sweatshirts. In private, I prefer simplicity and inconspicuousness. But perhaps it's because I play in different costumes that I've enjoyed the absolute misery at work, even the best that fashion has to offer. Many may not experience the feeling of wearing a custom-made suit or boots... For me, it was an experience, absolute comfort. I would give it to everyone," says Kubovčík, adding that his most beautiful childhood memories are connected with fashion.
"My grandparents on my mother's side worked at the OTEX - Clothing store. Grandma was the manager and grandpa was the economic assistant. When grandma had an inventory at the store in Petržalka, we would go to work with her from school or kindergarten with our sisters, cousins, and cousins, and it was great. We played hide-and-seek among the suits, stood in the window as mannequins while grandpa made price tags or arranged. It was a magical world. Everything smelled good there. We liked trying things on, hiding in the warehouse, were afraid of mannequins. We created images in the mirrors with side wings, duplicated ourselves, created infinite space..." smiles Kubovčík. "Grandma lived to be a beautiful 96 years old and, well into her old age, she could guess sizes and measurements by heart and appreciate quality tailoring. It's something wonderful for me too, I really admire crafts and handwork."
Photo: Michal Kubovčík archive, Ctibor Bachratý, CinemArt SK, Jaroslav Repta
