Today we’re shining a spotlight on Godiva Varela, a talented Resident whose artistic journey in machinima captures the essence of creativity and innovation. Join Godiva on January 24th for a premiere of one of her latest short films at the Second Life Cinema! 

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
The first time I logged into SL was about 9 years ago. I had my pauses through the years but it was at the beginning of 2020 that I really started to log in way way more. The first time I heard about SL was on some documentary I saw long ago on the TV. I always wondered how it would be to get into SL after that documentary, but when I saw an article in a magazine I said enough wondering, and decided to give it a try. My computer at the moment wasn't strong enough so I didn't log in again for another year, but when I came back with a better computer I was hooked forever! 

Tragedy 2 Preproduction

You are a very talented Second Life machinima artist, how did you get started, and do you have a background in video production? 
Thanks for the compliment! I got started by taking short videos of myself dancing and showcasing my outfits (using gyazo), after some time (around the end of 2022) I decided to make my first music video so I just simply started putting to it all the knowledge I had about building and driving in SL. It came out as a wonderful first video so I decided to keep producing more of them. 

After a couple months I attended to the Fantasy Faire, there was a film competition which I wanted to participate in, so I gave it a try with my first video with acting. I was no stranger with providing a story to my videos, so this was the perfect opportunity to test myself onto it, and let me tell you that it came out much better than I initially expected!

About my background in video production, I really do not have any former education or formation on it, the only times I edited videos outside SL was two times in RL many many years ago, and they were like birthday videos. Since I never studied for this, I tried to learn along the way, so if I didn't know how to make a transition or an effect, I would look for tutorials on how to do it. You can say I am still learning something with each video I make. I always try at least one new thing on each video, as that makes it feel more challenging.

Mad Maxine Preproduction

What kind of software do you use to capture and edit your videos? Any tips for budding machinima artists?
I started using the old windows movie maker the first time I edited a video in RL, but when the moment to edit in SL came, I used Wondershare Filmora. It was a super easy to use program that had very low requirements and helped me all my way through my first months making videos. After some time I felt the need to have more tools and options, so I asked around my friends and Peasant Tater suggested I should try DaVinci Resolve. So that's the software I have been using since like half a year. Its amazing with loads of options and it’s free!

As for capturing the footage, I haven't tried more than the built in windows recorder, and Nvidia Shadowplay. Since I have an Nvidia card, I am able to use the latter, and it is an amazing and simple software that does not lower the framerate while recording. I haven't had the need yet to try OBS but I may try it if I need to do some streaming, or something outside of my current scope.

We loved your recent PBR video. What can we expect from you in the future? Are there any interesting projects you are currently working on?
Thanks a lot! I really like to try the new tech coming, testing and playing with it is one of my favorite things from all time, I love changes. And well, you can expect more music videos and fun videos, but also I have some series on the works. Funky Diva has been a good testbed of how to produce my own series within SL, so I plan on giving it a more detailed 2nd season. Besides that, I also have a more serious series in the works with a whole different mood, it will have robots too, and a more cyberpunk feel to it.This new series is not named yet, but it will be filmed completely in PBR so its gonna be exciting.

Watch Funky Diva: episode 1

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
When I started in SL I really didn't had the chance to watch many SL videos, because I wasnt really on the social media and I missed a lot of awesome content. But around 2 years ago I started to go way more social and I stumbled upon the videos of Sere Vene. I was absolutely impressed by her aesthetics and attention to detail. Not much after that I also found out about Teal Aurelia and again I got impressed by the level of production on her videos and the fine aesthetics. They both really had an impact on their own ways on how I saw SL from then on. There are many more Residents that inspired me, like Vrutega and Peasant Tater, but I would have to make a long list!

Tragedy Backstage

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Godiva.Varela 
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@godivasl/videos
Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/196190976@N08

Thank you, Godiva, for enriching our world with your creativity and inspiring a new generation of machinima artists.

Watch the premiere of Funky Diva Origins with Godiva and other Residents on Wednesday, January 24th at 12pm PT at the Second Life Cinema!

Each of our Spotlight posts features a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup