The teaching style at VIA makes Synne from Norway focused and motivated to learn more

According to Synne Haakenstuen from Norway, the Danish teaching style is informal and less stressful – yet effective. She was exchange student at VIA Film and Transmedia.

Portrait of Synne Haakenstuen

Synne was studying Film and Television at Westerdals in Oslo, Norway, when she decided to take a semester at VIA Film and Transmedia in Aarhus.

“I wanted to study abroad to gain a different perspective on filmmaking and I always loved fashion. I do not strictly follow the current fashion myself, but I find my own special expression,” Synne explains.

Teaching style

When Norwegian Synne, describes the Danish teaching style she uses the word “informal”.

The environment at VIA Film and Transmedia is special in her opinion. She describes it like this:

I am so glad that I chose this school. The teachers are very open-minded and the school environment is inspiring. We are independent, but work a lot in groups as well. Also, the teaching style here makes me focused and motivated to learn more.

Synne Haakenstuen

Working with film

For one of the projects she worked on, the genre was short narrative fashion film. Synne and her fellow students made a short film with a storyline about clothes from the sportswear brand H2O. Watch their film "Behind the scenes".

Prior to the client meetings, the lecturers taught them how to carry out a professional meeting and how to make a pitch. Synne describes the work as being a positive experience:

“Our group made a film about the new spring/summer collection for 2017. Even though we are still students who are learning, H2O took us very seriously, and even used our films on their social media channels. This gives me professional confidence.”

Guidance throughout the project

Lecturer Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen guided the students through the brainstorming phase of the H2O project. He provided feedback and tips, and was present during pitching and presentations.

Daniel is experienced in the genres of music video and fashion film. He taught us to accommodate our client's needs and wishes while also saying 'no' and retaining our own original creative process, adding our own expression to the film.

Synne Haakenstuen

As Synne is interested in the editing process, she edited the H2O film.

“There are so many good students and teachers here, helping us to see the projects in new ways,” she says when explaining one of the gains she got while studying on the programme.

Likes to tell a story

“Studying here made me think that the most interesting for me is making short narrative films and fashion films where I can tell a story. Often fashion films have no story, and I want to change that” she says.

Synne is happy about her stay in Aarhus and appreciates the experiences and the skills she has gained from it.

“We have had many different teachers, each with their own talents and passions, and who have been so insightful. We have been given the opportunity to try out different film genres, and each assignment has been meaningful.

About the future

Thinking about the future and a career is not easy according to Synne:

“My future career could go various ways. It is difficult to choose, but my interest lies in post-production, where I can play around with colours, sounds and storylines.”