FILMMAKER MARIIA OVCHARENKO (MASHA) PROVES THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS ON TIME - VORAKA

Everything in life happens on time. Searching for your calling can sometimes feel like a path to nowhere, because what is truly yours has always been inside of you. As one of her acting professors once said, “It’s always somewhere in the water.”

Filmmaker Mariia Ovcharenko (Masha), originally from Ukraine, finds her purpose in the world of videos and art, the very reason she wakes up each morning. “My job has always been my dream,” she says. For Masha, videography is not merely a profession; it is a means of revealing life through her own eyes, eyes that have endured both loss and growth, and that now see the world with empathy, depth, and honesty. A tattoo on her arm reads “can’t pretend,” a reminder of her commitment to authenticity. “For me,” she explains, “it means choosing to be fully myself. Once I discovered who I was, I no longer needed to prove anything to anyone.”

Her path to videography was far from ordinary. After immigrating to the United States, Masha worked a variety of jobs, often the kind that are undervalued and unfairly assigned to immigrants. Over time, she built a successful nail salon business, a creative space that became a hub of connection and community. Yet, even at the height of her success, the pull of storytelling and visual expression never left her. Eventually, she made the bold decision to sell the salon and dedicate herself fully to videography, opening a new chapter centered around film, creativity, and self-expression.

Today, Masha is pursuing a degree in Film & Television at the University of Colorado Denver, honing her skills in producing, directing, and cinematography. Her project, MOVA, inspired by the Ukrainian word for “language,” reflects her mission to build bridges between cultures through the universal language of art.

For Masha, her work is not just her dream; it is her meaning. And when meaning is not immediately present, she creates it and romanticizes it. She believes that the essence of life lies in slowing down, appreciating beauty, reading poetry, sharing creativity, and cherishing family. “Life is a short stretch,” she reflects. “No one leaves it alive, so why rush from point A to point B? The space in between, that stretch, is life itself.”

Through her art, Masha invites us to pause, to see, and to feel, reminding us that we do not need to hurry to find our purpose. Because in her world, and perhaps in ours too, everything truly happens on time.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARIIA OVCHARENKO (MASHA)

What does your belief that everything in life happens on time mean to you now?

There’s a saying, “Don’t rush, and you’ll still make it.” I believe that when a person goes through different stages in life, whether difficult or transformative, they don’t always understand their purpose at that moment. But eventually, it becomes clear that everything happened for a reason. I didn’t find my life’s work right away; my journey wasn’t always connected to this profession. Sometimes it’s better to let things go, pause, and trust that what’s meant for you will find its way to you.

How has living in both Ukraine and the United States shaped the way you see the world through your lens?

Ukraine is my home, my roots, but America is a big part of my identity today. My friends are American, my partner is American, and I go to an American college. People here are easygoing, open, and humble. I genuinely love that about them. Ukraine, on the other hand, is a country of kind and hardworking people. I consider myself a very hardworking person because I started working at 13 back in Ukraine. Ukraine taught me how to achieve my goals through persistence and effort, while America taught me not to stress over little things and to enjoy the process more.

How did your transition from running a nail salon to pursuing videography come about?

It wasn’t easy. I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it. Videography was a completely new field for me, while the beauty business was something I’d known since Ukraine, it was the only world I really understood. But deep down, I always wanted to try something new and evolve. At first, videography felt like learning a new language. It’s exciting to start something from scratch, but it can also be emotionally overwhelming. The key is not to compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

What does videography represent to you beyond its technical aspects?

It’s an art. It’s about how differently we all see the world, a way to express yourself, to show taste, pain, and passion. Anything you want, really. It’s your imagination, there are no limits or boundaries, just like in any form of creativity.

How does your “can’t pretend” tattoo reflect your creative philosophy?

It’s the art of being yourself. That’s not for everyone, it’s something deeply personal. I’m grateful to have been born exactly as I am, and I don’t want to be anyone else. Everything I experience is raw, alive, and mine. For me, creativity is first and foremost about self-expression.

What inspired your project, MOVA, and what does it symbolize for you?

For me, MOVA is a visual language. Sometimes it’s better to show than to tell.

My production agency was inspired by the idea that every story has its own way of being seen, through visuals, design, and motion. We create videos, branding, and full visual concepts that help people express who they are without words.

Why is slowing down such an important part of your life philosophy?

If you truly believe that everything will be okay, it will be. As simple as it sounds, life always unfolds the way it’s meant to. You just have to trust it. Don’t rush through it, slow down, appreciate the little things, and enjoy every moment.

What inspires you the most when creating, whether emotionally or visually?

People and their emotions after the shoot inspire me the most, that feeling when something you created touches someone. For me, filming is like writing a song. It’s my form of creative expression, and it’s art in its purest sense.

How has studying Film and Television at the University of Colorado Denver influenced your creative perspective?

It’s been incredibly inspiring. The professors at CU Denver are true professionals, they don’t just teach to do their job, they make you fall in love with the craft. Each one is the best in their niche, and that has had a huge impact on how I see and create art.

What do you see as the next chapter for you, creatively and personally?

To take care of myself, mentally and physically. That’s all I ask for. Once I have that, I believe everything else will naturally fall into place.

What message do you hope people take away from your art?

Go crazy. Dream big. It doesn’t matter what they think of you. Do silly things, but be authentic and enjoy every second of it. 

What keeps you hopeful about the future?

When people are kind, you’ll never regret being kind to someone. There’s a poem by Lina Kostenko that says, “People, be beautiful to one another.”