Man of the Year: Draxtor Despress

 
There's been plenty of news this year in Second Life, and plenty of men and women behind it. In real life, the Coronavirus Pandemic cast a dark shadow over the world, and more people than before found themselves looking for things to do online. To bring them to Second Life, there had to be something to advertise the virtual world, and show them what was going on.

Someone helping out with both was Draxtor Despress, (Bernhard Drax in real life). Not just this year, but for the past several. Originally known for his "Flufee" videos made with Pooky Amsterdam, in 2013 he started a new series of informative videos about Second Life, "The Drax Files." This was followed in 2013 with "The Drax Files Radio Hour." In 2018, he produced a documentary film, "Our Digital Selves: My Avatar Is Me," which was about 13 Second Life residents whom overcame their various disabilities and made a home for themselves here. His work continued with the Second Life Destination videos in 2019, and this year he began hosting the Second Life Book Club.

For his work this year and in years past, Draxtor Despress is judged to be the Newser's Man of the Year.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

Man of the Year Runner-Up: Draxtor Despress

Much like the Newser's Persons of the Year, the Second Life Birthday Group Volunteers, the runner-up is known for his accomplishments in previous years as well as this one. Draxtor Despress (Bernhard Drax in real life) Originally known for his "Flufee" videos made with Pooky Amsterdam, in 2013 he started a new series of informative videos about Second Life, "The Drax Files." This was followed in 2013 with "The Drax Files Radio Hour." Last year, he did some Sansar preview videos to help promote Linden Lab's next generation world.



This year, Draxtor produced a documentary film, "Our Digital Selves: My Avatar Is Me." The movie, "tells the story of 13 global citizens and their avatars as they transcend their various disabilities through artistic expression and making a home for themselves in the VR Metaverse." The video has been viewed almost 50,000 times, and no doubt has changed some minds on what Second Life, and other virtual worlds, are all about.

So for his work past and present, Draxtor Despress make's the Newser's Runner-Up for Man of the Year of 2018.

Other noteable people included Luskwood for still being a noted community after fifteen years, the former residents of the closed InWorldz Grid, the Relay for Life volunteers, and of course the Lindens for keeping Second Life up and running for fifteen years.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

SL Video: "The Drax Files - World Makers Episode 40 - Bernhard Dörries"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

The latest "Drax Files" video from Draxtor Despres on Sept 1, "This episode of the Drax Files focuses on 88-year-old Bernhard Dörries. A successful German film director whose prolific career spans more than 50 years and 129 films, Bernhard continues to explore storytelling and creativity through Second Life.

"In Second Life, Bernhard’s avatar is Bernhard McIntyre - a youthful representation of his creative intellect, as well as a vehicle to cope with the emotional and physical challenges of moving into an assisted living situation.

“'My avatar is co-creator, equal partner in sharing feelings, co-owner of feelings and emotions,' he says.

[**** please choose your subtitles in the lower right corner by clicking "cc" and for an English transcript go to http://bit.ly/tdf40_english ***]"