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Case study · documentary series

Historical

Detective

A documentary series on key mysteries of Russian history. 2U Studio, in partnership with Esart and with support from the Dostoevsky Lecture Hall, produced 14 episodes turnkey for the Internet Development Institute — from scripting and field work to publishing on video platforms

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Client: Internet Development Institute. Distribution: Dostoevsky Lecture Hall, VK Video, RuTube, YouTube

5,305,382
Viewsper VK Video data

14 episodes, ~4 months production cycle per episode, ≥ 5 experts in every release

Clients and partners
About the series

A documentary
series on the riddles
of Russian history

“Historical Detective” is a cycle of documentary films where each episode is built as an investigation. Murder, disappearance, conspiracy, mystery — and Trofim Tatarenkov as detective working with documents, archives, and experts

Authorial approach

Each episode is a standalone investigation with dramaturgy: script, host, rhythm, climax

Expert depth

At least five experts per episode: historians, archivists, geneticists, forensic specialists. Facts only from verified sources

Cinematic craft

Multi-camera shoots in a dressed studio, motion graphics, and reconstructions in a documentary film format

One standard

14 episodes shot and finished in one visual language and one quality bar — from first frame to end credits

Trofim Tatarenkov — host of “Historical Detective”Starring

Trofim
Tatarenkov

BloggerWriterJournalistPublic figure

In every episode he leads his own investigation — working with documents and archives, talking to experts, comparing versions, and taking the viewer to the reveal

Episodes

14 episodes

All episodes are playable on this page — click a card to open the full episode in the player

5.3M views on VK Video
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Production

From script
to release

Six production stages every episode passes through. We use the same pipeline on commercial “Documentary films” projects

  1. 01
    Stage 01 / 06≥ 5 experts per episode

    Script development

    Topic selection and alignment, primary sources and scientific consultants, dramaturgy for each episode. Output: approved scripts and an expert list

  2. 02
    Stage 02 / 06Dozens of locations

    Pre-production

    Host casting, location scouting, archival orders in state archives and libraries, logistics for shoots at historical sites across Russia

  3. 03
    Stage 03 / 06Serial schedule without downtime

    Principal photography

    Multi-camera interviews with experts and the host, reconstructions and graphics in frame, shoots at historic sites with our own equipment and transport

  4. 04
    Stage 04 / 06Full legal clearance

    Archival work

    Rights clearance for archival materials, photos, and newsreel; source verification; legal clearance for every frame used in an episode

  5. 05
    Stage 05 / 0614 episodes, one standard

    Post-production

    Edit, color grading, sound design, motion design, and on-screen graphics. All episodes in one visual standard with QC

  6. 06
    Stage 06 / 066.09M views in the first month

    Release and distribution

    Mastering for platforms, publishing episodes on VK Video, RuTube, and other client platforms, release support and reach analytics

Credits

The team
behind the project

Closed-loop production inside one studio — from script to final mastering

01Authors and producing4
  • Author / screenwriterEpisode dramaturgy and source work
  • HostOn-camera performance
  • Project managerDocumentation and team coordination
  • LogisticsTravel logistics for field shoots
02Production crew5
  • ProducerBudget, timeline, client approvals
  • DirectorVisual concept, working with host and experts
  • Director of photographyShot design, equipment prep, crew leadership
  • Camera operatorCamera and sound
  • Makeup artistPrep for host and talent
03Post-production6
  • Editor (research)Archival rights and cleanup, material sourcing, release control
  • Historical consultantFact and name verification
  • Film editorAssembly and pacing, color grading
  • Sound designerSound, ambience, music
  • Motion and 2D/3D designersOn-screen graphics
  • MarketerPublishing and promotion of finished assets
Behind the scenes

Stills
from shoot days

The crew at work, field days, studio sessions, and backstage moments — what viewers never see in the film

Expert interview shoot for the documentary series “Historical Detective”
Expert interview shoot for the documentary series “Historical Detective”
Director on set for the documentary series
Director on set for the documentary series
Staged shot with the series host
Staged shot with the series host
Lighting work on a studio shoot
Lighting work on a studio shoot
Archival research and materials for an episode
Archival research and materials for an episode
Multi-camera expert interview
Multi-camera expert interview
Blocking rehearsal before a take
Blocking rehearsal before a take
Location and gear prep before a shooting day
Location and gear prep before a shooting day
Camera work on a location day
Camera work on a location day
Field trip of the crew to a historic site
Field trip of the crew to a historic site
Prep for an episode of the documentary series
Prep for an episode of the documentary series
Location filming at a historic site
Location filming at a historic site
Crew photo for “Historical Detective”
Crew photo for “Historical Detective”
End-of-day shot with the production team
End-of-day shot with the production team
Won a tender or landed a contract?

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for your project

2U Studio doesn’t only shoot historical documentaries. We cover the full cycle for corporate stories, grant and anniversary projects, and won tenders — from script and archives to master deliverables

Subcontractor to your tender brief
Budget and schedule before kickoff
Closed-loop production
Corporate, grant, and anniversary formats
Documentary formats →

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Let’s talk about your documentary project

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We unpack the brief, propose a format, and give a budget range. If you are a tender team with a spec in hand, send it on Telegram or MAX

  • Archives and expert work
  • Reconstructions and location filming
  • Script, edit, final estimate
  • NDA and wire transfers
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