Director Vs Director is an interactive, Zoom-inspired game show where two directors and their teams of artists are given three hours to create a broadcast-ready presentation. Episode 6 is named the College Edition, featuring North Dakota State University competing against the University of Oklahoma on December 14 at 7 p.m.
After a brief orientation where team members learn the game rules and their prescribed theme and props, the teams break out and begin creating. Their 8-minute presentation must be scripted and include one original song. At the end of the 3-hour period, each team has an online technical rehearsal before showtime.
Scobie Bathie is a theatre student at NDSU and the director for NDSU’s team of 8 students competing.
“Our team is made up mostly of members from our devising class taught by Marc Devine. He played as a director in Director vs. Director Episode 2 and won,” said Bathie. “Marc brought this wonderful opportunity to our class and we were all ready to participate in a heartbeat. Throughout the year we have been working on our devising skills. We use the elements of theatre – text, lights, costumes, architecture, etc. – and create non-linear pieces from scratch. I think this event is the perfect wrap up to our semester. We have learned all these skills and can actually put them to use in a setting outside of our classroom.”
Teams will present their work to a live online audience. Supporters are encouraged to tune in live and vote for their favorite presentation. The team with the most votes wins and goes on to future challenges.
“Virtual events are fun because you can watch from anywhere, and this is the best way to support artists in times like these,” said Sammie Bonko, another NDSU student taking part in the competition.
Director Vs Director first launched in August 2020. Its priority is to offer unique, collaborative opportunities for the countless artists who are waiting for the performing arts to flourish again. So far nearly one hundred artists ages 3 to 73 and from all around the world have participated.
