We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Helena Hafsteinsdóttir. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Helena below.
Helena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. After my graduation i 2019 I got into scriptwriting and producing as well as acting. In 2022 Rósa Björk Marois Ásmundsdóttir and I started our own production company, heró Sviðslistahópur (e. heró stageproductions). We applied to the Icelandic Film Fund for a grant the short film we are producing named Sense (Duld in Icelandic). Producing without prior education in the field has been challenging but I am very lucky to have had the producer Sunna Guðnadóttir join our team as a co-producer. She has been a great mentor, because I have not yet had experience in applying for and receiving film grants, so having someone to look to for guidance has been extremely helpful. Rósa however works as a producer at the RÚV (The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) and is studying creative studies (producing, grants etc.) so she has also taught me a lot in this project. I plan to get my BA in creative studies like her to help deepen my understanding for producing, grant applications and the fiscal side of being an independent artist.
I think everyone can learn creative arts without studying it at school, however, the foundation that you build while studying makes everything much easier when you put it to the test out in the work force.
Actors especially should seek training, whether that be it a conservatory, lessons with a coach or a BA in a university. Acting is not like producing in the sense that you can research it on the internet in minutes or ask for help. Acting is very intuitive and almost like a muscle that needs to be kept in shape. The more you train the freer you are in your acting and it can help you to trust your own instincts and choices. However, that being said, don’t let lack of education stop you from following your dreams. There is room for everyone, we can always make our own art.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an actor, scriptwriter and producer and I am the owner of heró Sviðslistahópur which is a production company. The short film we are currently working on, Sense (Icelandic title Duld), can be found here: https://www.icelandicfilmcentre.is/icelandic-films-and-festivals/films-in-development/shorts/duld-1
I have acted in a feature film, tv series, short films and music videos and I love nothing more than developing characters and telling stories. If you would like more information about me it can be found on my website here:
https://www.helenahafstein.com
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
For actors and even directors I really recommend looking at Chekhov’s acting technique on psychological gestures. I think he perfected the view of making your technique work for you and not have to overthink and even over prepare for roles. I think he found a way for the actor to free themselves of having to be in the mind, stuck on remembering background information, and instead brings a much freer actor while still in tune with the role.
For producers I really recommend Screenskills.com, it has a lot of readily available information for free that might help answer some questions that are bound to come up while producing. Otherwise don’t be afraid to look to other people for advice or help, most of us want to learn from each other and then help each other out to make great art.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I love telling stories and creating characters. I have always wanted to understand people and to find out what makes us alike and what makes us different. I find that we all have different ways of expressing ourselves, but we all look to different types of storytelling, whether that be theatre, music, movies, videogames or anything else, we can almost all unite in being interested in stories. I think art has a unique way of looking at people and finding a way to understand them, even those who we find to be bad people or to have bad motives. I think it’s very important to try to portray people as close to reality as possible, because it can teach us so much about ourselves and humanity in general, which is very complex and layered.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helenahafstein.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenahaffa/
- Other: heró Sviðslistahópur´s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herosvidslistahopur/
Image Credits
Main image and other headshot of me: https://www.instagram.com/gunnlod/ Sense (Duld) photo: https://www.instagram.com/alda.valentina.ros/ Photo of me in orange pants: https://www.instagram.com/sunnaben/ BTS shot, Lofa Veit Betur music video (girl and boy pictured) and of Rósa and I: https://www.instagram.com/raggi97/