In today’s world, the realm of acting has expanded beyond traditional cinema and television to include social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Here, actors must master the art of storytelling within the constraints of short videos to captivate global audiences. One standout figure in Dubai’s bustling social media scene is Vlada Bulhakova, with 1.3 million followers on TikTok and 471,000 on Instagram. She is now making a leap into traditional media with an upcoming Netflix series, showcasing her unique blend of creativity and acting talent.
Vlada’s journey into acting started in 2015 with theatrical plays in South Africa, leading her to pursue acting as a career. Upon moving to Dubai, she leveraged her creativity and acting skills to build a strong social media presence. Embracing social media as a platform for her artistic expression, Vlada combined her acting talent with her natural creativity to create engaging content that resonates with her audience.
One of the biggest challenges in social media acting is the limited time frame available for videos, requiring actors to capture viewers’ attention quickly and maintain it throughout. Vlada’s niche in short, compelling acting videos that tell a complete story in under a minute sets her apart from other influencers. To consistently produce engaging content, she meticulously scripts her ideas and collaborates with a team to bring them to life, ensuring a steady flow of new videos.
Bridging the gap between social media and traditional media, Vlada is set on conquering the latter with her upcoming project, “Bad Influence,” a female-driven crime comedy set in the UAE. This transition represents a significant step for her, showcasing the skills she has honed through social media in a more traditional acting role. With a talented team supporting her, including a renowned screenwriter and Netflix director, Vlada is excited yet nervous about this new chapter in her career.
As she looks towards the future, Vlada envisions focusing on acting in the next five years with the goal of reaching Hollywood A-list status and exploring directing. Her advice to aspiring actors and social media stars is to think outside the box, be persistent, make the right connections, and stay true to their vision. Success may come sooner than expected for those who are dedicated to their craft.
