Laura Richards and Severina need no introduction, if the popularity of the Debauche dance troupe is any indication. A sold out gig in several venues all across the grid, they have been enjoying their life as models for the longest running and historic erotic SL magazine Playdolls, and are such a well established duo that it'd be impossible to imagine Laura's exquisite photography without Sev's uniquely piquing beauty as her muse. Laura and Sev have been around the world of porn for a long time, and yet this new adventure in filmaking was a surprise to me, it always is, given the amount of work involved in a movie, and how busy and satisfying their SL must be.
Their debut movie, Working it, already showed a lot of promise when it came to their desire to go all out with the sexual element and yet splash out surprises and go into uncharted territory when it comes to setting a scene up and use all the tools their experience in theater play in SL gave them. It also featured the veteran of the movie scene like Larry Vinaver, and included talents as Igor Romanov, Graham Collinson and the wonderful Geordie.
This new movie, His, featuring Graham, Talisker Braveheart and Racheal Rexen, mantains that same desire to push the envelope and adds to it the magic of a highly refined cinematography.
Black and white has always been Laura's natural element in her career as photographer, and this movie will blow you away when it comes to displaying how expressive monochrome can be, and how vibrant with sexuality. The movie in fact switches meaningfully between colour and b&w, and there are so many well composed shots and cleverly laid out scenes that it'd be worth discussing it and analyzing it in spots like some Criterion collection classic - of course I am exaggerating, but the cinematic quality is just there and with a love for classic movies, and how evocative this medium is.
But, enough about my chit-chat: Laura and Sev are notoriously impossible to have a bad interview with, since they rub off on each other so well in their wit, and they have a lot to say about this movie and this first foray into moviemaking in general.
Obligatory question: what made you decide to get into moviemaking? (and how did you pick such a Wowtastic name for the studio??)
Laura - It seemed to me that it was a logical step from taking pictures. I will still continue to enjoy the photography but the challenge and process of movie making is so appealing. I have tried to incorporate so many things I have learned from photography and I think, on the whole, it worked out really well. The name came from Sev. She invented the word Wowtastic and it has totally stuck with us since.
Sev - Always really wanted to step into this scene of movie making. Theres few people in Second Life i really admire, Laura obviously is first and foremost, she inspires me. A quite famous lady in the adult scene is Miss Emily, i also admire her and she mentioned something that always stuck with me quite some time ago. "If not in movies or photoshoots then do your own". Something like that anyway to group of people maybe not happy with not being involved with many shoots
Being with Laura for any amount of time you soon realise she is incredible, a natural talented woman who excels at almost everything. For me it was natural to progress together and eventually we have.
WOWTASTIC is combination of " WOW" and "Fantastic" both words we hear a lot of at our dance shows. I mentioned Wowtastic and it stuck, indeed we see gestures of the word and it seemed so appropiate for our productions
Which were the first challenges making a movie? I am asking because it may also help someone else who is trying to take up filming and may relate and get some advice.
Laura - The initial challenge was HOW???? I had no idea on software, hardware, the entire process. I looked around, tried a few things, found a system that seemed to work. The other challenge in SL, for me, is remembering to turn things OFF. So many scenes had to be re shot because a message pops up, the cursor goes flying across the screen, something I forgot to tun off intrudes. I am slowly learning to complete a process of closing things down before saying action!
Sev - For me first challenge is being unique, own style. Laura and i both wanted to step away from things seen before and be our own style.
On the technical side its Laura's domain, i have learn't to just hint, say things and then let Laura set to work. Very few things in Second Life Laura has not managed to overcome and movie making is no exception. I will myself become more involved in making, filming but right now i'm happy to write, recommend even direct and the rest will come.
One of the characterizing elements in your movie making comes, I believe, from your experience with choreography, and this gives your videos a unique look and a greater realism when it comes to certain details. There's a certain natural and polished look to several transitions, in a way that is fresh when it comes to SL adult machinima. Could you share more about your approach?
Laura - The choreography certainly plays a major part. One thing we had both commented on was simple movement in sl movies. It is nobody's fault. SL just does not handle movement over short distances well. We walk too fast, the AO takes a moment to kick in. And a straight line is a dream beyond most of us. After several years choreographing movement in dance routines, it seemed a very logical step to use the same approach in movies. Plus, between us, we have a wealth of "incidental" animations. Making beds, washing windows, all that sort of thing which we think adds more realism.
Sev - I see Laura answered this perfectly, very little i can add except yes, we use exact same approach in movie making as we do in dancing, though searching for better animations is our next step for action shots.
Scenes like mirrors and housework as Laura says brings realism and really work well we feel
What was your motivation for this big step? I am talking about your sophomore video being a feature lenght movie. Was this movie entirely planned out from the beginning and designed to be this big, or it grew into a larger project?
Laura - This was always going to be a feature length movie. I loved the challenge of it and I think more time lets you explore more ideas. Most SL movies are ten, maybe twenty minutes long and thats fine. I have seen some brilliant ten minute movies. I just didn't think we could say what we wanted to say in that sort of time scale. It did grow, as a project, as ideas developed, most notably from Sev. The cast grew, the storyline adapted. I know its very ambitious of us to make what is only our second movie such a huge project but thats us .
Sev - Fed up with just flicks doing sex from first second to last. Liked idea of a real story line, a movie which incorporates sex and adult themes but make them into something that can hold interest and expand the whole concept of movie making in Second Life.
Theres nothing wrong with smaller clips, indeed some are very good but the idea as mentioned above in expanding really does appeal. Again we are following our own style and not every movie will be as long but we trying to increase the quality in every step than what we have done before
I'd really like to know how does the writing process work between the two of you. Mention your favourite scenes/moments of the movie if you like, and how did they come about, your creative input, etc.
Laura - on this movie, I had the general idea of the situation but that was all I had. A skeleton, if you like. Sev added so much to this, bringing fresh ideas, suggestions. Ideas for characters and actors to play them. I would never have thought of a lot of this without Sev. Usually its back and forth, telling each other what ideas we have, exploring them, deciding what would work, what would not. One of my favorite scenes is right at the end of the movie, after the credits. I cannot watch that without feeling...flustered.
Sev - Laura came up with this idea for this particular movie. I fell in love with the general idea straight away.
Talking with Laura i introduced some of my ideas like Racheal being a Governess, the butler was masterpiece from Laura, We always talk together, we always have our own ideas and this is true from everyday situations to dancing, photography, fashion modeling shows and movie productions. We are just a natural pair who work so well together. As mentioned above lots of times i say, suggest and yes even hint, next thing Laura zooms around doing these and bringing them to life
Would you like to add something about your experiences working with others on the set?
Laura - Its fun and so nerve-wracking. We are still very new to this and very much learning as we go so it asks a lot of others to put up with the learning process with us. So far, though, everyone we have worked with has been a delight. Raceal was a real sweetie as well as a real professional. She knew more about what to do than I did! Talisker too, a real joy and come on, I get to do sex scenes with a hunk like Talisker? One thing that is a slight difficulty, because of time zones, is getting everyone together on set. that takes some working out.
Sev - Going to be no secret for Laura and i both said from day one we will work best with people we actually like and get on well with.
Movie making is so new to us both so we wanted people who can be patient and understanding of this fact. Let us have time to learn, be tolerant of any mistakes and Graham who plays the gentleman actually starred in our first movie and known him for years. Always so kind and just love working with him fits perfectly into this group.
Racheal i have always liked from first meeting her, you never hear or see any drama with Racheal and for me just perfect for this role.
Talisker is another person with so little baggage. Came in just like a real pro, Laura mentioned timezones and as we all know timezones can really become a problem
And there's the OTHER obligatory question: what's next for you both?
Laura - Next, ideally Sev will direct. I know she has an idea for a movie and what I have heard so far is wonderful. She is creatign a really rich environment for all sorts of things. I have an idea for another movie after that but , as usual, its merely a skeleton. No doubt Sev will add flesh when the time comes.
Sev - I'm writing script for next movie and not giving many spoilers away, lets just say my past life in Second Life meets up with my present life quite well.
Not sure when filming will begin for been so busy in both Real Life and Second but movie making is about fun and will always be this and will not let it take over my Second Life but to enhance this experience.
Thank you Kat for this and we at WOWTASTIC hope everybody enjoys the movie.
A big thanks to Laura and Sev for this interview, and a big one to you for reading it! Remember to come over at the premiere, today at 8 AM SLT , with Geordie Richards as our DJ!
Trailer 2 from Laura Richards on Vimeo.
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