Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Igor Djenge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Igor, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
If I were blessed with this extraordinary ‘holy’ cow’ power to rewind time, I would certainly revisit my high school graduation and choose to pursue the career I’ve been longing for: make unconventional, frighteningly strange movies.
During my formative years, I had no clue about the importance of waking up each morning with an infectious smile. It wasn’t until much later, in my thirties to be precise, that I realized just how crucial it is. So, what did I do after graduation? Well, I followed the advice of my father, whom I greatly admired, and pursued a path in studying engineering, blueprints, and machinery. Early on, it started to become evident that this wasn’t my calling. I was so unhappy that even my teachers noticed, I couldn’t hide my frowns in classes and they kept try to guide me to my true calling. Candidly, I expressed to them my desire to immerse myself in the world of cinema, where the boundless scope of my imagination could flourish. However, I resisted this urge in hopes of making my father proud. I kept changing my major in college and ended up spending six years there – grappling with the expectations of society and the pressure to conform to my parents’ wishes. Oh, it turned out to be a major waste of my precious time. Just give me that remote to click a button and rewind the time haha.
Eventually, I had a ‘wake-up call’ that made me realize I must listen only to myself and no one else. This happened after a horrific car accident where a truck and I collided, causing my car to flip over multiple times on the roadside. Reflecting on the gravity of this near-fatal accident, I still knock on wood in gratitude for surviving such a traumatic event. I had noticed small signs before, but this incident truly woke me up. After surviving this, I decided it was really time to change everything by moving to Los Angeles to do exactly what I want.
Igor, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I arrived in this world naturally, without a C-section. Accepting that I was deaf was incredibly difficult and took years. It wasn’t a journey worth remembering or discussing. I shut myself off from the world and watched television all day, sometimes up to nine different shows a day. Today, I can barely handle one episode of anything [laughs].
More details about my not-so-lovely, actually dark story will be shared in Volume 2 of the book “Imperfectly Perfect”, set to release later this year. This is all made possible thanks to the efforts of the wonderful Glenn Marsden, who tirelessly runs the Imperfectly Perfect campaign focused on elevating people’s depression stories in aspiration to normalize the journey through it. It was through the connection of my favorite childhood actor, Jeremy Jackson, that I was introduced to Glenn, the driving force behind this purpose-driven campaign. It’s fascinating how some things come full circle, isn’t it? You know, things always happen for a reason.
Watching so much television deeply influenced me and sparked my interest in the film industry. Escaping into TV gave me a broader perspective on how things work and led me to the world of acting and filmmaking in Hollywood. Instead of waiting to be cast, I started creating my own video content, which opened doors to various events and festivals worldwide. It’s amazing how making comedic skits has connected me with so many people and allowed me to impact them through online content and in-person visits worldwide.
Funny, I gotta admit one thing about my video content: many people come up to me and tell me how much they love seeing my father in my videos (he always appears in my skits), and they say they’ve never seen a deaf old man with big hair. I ask them, ‘Deaf? Have you seen him signing in the videos?’ They pause for a moment and say, ‘Yeah, I have. I mean, yes?’ Then I tell them to think harder; actually, he only uses facial expressions in my videos. He never used any sign language, as my father is not deaf. They’re shocked by this. I find a hidden charm in it.
I have a book full of ideas for new videos, but it’s getting harder to complete them quickly as I did in my earlier days. Now, it takes at least a week or two to finish one reel, with carefully chosen angles and shots. Sometimes I think about moving on to bigger film projects, which I have done, but I still cannot let go of my social media platform. I have one good reason why: I always think of those touching moments when people tell me my videos brighten their days. From suicidal individuals to cancer survivors, many have said my clips have a positive impact on their lives. There are also those who never leave their homes, and they tell me my clips are their best way for them to get entertained.
Creating these skits has become both a therapeutic outlet and a way to earn a living. I’ll never take this for granted. Reflecting on this journey, I’m amazed that making videos for social media has allowed me to travel the world and speak to the deaf community in many different countries. It truly is mind-blowing to realize that opportunities like this exist depending on what you … post!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
If only I had realized sooner the transformative potential of creativity, when paired with the right tools and a supportive circle of trusted individuals, it could truly work wonders. I never thought I would be the one who would say this, but you don’t necessarily need a college degree to achieve great success – I know you’ve heard stories like this before, but I can personally confirm it’s true. It’s important to be curious about your interests, to nurture it and keep learning about your gifts and work hard and intentionally on refining them. Everything starts from your thoughts and it can end up in printed materials. You’ll encounter both critics and fans, but both experiences are valuable for your growth. I find fulfillment in every step of the process. Also, it’s important to be honest with yourself about your art before sharing it. Ask for feedback from people who give you honest constructive feedback. I always, always prefer to receive harsh truths than be showered with sugar-coated lies. Honesty over flattery – it’s a way to improve yourself in the big world. Works for me.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I would like to share my perspective on what I consider true art in movies. To me, a film is impactful if it stays in my thoughts long after watching it, whether I’m walking or driving. So, what does that mean? If a movie has a happy ending or is very light-hearted, I tend to forget about it the next day. However, if it includes something horrific event, a traumatic part that’s hard to watch (just acting, of course), with intense graphic scenes that make me cover my face or close my eyes, I view it as a successful piece of work. This is because the producer has effectively used their power to make the audience uncomfortable.
Watching such devastating pieces of art make me more grateful for my own life. I could go into a long list of specific movies like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Mother, Revenge, and many more, but let’s save that for an in-person coffee chat. In short, I love disturbing art and having endless conversations about it. It’s amazing to bring different points of view to the table. Naturally, I adapt some of these elements into my own creative videos.
For example, I recently had the privilege of working on a movie with a team that is currently screening it in Europe. Being a part of the team, I suggested some scenes that were initially adapted but later removed to align with cultural sensitivities. This experience taught me the beauty of collaborative filmmaking and also motivated me to create my own movie where no scenes would be deleted.
Another project I worked on involved a graphic depiction of a dystopian world, sparking discussions about societal issues. Additionally, I made a video exploring psychological trauma, drawing from the intense emotions portrayed in a gripping thriller. These experiences not only enrich my work but also fuel thought-provoking conversations with others. That’s when I feel my work is truly successful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @IgorDjenge
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igortheofficial/
