“Pixel-Perfect Chaos: A Runway Director’s Tale in Heels

By Lali Arbizu Ever watched a flawless Second Life runway show and thought, Wow, that was seamless!? Yeah. That’s because you didn’t have a headset on. Let me tell you what it’s like to direct a fashion show in Second Life: It’s equal parts fashion, logistics, motivational speaking, crisis management, and digital exorcism. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried to talk down a panicked model whose pose HUD stopped working just 30 seconds before her walk, while someone else is accidentally rezzing a horse backstage. Step One: Say Yes, Then Question Everything It starts off so innocently. “Would you like to direct our upcoming fashion show?” Sure, I say. That sounds fun! Cut to: me awake at 2 a.m. color-coding walk orders, screaming at a script that says things like “Model number One to first stop, number Two to waiting spot, number Three don’t move!” Do I know what I’m doing? Not entirely. Do I sound like I do? Absolutely. Step Two: Organize the Chaos (...