On Monday, producers of Starz' new docu-series "The Chair," as well as star Anna Martemucci, sat down for a panel at New York City's SVA Theater as part of the New York Television Festival. Missing, however, was the other star of "The Chair," Shane Dawson.

The YouTube star's absence, which the present guests said was voluntary, was a visual reminder of the opposing visions at force in the show and the precise debate that makes "The Chair" less a behind-the-scenes look at movie-making, and more an in-depth look into what we really mean when we say "a good movie."

"The Chair" follows amateur directors Martemucci and Dawson as they make their first feature length films, both based off the same script. The directors were given the same budget and time constraints and had to film in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Starz subscribers who have proven to have watched both films in a survey will decide who wins the $250,000 prize.

On Wednesday, executive producer Chris Moore, best known for "Good Will Hunting" and "American Pie," said he wanted the series to alleviate the "unfair proportion" of blame that is put on actors when a movie is deemed bad. With "The Chair," he hopes to emphasize the role the director, his or her production team and the countless decisions they make play in shaping a movie.

"The person that made that movie dogsh*t wasn't Matt Damon," he said. "... off the camera, actors sometimes wonder 'What would happen if the other dude directed it?'"

If audiences thought like this, they might "make smarter decisions," Moore added.

Enter Martemucci and Dawson, whose "stark polar difference" Moore loves.

Martemucci went to New York University for screenwriting. In addition, she wrote the 2013 independent film "Breakup at a Wedding," which featured "The Chair" co-executive producer Zachary Quinto, best known as Spock in the new "Star Trek" movies, and garnered both critical acclaim and Moore's attention.

Meanwhile, Dawson, who in the show says he has wanted to make a movie "his whole life," gains his attention through YouTube. A social media star, Dawson's YouTube channel Shane Dawson TV has had more than 10 million subscribers. Dawson chose to incorporate his signature comedy into his version of the movie, even dressing in drag.

Quinto made it clear on "The Chair" and during Wednesday's panel that Dawson's final movie offended him.

"He decided not to come when he found out I was coming ... drama," Quinto said jokingly in reference to Dawson's absence.

Quinto thought Martemucci's film, on the other hand, was "encouraging, beautiful" and created with a "strong sense of vision and integrity."

Moore said that Martemucci clearly made a better movie "aptitude wise," and that Dawson casting himself as the main character and dressing in drag was "not a good choice."

So, the winner is clearly Martemucci, right? Wrong.

Dawson's movie did much better during its temporary theatrical releases than Martemucci's, and with his fan base and popularity, reception was warm.

"I'd like to be judged by quality," Moore said. "I'd love for Anna to win. She fights for what I believe in, which is see a movie because it's good."

Movies, however, are visual storytelling. So is the story considered told if no one sees it? Could Martemucci's film still be called "a good movie" if there is a lack of interest in it -- if Dawson's story was told more often, and listened to more intently?

In an industry where money talks and where those working hard on a project expect their story to be heard, a willing audience is an essential component.

This is ultimately the "conundrum," as Moore put it, that makes "The Chair" a unique series. By pitting vision against vision, artistry against showmanship and skill against popularity, the definition of "a good movie" becomes more complex, a thrill for movie enthusiasts.

In the end, "The Chair" brings a few things to the table. Aspiring filmmakers will salivate at the skills displayed, reality show lovers will enjoy the heartfelt video logs and on-set tension and tantrums, while movie lovers can entwine themselves in the debate.

What anyone can gather from the series, however, is the amount of heart and dream it takes for a person to make a film.

"[Moore is] the first person who saw me as a director and I now I see myself as one as well," Martemucci said Wednesday.

"The Chair" airs Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Starz. Voting for the best version of the movie and the winner of the $250,000 prize begins on Saturday.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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