What Dictators Dream About

2023 /15 min / Drama. Political Thriller.

In his televised address, the long-term Russian dictator announces the nuclear strike on major western cities… only to teach his nation a valuable lesson. Based on current affairs.

Written and Directed by Christian Shapiro

The story

THE STORY

As mired in war Russia faces economic collapse and humiliating defeat, the long-term Russian dictator decides to issue an ultimatum: if the demands of the Russian government are not met in 24 hours, four major western cities will be swept away in a nuclear strike.

But instead of announcing the strike in a carefully crafted speech, the Russian dictator reveals a shocking truth behind the upcoming strike and the nature of his dictatorship, turning everything that we know about the Russian dictatorship upside down.

Director

A FILM BY

CHRISTIAN SHAPIRO

Christian is a first-time director, presenting "What Dictators Dream About" as his directorial debut. He was born and raised in Russia and now lives and works in Los Angeles, USA.

"

As a Russian refugee in America who experienced the rise of authoritarianism and had to leave Russia in 2019, I wanted to warn everyone living in democratic countries about the fragility of democracy and to raise the vital question of whether there is our fault as Russian citizens in the victory of authoritarianism and its catastrophic consequences.

This film was written on the fifth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and became my weird way of coping with the painful reality. When no rational explanation can be found for such devastating actions, an artistic brain creates a fantastic story like in our film.

"

The cast

CAST

RICK SEGALL

as Mr. President

Rick was catapulted to international fame at the age of four when he first appeared as Little Ricky on “The Partridge Family”. Over the course of his extensive career, he has worked alongside legends like Michael Jackson, Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, Johnny Carson, George Burns, Natalie Wood, Michael Landon, and Dick Van Dyke to name a few.

His one-person play “Barbarian” has been presented on more than 50 different occasions with two successful runs at The Hudson Mainstage in Hollywood, CA. He starred in David Lee’s “Camelot” (Pasadena Playhouse) and most recently worked on screen alongside Eric Roberts in “Old Ferguson”.

He is also Co-Creator and Co-Host of the extraordinarily successful YouTube channel “Our Stupid Reactions” which has over 1 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion views.

CHRISTIAN SHAPIRO

as Press Secretary

Christian is a bilingual actor, speaking English and Russian fluently. He started his career as a member of a theatre group in Moscow, studying Stanislavski's system and Method Acting.

Christian appeared as the lead actor in the production of 'Peter Pan' and the supporting actor in 'Cherry Orchard' and 'Fiddler on the roof' (both awarded as the season's best productions). The short film 'OverPranked' with Christian as a lead actor won the Special Short Film Jury Award at ShortFest.

Most recently, Christian worked on screen in Mel Brooks' “History of the world. Part II” (Hulu) and in "Our flag means death" (HBO) with Taika Waititi as executive producer.

MELANIE CRUZ

as Makeup Specialist

Melani is a SAG-AFTRA/Equity actor who has performed in over 40 plays, three features, and numerous short films, commercials, and voiceovers.

In January 2020, she joined Rubicon Theatre Company to play Allison Davis in the West Coast Premiere of "Never Not Once" by Carey Crim. Theatre credits include Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire", Lily in "The Skriker", Belarius in "Cymbeline", Sara in "Lucky Me" and Miss Ovington in "Dr. Du Bois and Miss Ovington" with veteran actor Ben Guillory at the esteemed Robey Theatre Company.

Television credits include "American Horror Story", "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", "Big Love" and "Scandal". Melanie's love of travel has taken her all over the world, including a year in Antarctica, where she worked at McMurdo, the largest of the American bases.