Marts 2023: Hanna Selim

Hanna Selim graduated with a PBA in Design & Business (Communication Design & Media) in 2022, as well as a degree in Multimedia Design in 2018. Today, Hanna works as an editor and cinematographer at Blonde Inc. We spoke with Hanna about her time at KEA and her career path.

About KEA...

Q: How would you describe KEA in one word?
A: “Playground. For me, KEA was a place where I could use all my energy to try different things. There were no rules—only conventions that you were encouraged to challenge. My fellow students and teachers made me realize that there are no limits to creativity and design, only the limits you create yourself. Looking back, KEA was where I stepped out of my comfort zone. It was here that I borrowed my first camera from Tech Lounge (now Tech & Story Lab), designed and coded my first website, made countless mistakes, and above all, it led me to pursue my passion for film and media as a full-time career.”

Q: What was your favorite module and/or your favorite teacher?
A: “All my teachers had one thing in common: they inspired me to learn beyond what was in the curriculum. I remember leaving lectures more curious than ever before. My favorite class was a module in ‘Design Fiction,’ which is a design practice and discipline that explores future possibilities by creating scenarios through design artifacts. That was when we made a short film about the power of mycelium and how it can help change human behavior in the pursuit of a sustainable, plastic-free future. You can watch the short film my team created together here.

I can’t choose just one favorite teacher, so here’s a shoutout to all of them who helped me grow: Kenny Marek Møller, Rasmus R. Simonsen Ph.D., Ida Wingberg Hemmingsen, Gullan Christensen, Trine Stark, Helene Niclasen Jeune, Stine, Herman Bailey, Brian Everitt, Julio Garrido, and Charlie Tarby.”

Q: What is your favorite memory from KEA? For example, a fun story from your studies?
A: “My best memories from KEA go back to my AP degree in Multimedia Design, when I, together with some members of Tech Lounge, went on a three-day trip to Tisvildeleje to film the festival ‘Musik i Lejet’ in 2019. Two months of pre-production, creative concept development, and camera workshops were put into practice.

This was where I met some of the first people who paved the way for my journey in the Danish film industry. Shoutout to Fook L. Nielsen, Thomas Meldgaard, Alexander Sørensen, and Stefan Thorndahl. The four of them were part of a collective called Filmforeningen, which was a supplement to the Danish media education.

That summer, we woke up every day, left our campsite, prepared our equipment, and worked together with producers and actors to create three short films for the festival’s different target audiences. I had the most fun, sleepless, and educational experience with like-minded people. Little did I know that this experience would lead me to my dream job!”

Q: If you could go back in time and change one thing about your studies at KEA, what would it be and why?
A: “I would definitely have gone on exchange—that’s one thing I wish I had taken advantage of. But I would say I was busy exploring the Danish media industry, and that has led me to the beginning of a journey that is becoming more and more global. I recently filmed a campaign for Louis Nielsen in Hungary and have several projects in the pipeline abroad!”

About the career...

Q: What was your first job after graduating from KEA, and how did you get it?
A: “My first full-time job after graduating is at Blonde Inc as a film editor and cinematographer. I heard about Blonde three years before applying when I met one of the producers at a booth during KEA Career Days. They were looking for interns to grow their team.

At the time, I hesitated to apply because I didn’t think I had a portfolio yet, and I was also working as a student assistant at CBS in the startup incubator, Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE). So I decided to do my internship at my student job at CBS to explore the startup ecosystem while completing my AP degree.

Then came the internship semester in my bachelor’s program, and I decided it was time to apply. There were no open positions in post-production at Blonde, but there was an opening in social media. I considered applying anyway because I wanted to be in a creative environment with experience in film production.

Ten weeks and an internship report later, I stayed in touch even after the internship ended. Being in that environment motivated me to keep working on my portfolio and apply for Blonde’s training program, ‘Blonde Program.’ Around 473 applicants applied for three spots, and I was extremely happy to find out I was one of the three selected.

I was trained as a cinematographer and editor and sent out on different productions every day. Together with the two other trainees, we made a music video for Sony’s subsidiary, Disco Wax. After three months in the program, I was offered a full-time contract in the post-production department at Blonde.”

Q: What did you want to be when you were younger, and how does that relate to what you do today?
A: “I’ve always loved acting and performing arts since I was a child. I studied GCSE Drama and used to participate in musical productions like Aladdin, Dracula Spectacula, Grease, and The Boyfriend. But I always thought of it as a hobby rather than a possible career path.

At the time, I believed I needed to focus on a financially secure path, so I studied Economics and Business Administration for seven months at Aarhus University—until I realized it didn’t fulfill me. I remember skipping lectures to go home and edit videos to post to my few hundred followers on Instagram. Editing made me more excited to wake up than lectures did.

It became clear that I wasn’t happy with my studies, and I didn’t want to settle, so I dropped out in my second semester. I then applied to KEA, where everything took a 180-degree turn. I met so many creative and like-minded people.

Today, I would say I’m doing what I’ve always wanted—just behind the camera. Who knows what the future holds? I still love acting and performing, and I’ve noticed it helps me in my work—for example, directing actors/models/extras during shoots to bring out authentic storytelling, or being selective in choosing shots that truly bring the story to life.”

Q: What does a typical workday look like as an editor and cinematographer at Blonde Inc?
A: “No two days are the same at Blonde. Some days I’m out of the office, on set for many hours with lots of equipment, crew, and coffee. Other days I’m in the editing suite working on brand films, commercials, or music videos.

I love that every week is different because I can quickly get restless if I’m not stimulated by new projects. Even though we work with many different brands like Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, ASICS, Nike, etc., we always find opportunities to learn.

We often have workshops in our department where we either invite industry experts to give us tips on how to elevate our work or exchange ideas within the team. We also regularly hold screenings and review sessions to give feedback and help each other improve and grow.”

Q: What is the best part of your career?
A: “My favorite part of my career is that I genuinely love what I do, and there’s always room for growth and learning. I get creative freedom to make decisions when editing or filming, so it’s an amazing feeling to be trusted to implement my ideas on how to best bring a story to life.

It’s also a very social industry with lots of collaboration across different people and clients. That collaboration has helped me learn about other roles—being in editing sessions with directors has taught me a lot about directing, and filming with other DPs, whether in-house or freelance, has taught me different approaches to cinematography.”

Personal...

Q: Can you share a fun or unusual fact about yourself, and how you use it in daily life?
A: “I’m really good at accents—I can do a great British accent, and sometimes I randomly switch or say funny phrases like ‘Bob’s your uncle.’”

Q: What’s your favorite book or podcast?
A: “I’m currently hooked on the book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers! I’ve found that many of its principles help me in everyday life.

A really great podcast is Cutting Class by John McSwain, which talks about how film editing is often considered a dark art. He also interviews well-known editors in the industry, and I think it’s really cool to learn about their mindset and how they got started.”

Q: Which personal achievement are you most proud of, and why?
A: “Nothing is more exciting than working with artists you grew up listening to—it’s incredibly rewarding. I can’t say much yet, but stay tuned!”

Q: What advice would you give to KEA students or alumni?
A: “Always leave a door open with any workplace you’ve left or people you’ve met. You never know when you’ll cross paths again or need those connections.

Remember to take time to reflect on where you started and where you are now—a lot can happen in a year! I often think about myself in 2017, and if I could meet her and tell her everything she’s yet to experience. I would tell her to be patient and keep putting her heart into everything she does.”