Born in Kiev, 1979, the younger son of the poet Rafael Levchin. Family in the US since 1991. Taught by the Karlin-Stolin in Kiev, the Brisker in Chicago. BA liberal arts from St. John's College, Annapolis. In New York since 2001. Studied Russian literature and linguistics with Boris Gasparov at Columbia for 4 years. In 2006 resigns fellowship, leaves faculty for reasons of gross impracticality. Works subsequently as cinematographer, scriptwriter, film editor, researcher, subtitler - invariably at minimal wages.