Have you ever wondered what would happen if you gave two film directors with completely different backgrounds the same script for a movie...and then watch both films?
Such is the case in the new reality show from Starz which also happens to be the network's first foray into unscripted show territory.
'The Chair' is the new show from the premium movie network that pits two young and motivated directors against each other while both executing the same movie script.
The script is a coming-of-age story written by first-time screenwriter Dan Schoffer and centers around a group of young friends from a small town in Pennsylvania who return home for Thanksgiving midway through their first term of college.
The show follows how each of the young directors adapt the script to their own vastly-different styles and navigate the ups and downs of working within their allotted $600,000 budgets.
One of the directors, Anna Martemucci, has a traditional film school background consisting of a world-class education at the New York University film school. The famed film school has a long roster of successful graduates ranging from the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman to Dexter's Michael C. Hall. While Martemucci has experience with writing and acting, 'The Chair' puts her in the role of director for the first time in her career.
The other director, Shane Dawson, doesn't have a traditional film school background however has a following of more than 10 million YouTube subscribers thanks to his dedication of making YouTube videos daily for the past 8 years.
Ultimately, while Anna Martemucci represents the 'old-school' approach of filmmaking with a traditional film school degree, Shane Dawson represents the 'new-school', self-taught method that has proven to be a wild success with the younger 'smartphone' generation who prefer quick YouTube and Vine clips in favor of longer and more professionally-produced film craft.
The show is created by Chris Moore, who is known for his work with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on the similar show 'Project Greenlight' that followed a single young filmmaker directing their first feature film.
While Ben Affleck and Matt Damon aren't involved with 'The Chair', other notable names have signed up to be on board including Zachary Quinto of 'Star Trek' fame.
'The Chair' premieres on Starz on Sep. 6th at 11pm.
