AUGUST 2010 / THE BEST THING IS MAKING CHILDREN HAPPY / FROM CINEMA USHER TO SCHEDULING SUPERVISOR

/ BRINGING POPULAR WEEKLIES INTO THE WORLD / FLEMMING LIGHTS UP FILM AND TV    /   E3 IN PICTURES

This is
my job
 4

Content
4 Egmont country managers in Istanbul
Country managers from Egmont Kids Media met in Istanbul this
summer. Read about the conference.

8
8 Pace is the name of the game
Susanne is always on the go at Egmont. She tries to reach out to
customers through unconventional channels.
10 The best thing is making children happy
Daniel Carlsson from Egmont Kärnan in Malmö develops magazines
and comics, making sure they always have the right content.

12 From cinema usher to scheduling supervisor
Ever dream about earning your living watching films all day long?
Christian Rønnow has done just that and made film-watching his

10
career. Every year he pre-views 300 films before selecting the titles to
be screened in the cinema.
14 Bringing popular weeklies into the world
To be a printing technician you have to know your primary colours
and how to adjust the big rotary press. Read about how a magazine
comes into being at Egmont’s rotogravure print works.

26
18 Jill-of-all trades in a pink world
Karolina helps develop books and magazines featuring Barbie and
other characters destined for worldwide distribution.
24 Flemming lights up film and TV
No-one can make films and TV programmes without light. That’s why
Nordisk Film employs a gaffer, Flemming ˝Light˝.

14
26 The joy of my work
Eva Helweg is head of the Løvehjerte project supported by Egmont.
You need strong nerves for this job, as the project focuses on children
and young people whose parents or siblings are suffering from a life-
threatening illness or have passed away.
28 Who’s Who
What do you suppose Egmont’s top managers do in their spare time?
Where do they go for their holidays? And what brightens up their
day?

24

26
2
 Dear colleague
In Egmont, we are separated by time zones, geography and divisions, but gathered around
the wish to create and publish high quality media products.
In smaller organizations, where everyone knows everyone, the question ”what are you
working on right now?” would be in great danger of providing only dull answers. In Egmont,
these answers cannot avoid creating interest.
The answers are interesting both because there is a long way from the children’s book author
in Cappelen Damm to the scheduling supervisor in Nordisk Film. But they are also interesting
because 6.800 employees in one organization provides an ample opportunity for letting
knowledge and experience flow across the organization – also to and from those colleagues
that you do not happen to meet at the water cooler.
For this purpose, you can use Insight and the newly launched Office Communicator, which
lets you connect with your colleagues through chat, video and audio, lets you have online
meetings, and lets you share documents quickly. When you are set up with the programme,
collegeagues can even see on Insight if you are available or in a meeting.
A look over the shoulder of our Egmont colleagues reveals that we master thousands of
technical terms and specialized areas. In this issue of Hardcopy, we tell the stories from nine
different colleagues and you can find many more online on Insight.
As a new feature on Insight, you now have the chance to write a short status message about
what you are working on right now. Maybe it turns out, that a colleague in the Egmont
family can help you with practical knowledge from the office next door – or from another
time zone?

Mika Bildsøe Lassen

Vice President
Corporate Communications
Colophon

EDITOR EDITOR RESPONSIBLE UNDER PHOTO

Jan Sturm DANISH PRESS LAW Steen Brogaard
sturm@egmont.com Mika Bildsøe Lassen Kristian Krogh
mbl@egmont.com
CO-ORDINATOR Corporate Communications
Susanne E. Olrik PRINTING Vognmagergade 11
olrik@egmont.com Rosendahls Bogtrykkeri A/S 1148 København K
Denmark
LAYOUT Telephone +45 33 30 55 50
Ole Jensen

3
 Egmont country­
managers
in Istanbul­
EVERY YEAR THE EGMONT KIDS MEDIA DIVISION GETS ALL ITS COUNTRY
MANAGERS­TOGETHER WITH IDEA MANAGERS AND SELECTED SENIORS. THE
MEETING AIMS TO SHARE AND DISCUSS IDEAS AND PLANS TO BUILD PROFITABLE
GROWTH AND ALSO TO CELEBRATE GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS.

By Dawn Cordy

T
his year’s event was held in the city
of Istanbul and kicked off with the
Kids Media Awards. Awards were
given for Best Innovation Project, Employee
of the Year and Best Performing Company.
The awards ceremony took place at the
Sait Halim Pasa on the bank of the Bospho-
rous and was attended by those who had
been shortlisted and representatives from
all the Kids Media companies. The winners
were announced by Steffen Kragh, CEO,
and Frank Knau, Head of Kids Media divi-
sion, followed by a celebration dinner.
The Country Managers meeting started
the following day, and over the next two
days there were presentations and dis-
cussions about strategy, updates on the
economy of scale projects and other key
initiatives. This year we introduced an ˝Ex-
change Café˝ set-up which gave people the
opportunity to hear about successful ini-
tiatives across the division and to exchange
information.
ECONOMY OF SCALE UPDATES
Over the last 2 years the division has been
working on various projects with the aim of
working closer together to achieve econo-
mies of scale and/or leveraging our divi-
sional strength. At the meeting, the project
teams presented their latest findings and
recommendations ready for implementa-
tion by the local businesses.
PRINT AND PAPER
Jimmy Weir from UK, Martin Dusseldorf
from Poland, Imke Feldman from Germany
and Carsten Moller from Egmont Kärnan,
Sweden – known as the ˝G4 team˝ – set
about seeing how the division could achieve
economies of scale in print and paper.
Through a great team effort and with the

4

help and enthusiasm of production depart-
ments around the division, the G4 have
established a potential total saving of more
than a million EUR. These savings can be
achieved through format standardization
and print rationalization.
CONTENT CREATION
Rob McMenemy, Rolf Bangsgaard and Peter
Schlecht worked on this project together
with the help of publishers from across the
division. Their findings and recommendati-
ons are based on smarter working.
LICENSE ACQUISITION
The team - Marika Bark, Jacek Beldowski,
Emma Cairns-Smith, Velizara Dobreva,
Bastian Mai, Ann-Marie Nielsen, Anna
Reyburn, David Riley, Iwona Tessarowicz
and Tomasz Urbaniak – aim was to help
the division get to more, bigger and better
licensing deals. They also looked at ways
of improving communication and faster
information exchange across Kids Media;
 our profitability considerably. What we
FRANK KNAU, WHAT IS THE
VISION FOR KIDS MEDIA?
To be the leading children’s publisher in
Europe and China and to engage with
children on any platform from print to
any screen or device.
WHAT IS THE MAIN
AMBITION­FOR THE EKM
STRATEGY?
It’s to grow the business profitably with
the target of ¤ 500m and 10% EBTIDA
by 2014.
WHAT DOES THE STRATEGY
FOCUS ON?
Our strategy builds on a strong founda-
tion of market leading positions in most
of our countries, with a wide geographi-
cal coverage spanning 30 countries and
very attractive license agreements.
We are well under way with the
2012 Business Plan that aims to improve
need now is to also build growth in
terms of revenue.
To achieve this we have developed
a Kids Media strategy for 2010 to 2014
that builds on our core business with
four pillars:
1.  Regional strategies to build profita-
ble market positions: Nordics, German
speaking area, English language area,
Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe,
China, Thailand
2.  Refocus geographically on growth.
Grow aggressively in core business:
English language area, China, Russia.
Streamline in mature markets: Nordics
5
Frank Knau, Executive Vice
President, Kids Media
3.  Grow footprint in Eastern Europe:
driver of Egmont Kids Medias children’s
fiction initiative, together with English
language area. Expansion in Turkey
4.  Build a digital position. Mandatory
core: e-books, e-magazines, digicomics.
Potential new business areas: edutain-
ment for pre-school, on-line/mobile
gaming, e-shops for fans.
WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED
WITH THIS STRATEGY
PROCESS?­
I’ve been working closely with my re-
gional managers Jacek Beldowski, Rob
McMenemy and Georgi Alexandrov and
we’ve used Price Waterhouse Coopers
to analyse market data and trends, to
help us raise the bar and challenge our
assumptions.
This strategy, which is a work-in-
progress, was presented to the Man-
aging Directors, Idea Managers and
other seniors at the Country Managers
meeting and through break-out sessions
we discussed the challenges, solutions,
resources needed and next steps.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
This is a work-in-progress and we will
be using the feedback from the Country
Managers to help shape and influence
our plans for implementation. Before we
progress further, all the MDs in the divi-
sion are sharing the strategy locally with
their teams, as it’s important everyone
knows, understands and gets a chance
to ask questions about our future. All of
us will be involved in working towards
this strategy.
 Egmont Kids
BEST PERFORMING COMPANY
Winner: Children’s Fun Publishing,

Media Awards
China
Our joint venture in China seems to be
unstoppable with impressive growth over
the last 3 years outstripping the national
average. CFP achieved 30% year on year
growth and 20% return on sales through
a great team effort and an eye for effi-
ciency, innovation and collaboration.

2009-2010

being ready for the next big opportunity;
improved processes and standards; best
practice and improving the image of Eg-
mont in the eyes of licensors. The team has
established a network of scouts together
with various tools to help - Find It! Win It!
Keep It!
THE SOURCING HUB
Based in Hong Kong the sourcing hub is
one of the biggest undertakings. Björn
Vöhl leads a dedicated Egmont team whose
objectives are to act directly with the cov-
ermount producers so we can start cutting
out the use of agents, act more responsibly
by ensuring safety regulations are being
met and to achieve cost efficiency. The
rationale for this is to ensure we are deliver-
ing safe added value cover mounts for the
consumer, legislator and licensor.
The setting up of such a venture has
been a real eye opener on what has really

6
 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Erdal Karakaya,
Financial­& Administrative
Manager­, Dogan Egmont, Turkey
Erdal went well and truly beyond the
call of duty in tackling book piracy in
Turkey. Erdal helped the police sieze
over 5M pirate books with a value of
¤ 16M in an operation that covered
9 cities and 22 different locations
and led to 57 arrests.
been going on. The benefit of having more
direct control is priceless due to the high
risk nature of entrusting others to follow
our rules. The hub, publishers and promo-
tion teams are working together to hit at
least 500 orders via the hub to get a critical
mass and a pool of 20-30 safety compliant
factories by the end of this year.
BEST INNOVATION PROJECT
Winner: Business to Schools, Egmont Polska
Tomasz Polakowski’s idea, passion and support
from a great team generated ¤ 2.8M from 2006-
2009 with a 46% C1 in 2009. This year the forecast
is ¤ 1.7M – the results speak for themselves.
For full details, photos and awards film see Insight
and the special Kids Media Awards magazine - for a
copy contact Claire Greaves, Egmont UK.
PERFORMANCE
In 2009, the division faced the economic
crisis but have weathered the storm well
and managed to deliver a profit. However
the division’s ambitions are greater than
this, so EKM have formulated a strategy and
rationale for further profitable growth.  ▀
7
Pace is the name

Communities, reader events

and major activities are
some of the key words for
Susanne Damm’s work.
She is marketing manager
for the magazines ˝ALT
for damerne˝ and ˝RUM
Interiør Design˝ at Egmont

of the game
Magasiner.

8
 SUSANNE DAM GETS HER SHARE OF THRILLS AND SPILLS TAMING
THE WINTRY SKI SLOPES AND DIVING INTO THE OCEAN WAVES ON
HER SURFBOARD IN SUMMER. BUT SHE ALSO ENJOYS THE PACE AND
CHALLENGES OF HER JOB AS MARKETING MANAGER FOR ˝ALT FOR
DAMERNE˝ AND ˝RUM INTERIØR DESIGN˝.

By Lotte Ilsøe

T
here is no such thing as a typical day for Susanne Dam. She
is the marketing manager for the women’s weekly ALT for
damerne and the monthly home interior design magazine
RUM. ˝My phone starts ringing at about 8 am as I drive to work.
My days are full with lots of interruptions, and no matter how well
I prepare, I’m always interrupted by customers or new projects to
consider. There isn’t much time for inner reflection or concept and
product development, which have to wait till after 5 o’clock,˝ says
Susanne with a wry smile.

BRING ON THE CHALLENGES!

Susanne has worked for Egmont since 1993 and held seven dif-
ferent jobs in that time. She has worked as management assistant
and commercial director and helped to develop a VOD service for
Nordisk Film. She has tried her hand at many things, enjoying a
career typified by her willingness to seize challenges.
˝I’m very keen on bringing novelty and innovation to the table
in the areas I work with. I’m a glutton for knowledge so I can make
well-informed decisions. But I’m not afraid of leaping into the un-
known without a safety net,˝ says Susanne.
So Susanne did not hesitate for a second when she was offered
the job of marketing manager for ALT for Damerne three years ago.
This year the run once again spurred women of all ages to put
RUN, WOMAN, RUN on their trainers, and, more importantly, ALT for damerne’s website
As marketing manager, one of Susanne’s tasks is managing the ALT played a bigger role than in past years.
for damerne brand. Meeting readers through the printed magazine ˝My job also involves catering to and integrating digital inter-
is not enough, they have to be reached through other channels as ests. The women’s run persuaded 37,000 entrants to sign up via
well. To this end, ALT for damerne organises a range of recurring www.altfordamerne.dk. Afterwards they could view their finish line
annual events, one being the ALT for damerne women’s run held in photos, download their diploma, join in a running community and
several Danish cities. try out lots of other features. Last year altfordamerne.dk recorded
˝Our editorial brief focuses mainly on articles, health and fashion 800,000 hits in connection with the run –
for women aged 25 to 45. So health and this year the figure more than doubled, to
exercise are strategically important areas for 2 million, with the site recording 267,000
ALT for damerne, and an event like a fitness visitors,˝ says Susanne, who concludes: ˝The
run gives us an opportunity to generate digital media are the way forward, and
synergy through the printed magazine, the while we have to develop this further to
website, our advertisers as well as in the
My phone starts ringing meet the needs of our existing customers
public arena. Our presence on all four plat- at about 8 am as I drive to and readers, it’s also imperative to attract
forms ensures that we have our customers’ work. new interested buyers to the world of ALT
full attention,˝ explains Susanne. for damerne.˝   ▀

9
 The best thing
is making
children happy
DANIEL CARLSSON HAS NOW BEEN A MEMBER OF THE EGMONT
FAMILY­FOR TEN YEARS AND STILL FEELS A SENSE OF PRIDE IN
ACHIEVING­GOOD RESULTS. AS THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT
EGMONT KÄRNAN­HIS JOB IS TO RENEW AND DEVELOP THE RANGE
OF MAGAZINES­PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK.

By Pernille Krogh

A
fter qualifying as a journalist, Daniel­ Carlsson worked it seems only natural to ask how the infamous financial crisis has
for a number of years on various daily papers until he affected the magazine industry.
was hired by Egmont ten years ago. His first position was ˝Although you’d think serial publication would be a tough busi-
as a layouter at Egmonts magazine department in Malmö where ness to be in at the moment, things are going pretty well. I’m not as
he worked for four years – and subsequently as managing editor pessimistic as you might imagine, because new graphic illustrators
of children’s books and comics in Sweden. Swedish Daniel Carls- and creative writers are popping up all the time,˝ says Daniel.
son’s official title is ˝development manager˝ Collaborating with graphic artists and
for Egmont Kärnan­, where he works with creative writers is indeed one of Daniel’s
five skilled project managers who handle responsibilities­. His job partly involves
the daily production of comics, books and scouting­ for new talents, whom he often
magazines. comes across at one of the numerous com-
Daniel’s primary task is assessing readers’
If an artist or a writer ics fairs or when authors submit ideas for a
needs to find out how to infuse new life into has a problem, it’s my job cartoon series. And partly brainstorming and
existing publications. Reader surveys are one to help them. turning over ideas with established artists
of his brand monitoring tools, and in 2010, and writers. The aim of all these efforts is to

10
 Daniel breathes new life into existing
achieve the best possible result. publications – and is on hand when the
˝The moment I relish is standing in a shop and watching a child creative minds need fresh ideas and input.
snap up the latest issue of their favourite comic from the shelves.
Not everyone gets to savour that enjoyment, and that gives me a
very special sense of job satisfaction,˝ says Daniel, continuing:
˝And then there are of course specific measures of success. If
a title sells well, I feel really proud, because that really shows we’re
doing things right.˝

HÄLGE THE MOOSE AND

ROCKY THE DOG
As with most other jobs in the creative industry, it’s almost impos-
sible to describe a typical working day for Daniel. As well as working
as managing editor for five project managers, he also helps develop
a range of publications in Sweden. These include licence-based
brands such as Disney’s Donald­ Duck and local titles featuring
Hälge, the ever-popular moose, Elvis, the temperamental tortoise
and Rocky, the ferocious­dog.
When a magazine like Hälge is on the drawing board, Daniel
and project manager Germund von Wowern work closely with the
writer. If necessary, Daniel helps develop a script for the cartoon, and
also offers inspiration if an artist or writer suffers a mental block.
˝If an artist or a writer has a problem, it’s my job to help them.
Sometimes it’s enough to look back at how we’ve resolved a similar
problem. If they are running out of ideas, a good trick is to check
out the net and see what solutions other writers have come up with.
The type of humour they use, their style and so on.˝
And then there’s brainstorming – one of the parts of the job
Daniel enjoys most: ˝When you’re brainstorming with a creative
person like an artist or a cartoon writer, you can’t help getting the
craziest ideas. They don’t all materialise into something, but being
part of the process is great fun,˝ Daniel concludes. ▀

With headquarteres in Malmö, Egmont Kärnan AB publishes

a large variety of children’s and youth media and commands
a strong platform in games, soft toys and children’s music
CDs. The company is divided into four main areas:

Character Publishing
Marketing and selling book and magazine series for
3-12-year­-olds.

Games & Activities

Traditional activity toys such as jigsaw puzzles, as well as
experimental games in DVD format, for example.

Editorial Magazines
Editorial magazines (sport, music, icons, etc.) for children
and young people.

Egmont Editions
Produces serial magazines and books for children and
adults. Titles published include Warcraft and a range of
manga magazines.

11
 AT EGMONT MAGASINER’S PRINT WORKS NEAR COPENHAGEN, THE
PRINTING PRESSES WHIR AWAY AROUND THE CLOCK FROM MONDAY
TO FRIDAY TO PRODUCE FIVE EGMONT WEEKLIES. THE PRINTERS WORK
IN THREE SHIFTS, MAKING SURE EVERY SINGLE COPY IS PERFECT.

By Jan Aagaard

W
hen a printing press churns
out 42,000 forty-page maga-
zines an hour, even the small-
est error can be a costly affair. So printing
technician Torben Ellesøe and his colleagues
keep a close watch on the array of screens
and flashing buttons in the control room.
Or the ˝desk˝, as it is commonly referred to
by the printing staff at Egmont Magasiner’s
print works near Copenhagen.
Every week, five Egmont weeklies
are produced here in print runs averaging
170,000 copies. The large number of pages
and different paper grades mean that each
magazine production has to be divided
into several folds. Along with the large
print runs, this means that the rotogravure
presses are in action 24 hours a day from
7 am on Monday to 7 pm on Friday. Many
print shop employees therefore work in
three shifts.

1. Engraving

E
gmont’s print works in Skovlunde
on the outskirts of Copenhagen is
the only printing house in Scandi-
navia that employs rotogravure, an age-old
technology that has proved its worth for
long-run printing. Every minute, 365 days
a year, the huge copper-engraved cylinders
at Egmont Magasiner A/S in Skovlunde
are turning, cranking out 10,743 pages a
minute on average.
Rotogravure uses multiple plates, one for
each colour, each plate etched with deeply
recessed grooves that transfer colour to the
paper. The ink is absorbed by the grooves
under high pressure, producing an image
with fine rasters and an even impression.
Just setting up and starting the presses is
expensive, making it particularly suitable for
large print runs of 30,000 copies or more.
Compare one of Egmont’s six rotogravure-
printed magazines with any other magazine
you might like to choose and you will notice
the difference.
The 800 kilogram copper cylinders are re-used after
being cleaned and fitted with a separate foil layer (a
Since rotogravure printing nowadays is special ballard skin) before the thin layer of copper
is placed on the cylinder. Once the copper has been
entirely automated, it takes only 56 em- put on the cylinder it has to be engraved. A slender
ployees to print the 45 million magazines diamond needle is used for the precision work of
etching the numerous different grooves that ulti-
shipped every year from the print works to mately determine how much ink will be transferred
our customers and retailers.   ▀ to the paper and thus the final printed appearance.

12
 Torben Ellesøe checks the dyes used
by the printing press and adjusts
it in preparation for new printing
jobs. Minimising paper waste is the
goal. But even when the machines
are correctly calibrated, things can
still go wrong. Paper can tear or
the press may develop technical
problems.

This also applies to the printing techni-
cians based in the heart of the large factory
building who work at the desk in a room
without daylight but with windows that
dull the noise of the giant printing presses
outside.
˝Our main job is to monitor the print-
ing process. We check that the colours and
fit are correct, which means, for example,
adjusting machine temperature and steam
when necessary,˝ explains Torben Ellesøe.
FOUR-MAN TEAMS
There are four technicians to every shift,
and each technician has his own special
function.
The ˝reel˝ man works in the basement,
feeding the printing presses with paper
from huge reels that have to be regularly
replenished as white paper is transformed
into colourful weeklies.
The lead technician has overall respon-
sibility for starting the printing process and
monitoring it from the control desk, while
next to him, his second-in-command keeps
watch on the different stages of the proc-
ess.


2. The copper cylinder is ready for printing 3. A copper cylinder for each
The ultra-thin en- colour
graving has created
the image of next
week’s magazine.
During the printing
process, the most
deeply recessed parts
of the plate will
contain more colour,
and thus transfer
more printing ink to
the paper. Each page
is etched onto the
cylinder, which can
accommodate up to
72 pages.

Four colour units are used in the rotary process, one

for each of the primary colours used in printing,
cyan, magenta, and yellow, plus black. This copper
cylinder has been used for the yellow colour. The
print shop uses an average of 60 kilograms of ink
every hour all year round. One of the huge advan-
tages of rotogravure printing is the higher colour
density and greater clarity than can be achieved
through other printing methods.

13
 Last man on the team is the ˝stacker˝,
who operates the machines that gather
the newly printed magazines in long stacks
before they are stapled, cut and packed in a
separate part of the printing works.
The printing technicians rotate be-
tween the four different functions. Today
Torben Ellesøe is number two on the
evening shift, monitoring the printing proc-
ess via 12 screen displays of technical data
and camera images from different parts of
the press, as well as keeping an eye on vari-
ous measuring dials and indicators.
CHANGING THE CYLINDERS
The print workers are particularly busy
when one magazine print run finishes
and another begins. The rotary presses are
stopped so the big, heavy copper cylinders
that are engraved with the magazine pages
can be replaced with new cylinders for the
next print job. A shift often includes two,
sometimes even three changes, which gives
the printers plenty to do. As soon as the
printing unit gets underway, the machines
must be quickly re-calibrated for the next
production.
˝It’s a question of wasting as little paper
as possible, because discarded paper costs
the company a lot of money,˝ says Torben
Did you know…
Egmont has print works in Denmark as well
as the print shop run by Hjemmet Mor-
tensen in Oslo, Norway. The print works
in Denmark is the only rotogravure-based
printing business in Scandinavia.
Ellesøe. However, even when the machines
are correctly adjusted, things can go wrong.
Paper can split or a machine may develop
technical problems.
˝The best days are those when things
run smoothly, which fortunately applies
to the vast majority. But sometimes things
go wrong for one reason or other, and
that’s a bind. The challenge of my job is to
make everything run perfectly,˝ says Torben
Ellesøe.
PRINTER BY ACCIDENT
Torben Ellesøe was always interested in the
graphics industry, but became a printer by
accident. Originally he wanted to be a li-
thographer, but was offered an apprentice-
ship in a printing works, and now almost
20 years have passed since he qualified.
His many years of experience stand him in

4. The rotary press ready for a trial run

The rotary press is calibrated before each print job. The
amount of ink can be adjusted for each machine, as well as
the pressure and speed of the press.

5. The rotogravure printing press

Once the press has been run in, printing is a speedy process. The large
machines can print as many as seven million four-colour pages an
hour.

14
 Egmont Magasiner’s
printing works
● Prints ALT for Damerne, Hendes Verden, Hjemmet, Her & Nu
and Hemmets Journal plus Kino (Nordisk Film)
● Employs about 50 staff
● Produces weeklies 24 hours a day, 5 days a week
● Prints 45 million magazines a year
● Uses 10,000 tons of paper and 500 tons of ink a year

good stead and help to relieve the pressure
when unforeseen problems arise.
˝A good printing technician must keep
his wits about him and be able to keep a
cool head in any situation. But generally the
job is fairly routine without much variation,˝
says Torben Ellesøe.
However, daily routine is offset by
the close contact with colleagues and the
unique jargon spoken by the small team
of men, who can be pretty down-to-earth.
˝This isn’t a ladies’ hairdressing salon!˝ as
one of Torben’s colleagues puts it.
˝You have to get on with your col-
leagues – otherwise the shifts seem very
long. We have to be able to work well as
a team so things go without a hitch. You
can’t mind your own business for eight
hours at a time,˝ says Torben Ellesøe.
PROS AND CONS
He works each shift – day, evening and
night – for a week at a time, and has learnt
to live with the rotating shift work.
˝I’ve never done anything else, and
there are clear pros and cons to the system.
During the day I often have time to do
things at home that wouldn’t otherwise be
GH
N INSI
possible. But the evening shift takes its toll
on family life, and I’m not crazy about the
night shift in summer, when it can be dif-
ficult to sleep during the day,˝ says Torben.
Right now Torben Ellesøe is definitely
wide awake, which is all for the best. He is
keeping an eye on the monitors in the con-
trol room while the presses rumble away,
churning out a steady stream of weeklies
on the other side of the glass. Right until the
last shift shuts down on Friday evening.   ▀
T

ID E O O
THE V at Egmo
nt
WATCH the entire process
y filmed
Hardcop in Skovlunde.
er
Magasin
6. Stapling and binding

Most of the magazines contain various sections and

7. Pallets ready for delivery
covers. This means they have to be arranged in different The finished magazines are stacked on pallets, which
layers in preparation for the machines that assemble and are collected by lorries round the clock. They are either
staple the sections that make up the finished magazine. sent direct to post offices or delivered via distributors.

15
 From cinema usher
to scheduling
supervisor
MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE CINEMA WITH FUN, ENTERTAINMENT, POPCORN
AND CULTURE. BUT FOR NORDISK FILM BIOGRAFER’S EXECUTIVE FILM SUPERVISOR,
CHRISTIAN RØNNOW HANSEN, IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE.

By Pernille Krogh

T
he thermometer shows 22 degrees Celsius, which means
summer has finally arrived in Denmark this Thursday morn-
ing. But in the lobby of Scandinavia’s largest cinema, both
the air conditioning and ABBA’s greatest hits have been turned up
full blast. Although it’s now summer according to both thermom-
eter and calendar, Christian Rønnow is looking ahead to autumn.
As film supervisor, he is one of the people in charge of planning the
film screening schedule for Nordisk Film Biografer. He’s about to see
one of the upcoming season’s family films in the cool cinema theatre
– a 3D animation entitled Grufulde mig. It really doesn’t sound the
worst way to start a working day.
After the screening, Christian, father of two boys, says ˝There’s
too much adult humour in it,˝ and he should know. Because when
you go to the cinema to watch a film, you can be sure he saw it
six months earlier - just one of the roughly 300 titles he sees in the
course of a year.

CINEMA ATTENDANT OR BUSINESS STUDIES

Christian started his career in the cinema industry in 1986 when,
having passed his upper secondary school exams, he became a cin-
ema attendant in a Nordisk Film cinema. His original plan was to I’ve taught myself the trade.
take a university degree in business economics, and, to be admitted, There isn’t really any formal
he had to accumulate extra points. Although Christian was offered
training for my job.
a place at Aarhus University, he turned it down. He enjoyed working
in the cinema, and over the years gained experience in the business,
working his way up from scratch to what can rightly be termed the
top of Nordisk Film Biografer.
˝I’ve taught myself the trade. There isn’t really any formal train-
ing for my job. It’s been a process of learning by doing,˝ says Chris-
tian, 24 years after he started out as a cinema attendant in the
cinema.

16

Although it was Christian’s interest in films that initially drew
him to the cinema, over the years, the opportunity to shape his own
career has become an equally important factor.
For Christian it’s not just a question of having a job that to many
sounds like a dream, but also about striking a balance between
work and family life. A workplace that is both flexible and stimulat-
ing is clearly an advantage. But what sort of workplace is it?
4,000 MINUTES OF MOVIE-WATCHING A WEEK
It can be hard to describe an ordinary working day and even where it
takes place. Being involved with finances, marketing and consumer
contact means Christian follows the progress of a film from its early
beginnings to its final screening in the cinema.
So number crunching might be on the agenda for Christian in
his office in Axeltorv in the heart of Copenhagen, but the job also
has a more glamorous side: film screenings. Either in one of Nordisk
Film’s own cinemas or in an international venue at one of the world’s
film festivals. And there are plenty of films to see. For example, at
17
Christian Rønnow Hansen
watches­more than 300 films
a year.
a festival like Cannes, Christian can easily notch up 40 titles to get
through in a week. On average, a film lasts about 100 minutes.
With a little mental arithmetic, that makes about 66 hours of films.
With his extensive experience Christian can tell within the first ten
minutes whether a film is worth spending so much time on.
˝With some genres I don’t need to see the film to know
what it is. When you’ve seen – and have to see – as many films
as I do, you can quickly sort out what type of film it is and the
type of cinema audience it will attract. Now that doesn’t neces-
sarily affect the way we distribute the film in Denmark, but we
can usually predict a film’s commercial success,˝ says Christian.
It sounds like a dream job for film aficionados and anyone else
mildly interested in films. But the bottom line is that life as a film
supervisor is no more thrilling than so many others, and Christian is
quick to say ˝no˝ when asked whether he would like to see his own
life portrayed on the big screen:
˝It’s just a job – fortunately one I find both fun and stimu­
lating.˝  ▀
Jill-of-all-trades
in a pink world
THE JOB OF EDITOR AT EGMONT CREATIVE CENTER MEANS BEING IN
DAILY CONTACT WITH COLLEAGUES AND BUSINESS PARTNERS IN MANY
COUNTRIES, EXPLAINS KAROLINA HJERTONSSON. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
IS WORKING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORKS SET BY THE LICENCE HOLDERS.

By Jan Aagaard

K
arolina Hjertonsson operates in a pink universe. The Mac
screen in her pink office in Egmont’s Copenhagen head-
quarters is alive with images of chic Barbie girls sporting
pink fashion in pink settings. The bookshelves around Karolina’s are
crammed with pink-bound books and magazines, and on top of
the shelves is a pink world of sundry activity books, note paper and
games. At the back is a lone figure of Barbie herself – the world-
famous doll neatly packed in a box just like those opened by thou-
sands of little girls the world over every day.
The Barbie dolls and their pink world are an important part of
Karolina Hjertonsson’s daily life where, as an editor at Egmont Crea-
tive Center, her job is to develop and create products for Egmont
Kids Media departments in Europe and Asia. She thrives in the pink
universe, which girls aged 4 to 7 find particularly enchanting.
˝I clearly remember playing with Barbie dolls myself when I was
a child, so it’s very natural to put myself in the girls˝ shoes and focus
on what interests them. I probably listen to my inner child a lot,˝
Karolina says.
˝Being involved with creating some very eye-catching products
is also fun. My job is about giving the target group what they want,
and, in the Barbie universe, things simply can’t be pink enough!˝
she says.
EVERYTHING HAS TO BE APPROVED
However, not everything is pink. As well as Barbie, Karolina is also
responsible for brands such as Cars, Star Wars, Clone Wars and a
number of other universes. The large majority are world-famous
brands with rights owned by international corporations like Mat-
tel, Disney and Lucasfilm. This means the licence holders have to
approve all publications and products before they can be put into
production and launched in country markets.
˝As I work solely with licence products, I operate within clearly
defined limits where everything has to be approved by the licence
holders. This is a major challenge, which can sometimes be difficult
and frustrating. But you gradually become an expert in the various
universes, get a good grasp of them and understand how to make
your way around them. This also makes it easier to push things
through,˝ Karolina explains.
In practice, she and her editor colleagues at Egmont Creative
Center focus both on developing new products and on localising

Egmont Creative Center

Creates licence-based content primarily for
Egmont’s 22 publishing companies but also
for customers outside the Egmont Group.
Has produced content for Donald Duck
since 1963 and is now a supplier of many
other products under licence from compa-
nies such as Disney, Mattel and Sanrio. All
material is developed in English and trans-
lated locally by customers.
Has a staff of 40 employees. Together with
a freelance team of about 70 authors, illu-
strators, colourists and graphic designers in
the USA, South America and Europe, they
develop material for magazines, books and
activity books.
Annually publishes 170 book and activity
book titles plus 250 magazine titles.

18
existing products to different markets and languages. For the edi- are to be published and when in the course of the upcoming year.
tors, it is a matter of timing publication to coincide with the licence Many of the products manufactured in the Nordic countries are also
holders˝ activities. For example, when to be launched in other markets, East-
a new Disney film is in the offing, the ern Europe, for example, and a number
editorial team has to decide – together of extra publications and changes inevi-
with local publishers in the countries tably crop up along the way.
concerned – which products would be It’s a job where I’m in
relevant to launch in connection with A GOOD FEELING
the release. touch with people in lots Karolina spends a lot of time every
of countries. I enjoy that day communicating with local editors,
A DYNAMIC WORKING DAY dynamic. licence holders and a freelance network
Karolina enjoys her role as the person of graphic designers and authors on all
who has to develop ideas, take a stance kinds of issues, from tiny details to ma-
on projects and assess every detail, from text to illustrations, colours jor plans for new products. For practical reasons, she usually com-
and paper grade – generally putting her professional stamp on the municates by e-mail as many of these people are based abroad. On
products. After four years in the job, she has accumulated experi- top of this comes development work, where, in close collaboration
ence and skills that make it easier to keep a cool head in a position with a graphic designer, for example, she addresses issues regarding
that requires meeting many deadlines, making many decisions and illustrations, colour choices, logo, and so on.
ongoing dialogue with colleagues and business partners. ˝It’s a ping-pong job with numerous deliberations and discus-
˝It’s a job where I’m in touch with people in lots of countries. I sions involving both aesthetics and purely technical details. I enjoy
enjoy that dynamic. No days are the same, and I never quite know the creative process immensely,˝ admits Karolina Hjertonsson, who
what will turn up in my mail box. So I also have to plan flexibly,˝ says derives special satisfaction on the days when she gets a licence
Karolina Hjertonsson. holder’s approval for a finished product.
However, plans have to be made, and, as an editor, Karolina ˝It’s a great feeling to get final approval when you’ve worked so
bases her planning on the publishing programme decided by the long on a project you’re personally satisfied with. Then you’re ready
publishers in the Nordic countries. The plan sets out which products to throw yourself into the next challenge,˝ she says.  ▀

Broad background
Swedish Karolina Hjertonsson came to
Egmont in 2006 and worked for the
first 18 months as a local editor for
Sweden but based in Copenhagen.
Before working at Egmont she
held various positions, such as editor
at another publishing company, a
journalist on a local Swedish paper
and a web editor for two different
companies.
She has a degree in comparative
literature from the University of Lund
and has also completed courses in film
studies.

19
Visiting Romania with
DISNEY HAS INVESTED HEAVILY IN THE TOY STORY 3
FILMS RELEASED THROUGHOUT EUROPE THIS SUMMER.
HARDCOPY JOINED SOME ROMANIAN COLLEAGUES AT
A PRESS BRIEFING AND EVENT IN THE LIBERTY MALL
SHOPPING CENTRE IN DOWNTOWN BUCHAREST TO
MEET WOODY AND BUZZ. THE EVENT WAS THE FIRST
IN A SERIES FEATURING EGMONT’S TOY STORY BOOKS
AND MAGAZINES WHERE CHILDREN CAN TRY OUT THE
PRODUCTS FOR THEMSELVES.

By Jan Sturm

With its thousand years of history, mountainous countryside and

old Transylvanian castles, Romania is the epitome of fairytale
for many people. With a population of 21 million it is also the
largest country in south-eastern Europe – and an important mar-
ket for Egmont, which has had a Romanian presence for over a
decade. The team of 20 produce 11 licence-based magazines and
a large range of books from the head office in central Bucharest.

Toy Story dancing competition

The prospect of meeting the Toy Story stars has attracted a
large crowd of children. Here they are taking part in a dancing
competition that brings a smile to their parents’ faces.

20
Woody and Buzz
Before being hired by Egmont Romania
as marketing and advertising manager,
Georgeta­ Coman worked on a daily news-
paper in Bucharest. Now she is in charge
of children’s products and has organised
part of the event staged for the Toy Story 3
release. Hardcopy asked her about the job.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY FOR
A ROMANIAN MARKETING
MANAGER?­
There is no typical day because no two days
are the same. For example, we’re on our
way now to an event in a shopping centre
– but last week I was sitting in front of my
computer in the office.
WHAT DOES A MARKETING
MANAGER DO IN ROMANIA?
First, we try to promote our magazine as
much as possible and reach the target
group. The main challenge is reaching cus-
tomers. In kiosks, customers are exposed to
countless magazines and newspapers, so
our products have to stand out and be as
attractive as possible.
HOW DO YOU DIFFER FROM
OTHER MAGAZINES?
Above all by having well-known licence
products. In Romania, having a free toy
with the magazine is a huge advantage.
Kiosks quite simply display our magazines
more prominently if they contain relevant
gimmicks.
IS IT HARDER TO MARKET
CHILDREN’S MAGAZINES THAN
OTHER PRODUCTS?
It’s more fun because children are the target
audience. I have to think like an eight-year-
old princess! In fact, last year when we
were planning our product presentation for
advertisers, we even considered dressing
up as princesses and turning it into a real
event. It’s a question of being constantly
creative and thinking outside the box.
21
There always has to be time
for fun!
Assistant Manager Cristina Oanea shares a
joke with Brand Manager Cristina Calin before
presenting Egmont’s products to the children
who have turned up.
Final preparations
The Toy Story press briefing in the
Liberty Mall is scheduled for 12
noon, with the large children’s play
area due to be opened afterwards.
The last details fall into place just
before the press briefing.
AT C H VIDEO
W S
I N T E RVIEW
AND IGHT
ON INS
˝Helping with events is fun. I help the
children with their drawings and show
them how to use our materials. I adore
kids, and see this as a great chance to
laugh and feel young,˝ explains Assistant
Manager Cristina Oanea.
 Portrait of an employee:
John Erik Riley
AS WELL AS BEING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR IN THE NORWEGIAN PUBLISHING
COMPANY CAPPELEN DAMM, JOHN ERIK RILEY IS AN AUTHOR IN HIS OWN RIGHT
WITH A LONG LINE OF TITLES TO HIS NAME. HE IS A WELL-KNOWN NORWEGIAN
DEBATER AND A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR IN THE NORWEGIAN PRESS.
By Ingunn Lindborg

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR

DAILY DRIVE?
Bringing innovation to children’s literature.
That means being familiar with the various
genres while having an eye for the unusual.
But above all you have to be receptive to
the authors and illustrators. They are the
people who drive us on, both culturally and
mentally.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE

BOOK?
I always find it hard to answer that type of
question. There are so many good books,
and my favourite depends on when and
where you ask. If you ask about books for
children and young people, my answer
would have to be A Wrinkle in Time by
Madeleine L’Engle. It’s a wonderful story
that appeals to all ages. I suppose I must
have read it four or five times. It has all the
ingredients you could wish for – a moving
story, both boys and girls in the main roles,
travel through space and time, and lots of
arresting use of language.

YOUR GREATEST SUCCESS?

My day-to-day work. Perhaps I’m happiest
when we do well both financially and cul-
turally. Cappelen Damm wins more literary
awards than any other Norwegian pub-
lisher. We have a good commercial profile
and are experts at developing new series
and concepts. The department has also had
success with re-cycling formats – ways of
extending the life of books.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD DAY FOR

YOU?
The best days are those when we discover
a book, an illustrator or an author who can
do something new and exciting. Fortuna-

22
 tely, this happens on a weekly basis in our
company. It gives me a special kick when
we track down something no other Norwe-
gian children’s publisher has thought about
or spotted.

YOUR MOST FUN EXPERIENCE

AT WORK?
It’s hard to pinpoint particular incidents
– because we have fun every day. But
seeing one of our authors receive the Ra-
gazzi Award in Italy was obviously one that
stands out. That doesn’t happen for many
publishers.

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF A

GOOD PUBLISHER?
You have to have an eye for a lot of things
at once. You can publish loads of good titles
and still not make it as a publisher, simply
because you don’t keep the books alive.
You also need a sense for what’s new and
innovative. You can plan minor successes,
but major financial successes almost always
take the publisher and author by surprise!
So a constant focus on quality is a must.
What may appear to be a niche title at first
glance may turn out to reach a far larger
target group than you thought. And again,
you have to focus on all sales channels.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD

CHILDREN’S BOOK?
The best children’s books are just as multi-
facetted, complex, surprising and classic as
any good book for adults. They never lose
their hold over you, never mind how many
times you read them. Norwegian children’s
literature is very varied, thanks partly to the
country’s good support schemes but also to
the determination of authors and illustra-
tors to be innovative.  ▀

23
Flemming lights up
film and
TV

AT NORDISK FILM HE GOES BY THE NAME OF

˝FLEMMING LIGHT˝ BUT ˝LARSEN˝ IS HIS REAL
SURNAME. HE IS THE LAST STAGE ELECTRICIAN
EMPLOYED BY NORDISK FILM, AND ACTUALLY
TOOK THE JOB TO RELAX BUT THINGS
DIDN’T TURN OUT THAT WAY.

By Lotte Ilsøe

F
lemming has been with Nord-
isk Film for 22 years now and,
although the job content has
changed considerably since he first began
and the department has shrunk over the
years, he sets off for work every morning
with a smile. His official title is still stage
electrician, but his role now is more that of
stage manager since the number of lighting
assignments has dwindled.
Flemming knows all there is to know
about the film studios at Nordisk  Film in
Valby. He maintains them, making sure eve-
rything is ready for the customers’ arrival.
He is always on hand when the studios are
in use to answer questions like where can
you connect a 22,000 Watt HMI lamp, or
what’s the best place to build a huge indoor
swimming pool.
A FAR CRY FROM RELAXATION
When Flemming first started working for
Nordisk Film back in 1988, the new Danish
TV channel TV2 had fully booked studios

24

3 and 4 in Valby. In fact, when Flemming
took the job, he envisaged being able to
relax a little after many years of being on
tour with theatre productions, but he soon
realised his mistake. There was not much
spare time when the entire department
had to be built, and in addition to the TV
programmes recorded in the Valby studios
during the week, Nordisk Film also handled
the recording of TV2’s sports programmes
at the weekends.
When not on a football pitch screwing
in bulbs, he devoted all his energy to studio
3, where the popular Danish entertainment
show Eleva2eren was recorded in the first
half of the 1990s.
˝Every week featured a new celebrity,
and I had to design the lighting for every
artist. I was experimental, but no-one ever
rejected my designs. We didn’t have the
smart equipment that the stars used on
tour, so we had to make do with what
we had. When Tina Turner was here, for
˝Shadows are the most important thing about light – shadows give
depth and life to the subject,˝ explains ˝Flemming Light˝, stage
electrician at Nordisk Film.
skills up-to-date. He is currently in charge
of the lighting for Anna von Lowzow’s new
documentary about the crown jewels of the
European royal families. He also designed
Every week the lighting for a documentary film about
featured a new the Danish Skaw painters.
˝’You know, I really should have been
celebrity, and I a Skaw painter! Art has been a big part of
had to design the my life, and I’ve learnt a lot about light,
lighting for every shadow and cropping from the works of
the artists of the golden age. So being in-
artist. volved in the production and meeting rela-
tives of the Skaw painters was awesome,˝
example, we didn’t have mobile lamps. Flemming recalls.
So instead we attached a long pole to the After so many years of setting the stage
stage lighting and one of us pulled it so the for others, Flemming has fallen victim to a
lights could be moved to follow the music!˝ few occupational hazards.
Flemming explains. ˝I’m always critical about what I see,
but I can forget about the technical aspects
SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SKAW as long as I feel entertained. If what I see
PAINTER bores me for even a second, I start counting
Although there is less call for Flemming’s the lamps,˝ he grins.   ▀
lighting expertise these days, he keeps his
25
 The joy
of my work

SUPPORTED BY EGMONT, THE LØVEHJERTE PROJECT OFFERS COUNSELLING­TO

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE PARENTS OR SIBLINGS ARE SUFFERING­
FROM A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS OR HAVE PASSED AWAY. EVERY DAY
THE PROJECT MANAGER, EVA HELWEG, GIVES THERAPY TO ABOUT THREE
CHILDREN, BUT SHE ALSO HAS TO WRITE UP PERSONAL RECORDS AND
LETTERS­, AND SHE ACTUALLY ALSO QUITE ENJOYS BOOKKEEPING.

By Lotte Ilsøe

E
va’s enthusiasm for her work is
clear to see when she describes her
job, her colleagues and the chil-
dren with whom she is in touch every day.
She explains that the great thing about her
job is the huge variety of tasks, but she
gets particular joy from her interaction with
children.
˝A mother once arrived an hour early
with her child simply because they really
enjoyed being here – playing with the toys
and reading the books. I’m so proud to
have helped create this environment,˝ says
Eva Helweg, and continues: ˝It also gives
me great pleasure when young children
with little life experience open up and tell
me about the most painful things in life.
And then watching their progress and actu-
ally seeing them improve.˝
Even though children are asked to talk
about the most difficult and painful things
in life when they visit the Løvehjerte coun-
selling centre, they look forward to coming
all the same. But working with children is
a commitment that means you have to be
˝focused˝ all the time and flexible.
˝It’s important that we do our utmost
every day and are attentive and open-mind-
ed. And I’m glad my colleagues feel the
same way. When we’re with the children or
answer the phone, we have to be fully there
because we might be asked to make a deci-
sion on the spot. For example, if a father
calls in to ask whether he should pick up his
children from daycare because their mother
only has an hour left to live, we have to be

26

Eva’s office is full of dolls’ houses, toys and
colourful children’s pictures. The children make
lots when they visit Løvehjerte. Sometime it is
easier to express thoughts and feelings through
drawings rather than words.
prepared to talk to and advise him,˝ Eva
explains.
SAME ADDRESS AS DONALD
DUCK
Based in Egmont House in Copenhagen,
the Løvehjerte centre shares offices with
the Egmont Foundation’s Aid and Grants
Administration. Eva has learnt a lot from
the commitment and pleasure Egmont em-
ployees take in their work, and is proud to
be part of Egmont.
˝We’ve learnt a lot in this building
where people are very open, enthusiastic
and interested in our work. There is an at-
mosphere of infectious happiness and pride
here, not only individually but also in a
broader sense. Belonging to a larger entity
has taught us some important lessons,˝ Eva
explains.
If a father calls in to ask
whether he should pick
up his children from
daycare because their
Eva Helweg
mother only has an hour
heads up the
Løvehjerte
left to live, we have to be
children’s and
youth counselling
prepared to talk to and
centre, a project
supported by
advise him.
the Egmont
Foundation since
1999. Being part
of Egmont has
been a rewarding
learning
experience and
working with LEAVING THE NEST
children has
been a daily The Egmont Foundation has financed and
pleasure for Eva.
supported the Løvehjerte project since its
inception in 1999. This year, a resolution
was passed to merge Løvehjerte with ˝Unge
og Sorg˝ as of 1 January 2011. The new
Working under the same roof as organisation will be called ˝Børn, Unge og
some of the companies that specialise in Sorg˝ and will offer counselling for children
children’s universes has offered a unique and young people from 3 to 28 throughout
opportunity for starting conversations with Denmark.
children. ˝Leaving Egmont will be hard. We’ve
˝When you are able to start a conversa- learnt so much here, and we will take our
tion by explaining that Donald Duck com- enthusiasm, commitment and pride with us
ics are also made in this building and that when we move in with ˝Unge og Sorg˝. We
if they look at their schoolbooks, they’ll don’t see ourselves moving from something
probably­see the name Alinea on them, this but rather moving towards something new
helps to make things seem more normal. that can bring on the project and ensure we
These are all things children are familiar can carry on offering therapy to children
with from their daily life, and it gives us a and young people who have suffered a
unique way to reach them,˝ says Eva. loss,˝ Eva concludes. ▀
27
 WHO’S
WHO
WHO’S WHO

WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE EGMONT’S TOP MANAGERS DO IN THEIR

SPARE TIME? WHERE DO THEY GO FOR THEIR HOLIDAYS? AND WHAT
BRIGHTENS UP THEIR DAY? IPHONE AND IPAD ARE AMONG THE
FAVOURITE GADGETS WHEN EGMONT’S TOP MANAGERS REVEAL THEIR
MORE PRIVATE SIDES. BUT WHO IS THE PROUD OWNER OF A HOMER
SIMPSON SINGING PIZZA CUTTER? AND WHO TURNS UP THE VOLUME
WHEN STROMAE’S ALORS ON DANSE IS ON THE RADIO? FIND THE
ANSWERS TO THESE AND MANY OTHER QUESTIONS HERE.

CEO
Name Steffen Kragh
Family Married to Helle, two daughters, 13
and 16
Your favourite Asia in general because of
travel destination its climate, food and exciting
attractions
Your favourite author I enjoyed Leif Davidsen’s Min
broders vogter
Your favourite website New York Times editor’s choice for
iPad or iPhone
Your favourite hobby Activities with my children, travel
and hunting
Your favourite gadget iPhone
Your favourite film I recently re-watched the Jason
Bourne trilogy. Great entertainment.
Your favourite Efter deadline
TV programme
Your favourite music This week it’s Stromae’s Alors on
Danse
Your hero Huey, Dewey and Louie

28
 WHO’S WHO

CFO
Your favourite New York, Barcelona, Stockholm,
travel destinations Hornbæk
Your favourite author I have lots, including P.D. James and
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Your favourite website Kampanje.com (work), pgatour.com
(leisure)
Your favourite hobby Golf
Your favourite gadget My black notebook with my iPad
coming a close second
Your favourite film Cinema Paradiso
Name Hans J. Carstensen Your favourite The West Wing, TV2 News
Age 44 TV programme

Family Married to Mette, who designs Your favourite music Broad taste in pop/rock (from
exhibitions for the Experimen­tarium Robbie Williams to Muse)
science centre. Children: Laura (15) Your hero Nelson Mandela
and Carl Philip (12)

EGMONT MAGAZINES
Your favourite San Francisco, USA.
travel destination
Your favourite author Paul Auster
Your favourite website Commercial site: www.nespresso.
com
Your favourite hobby Mountain biking
Your favourite gadget iPad
Your favourite film Godfather
Your favourite TV
programme Klovn
Name Torsten Bjerre Rasmussen                          Your favourite music U2 and Coldplay
Age 41 Your hero Lots!
Family Married to Sanne. Three children –
Ludvig, 9, Elvira, 5, and Herbert, 3.

EGMONT KIDS MEDIA

Your favourite All the countries in which we have

travel destination offices. I love visiting our teams.
Your favourite author Nick Hornby
Your favourite website Bild.de
Your favourite hobby When I’m not travelling I spend time
with my family.
Your favourite gadget iPhone
Your favourite film Love Actually; About a Boy; An
Education.
Your favourite I tend to zap – are there any good
Name Frank Knau TV programme TV programmes at the moment?
Age 52 Your favourite music Coldplay, George Michael
Family Married to Maike, a daughter,
Chiara, 17

29

EGMONT NORDISK FILM
Name Allan Hansen
Family Married to Susanne Pihl Hansen,
who works as a freelance
consultant. We have a son, Simon,
15, and a daughter, Ida, 10.
Your favourite There are many wonderful places
travel destination to choose from. But if I were to pick
two, I’d have to say Bornholm and
Newcastle (UK) with my English
family as the places where I relax
and find inspiration.
Your favourite author I have followed Swedish crime
writer Arne Dahl for many years and
he is undoubtedly one of my top
favourites. I am delighted that we’re
going to produce screen versions of
his ten books. I have also recently
read the three Jussi Adler-Olsen
books about department Q, where
the last title in particular, Flaskepost
fra P, is outstanding.
BOOKS NORWAY
Name Tom Harald Jenssen
Age 56
Family Married, two sons, 21 and 27
30
WHO’S WHO
Your favourite website I don’t have a favourite site as
such at the moment. For news and
content I still think www.dr.dk offers
the most substance and breadth –
and the information is presented
in an easily accessible way. www.
variety.com and www.gamedaily.
com are two of the sites I use for film
and games news and top charts, with
www.release.no an example of a
good local Norwegian site.
Your favourite hobby Football – both as a player and
coach for my daughter, and I watch
football and a little golf, time
permitting.
Your favourite gadget I brought an iPad back home from
the USA. It’s almost better than … -
well, I’m tempted to say it should lie
in the middle of the bed!
Your favourite film The Deer Hunter and Godfather
movies have both stood the test of
time.
Your favourite DR2 Deadline, and my family is
TV programme currently addicted to its daily dose
of 2½ Men starring Charlie Sheen.
Your favourite music Bo Kasper’s orchestra will always
hold special place in my heart.
Your hero There are masses of great heroes
to choose from. I’ve just flown back
from Los Angeles, and the in-flight
movie was Invictus, about Nelson
Mandela’s life during his first term
as president. If there is even a
grain of truth in the story, this film
portrays a man from whom we
can all draw inspiration. The role
of Mandela is played brilliantly by
Morgan Freeman.
Your favourite Hardangervidda
travel destination
Your favourite author As a publisher it’s impossible to
answer that question!
Your favourite website www.expectingrain.com
Your favourite hobby Cross-country skiing and kayaking
Your favourite gadget My dog
Your favourite film Godfather
Your favourite House
TV programme
Your favourite music Although it’s tempting, I can only
say Bob Dylan
Your hero Muhammed Ali
 WHO’S WHO

BOOKS DENMARK
Your favourite website The stream of news in all Danish
media, amazon.com, aldaily.com,
aok.dk and I check the weather at
yr.no
Your favourite hobby Reading and anything to do
with the sea – kayaking, fishing,
swimming or just watching.
Your favourite gadget Homer Simpson’s singing pizza
cutter
Your favourite film Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander
Your favourite The Tudors (Henry VIII) and Mad
Name Anette Wad TV programme Men (advertising on Madison
Avenue – the life and doings of art
Age 50 director Don Draper) – I’m waiting
Family Two sons, age 16 and 21. Living with impatiently for the next seasons.
Hakon. Your favourite music Rock and roll where you quickly get
Your favourite Iceland. The worse the weather, the to the chorus. Long guitar solos and
travel destination more beautiful the island becomes. Miles Davis are not my scene.
Your favourite author It all started with Johannes V. Jensen Your hero The former US Secretary of State,
in my childhood, and nothing’s Madeleine Albright
changed …

TV 2
Your favourite Trøndelag
travel destination
Your favourite author Knut Hamsun
Your favourite website Nothing in particular
Your favourite hobby Keeping fit and nature
Your favourite gadget Nothing in particular
Your favourite film Nothing in particular
Your favourite The news
TV programme
Your favourite music Chopin’s piano concerto no. 1
Name Alf Hildrum  Your hero None
Age 62 
Family Co-habiting. One son, age 34,
and co-habiter’s son, age 35, two
lovely daughters-in-law and two
grandchildren age 1 and 2.

31
E3 i billeder
EVERY SUMMER ALL KINDS
OF PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD
OF GAME CONSOLES GET
TOGETHER AT THE E3 EXPO IN
LOS ANGELES FOR MEETINGS,
NEW GAME PRESENTATIONS
AND TESTS OF THE LATEST
CONSOLES. SUMAN RATH
FROM NORDISK FILM
INTERACTIVE IN FINLAND
WENT TELLS ABOUT IT HERE

Microsoft has launched its own Kinectic

Motioncontroller, corresponding to our EyeToy Sony demonstrated the cool LittleBigPlanet
camera game on PS2. However, Kinectic was not 2, which lets players create their own levels
as convincing a product as MOVE. and even their own games. The idea is to
play, create and share. This is a sequel to
LittleBigPlanet, which was released in 2008
and immediately generated a new game
nre
e ge h genre, creative gaming, in which players
gam
e m usic pular, wit r create their own game experience.
Th o ta
ins p ingS
rema ur own S g the
o
e t o ppin lists.
chis hit
fran inavian ncepts
d
Scan ellent co sed at
ee x c ca
The 3DS was a positive surprise from our competitors.
Som show this
The handheld 3D console produced a 3D effect that were example real
– fo r it h
worked particularly well in games like Paper Mario E 3 r w e
guita gam
and Metal Gear Solid. You could almost feel the real r a new nder
gs fo d Fe
characters jumping through the little screen! strin ˝Gig˝, an for EA’s
d r
calle ratocaste ock on!
St
b a n d˝. R
k
˝Roc

The 3DS queues were the

longest at the expo, which
attracted hordes of guests
eager to witness the unveiling
of Nintendo’s handheld 3D
console.

PlayStation has pulled out all the stops in presenting the new
MOVE controller, which makes the PS3 game experience active
and realistic. SingStar Dance and the sports games shown give a
realistic experience. As a golfer I loved the accuracy and realism
that MOVE gave the Tiger Woods 2011 game, and queued up for
ages to try out the new controller.