New Normal Group

I started drawing when I was 10 years old. I would spend hours and hours just drawing. At first, I would copy illustrations and cartoons that I saw. Typically from the Japanese manga Dragon Ball, or Cartoon Network series like Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack. After a while, I started to create my own style. I found that drawing and creating cartoons were the best way to truly express myself. Drawing became a natural reaction to boredom or stress, and a getaway to create new stories.

I originally started on the road to development back in 2005. I moved to the big city of Lisbon in my home country of Portugal, south of my home town of Fundão. The subject - computer science - was great. But I didn’t expect the transition from a small town to big city life to take such a heavy toll on my well-being. For some reason, it didn’t feel right. Perhaps, subconsciously, my body knew I had other things to accomplish first. So after just two years, I moved back home to help support my family and look for a different opportunity.

I had a pretty normal Norwegian upbringing, with my early years spent in a rural tree-laden farming community. Most of my adult life has been lived in Oslo, which came after completing my Computer Science studies in Halden. Immediately after I graduated, I started working in the industry and did so for 5 consecutive years. However, I quickly learned that I didn’t have much interest in large conglomerates or multinational corporations. It felt too bureaucratic and slow-moving for my taste. So I gradually made my way over to freelance. That way, I could control who I worked with, what I worked with, and how I could best utilize my free time. 

If I were to choose a spirit animal for myself, it would be a unicorn. I feel multi-talented, you know? My disciplines are magically diverse. You see, I have experience with visual arts and communication. But I also understand and can implement UI/UX design. Creatively, I know my way around a camera, but I also have a business mindset. I helped found Snowball, our sister design and growth marketing company, and I am a partner of New Normal Group. Every opportunity is just that, an opportunity. And I love the freedom to say "yes!" if it means learning, growing, and helping people make the best end-product. 

I always knew I wanted to help people. Even from a young age, I saw myself in some sort of teacher-type role. I figured if I could make someone else’s life just a little bit better by helping them develop and grow, that I would be doing my part in building a better world. Fast forward to today, and although I didn’t end up a teacher, putting people first is still the most important part of my life. This is true whether they are clients, coworkers, or community members. 

Despite what my title says, I identify as a filmmaker. It is what has come to shape me. Define me. Challenge how I view the world. This wasn’t the case only in young adulthood, when I was training to be a professional in classical piano. Although my fingers touched keys and not cameras, this part of my life shaped my journey into film and undoubtedly impacted my filmmaking abilities.