When a teacher advised her to choose something more “realistic,” Vendela Irgens refused to let it stop her. Today, the former Noroff student has already landed her first job in the film industry – and gained experience on an international production through Oslo Company.
For Vendela Irgens (21) from Sotra, creativity has always been a natural part of everyday life. As a child, she filled sketchbooks with drawings, made stop-motion films, and created her own characters and worlds.
Her interest in storytelling was so strong that, while still in lower secondary school, she began looking for educational programmes that could turn her hobby into a career.
– We had a class where we were asked to go to utdanning.no and explore different study programmes. That was when I came across film production and thought it would be amazing to be able to make a living from my hobby.
However, not everyone shared her enthusiasm for the dream.
– I remember my teacher telling me that I should choose something more “realistic.” For a long time, I thought architecture might be a better option, since I also enjoy drawing. But during my second year of upper secondary school, I realised that film was what I really wanted to pursue.
In the end, she chose Film Production at Noroff Vocational School.
– I knew that Noroff had a strong focus on practical learning, and that was exactly what I was looking for. I learn best by doing things in practice.
Her imagination became a strength
Vendela describes herself as someone with hyperphantasia – an ability that makes the stories she creates play out almost like fully formed films in her mind.
– Most people can picture a memory or an image. For me, it is like watching a high-quality film inside my head. I see the characters, the dialogue, the surroundings, the sounds, and how everything moves. It almost feels real.
The same ability also gives her what she describes as a very strong sense of direction.
– I create a map in my head and almost always know where I am. I can be standing in the middle of Bergen and still know which direction is north because I know where my house is in relation to where I am standing.
It was therefore only natural that, for a long time, her goal was to become a director and screenwriter.
– I have been writing scripts for many years, and I often see entire scenes in my head while I write. That is still what I dream of doing.
Discovered new strengths at Noroff
When Vendela started at Noroff, she had a clear plan: she was going to become a director.
That was not quite how things turned out.
Through her first productions, she discovered that she enjoyed working behind the scenes just as much.
– I somewhat randomly ended up as a producer on several projects, but I quickly discovered that I had a talent for it. I liked keeping track of everything, finding locations, and making sure the productions ran as they should.
Before long, she also became known as the person who could help other groups when they ran into challenges.
At the same time, she developed an interest in editing.
– Editing was not something I had planned to specialise in either. But my teachers gave me good feedback, and we agreed that I could specialise in both producing and editing during my second year.
Although the programme presented its share of challenges along the way, these are precisely the experiences she considers some of the most valuable lessons she will take with her into her career.
– I am proud of a lot of what we did at Noroff. At the same time, I learned that things do not always go according to plan. It is actually thanks to all the chaos that I have become much more confident in preventing chaotic situations later on.
Got her foot in the door
Like many recent graduates, Vendela was unsure how she would break into an industry where experience is often essential.
The opportunity came through an unsolicited application to the production company Oslo Company.
– My mother got talking to a producer who encouraged me to send in an unsolicited application. About a week later, I received a call asking whether I wanted to join a project.
That phone call marked the beginning of her first job in the film industry.
– It was incredibly exciting to get my foot in the door. I had been quite stressed about how I was going to gain work experience, since so many positions require exactly that.
Experience from an international production
Through Oslo Company, Vendela had the opportunity to work on an international production for Amazon. Although the project is still subject to a confidentiality agreement, she describes the experience as both educational and motivating.
– Unfortunately, I cannot say very much about the production itself yet, but I worked as a logger and transcriber. It was really exciting to see how a large production operates behind the scenes.
She particularly remembers her first day at work.
– I was very excited and nervous when I went in for the first time, but I quickly settled into the routines. The assistant editor was very helpful, and I was given an overview with explanations that made it easy to get started.
At the same time, the project was surrounded by strict secrecy. The office Vendela worked from had its own alarm system, and not even the other employees at Oslo Company had access to the room.
For the 21-year-old, who had only just been given her first opportunity in the industry, the level of trust made an impression.
– I thought it was really special that they trusted me with that responsibility.
There was one lesson from her studies in particular that she brought with her into working life.
– I really experienced just how important good communication is. It matters at every stage of a production.
– You have to be willing to start at the bottom
Vendela makes no secret of the fact that breaking into the film industry can be challenging. At the same time, she believes it is entirely possible if you are willing to build experience step by step.
– You really have to be passionate about this. It is important to build a network, keep an eye on job opportunities, and take the jobs you are offered, even if they are not exactly what you had imagined.
She believes many people underestimate how important those first jobs are.
– You cannot start at the top. Most people start at the bottom of the ladder, and that is completely fine. The experience you gain along the way is what opens new doors.
Her goal remains the same as it was when she was sitting in lower secondary school dreaming of working in film.
To tell stories that might one day come to life on the screen.
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