What began as a fun way to showcase student Motion Design work has evolved into an exciting, interactive competition—part March Madness, part game show, and all fun. Experience the Video Duel.
Originally created for FutureProof—The Motion Design Conference at Ringling College, the Duel was designed to showcase student demo reels to a large audience in a format that was engaging and exciting. What makes it unique is that it is a live, bracket-style competition where the audience votes—in real time—from their smartphones to determine which video reel advances to the next round, and ultimately crowned champion.
The engine behind this experience is a web-based platform developed by programmer and former Ringling faculty member Dante Rinaldi.
His company, BracketMachine.com, built an intuitive system that can be customized for any number of entries—8, 12, 16, even 32 competitors. Users upload video clips or still images, set up the bracket, choose a theme or create your own, and the competition begins.
Each round presents two opponents on screen—video A versus video B, or image against image. Audiences get time to cast their votes via smartphone, with results displayed immediately as a percentage graph. Winners are celebrated as they advance, building momentum toward the ultimate showdown between two finalists, and ultimately the champion.
“It started in an academic environment, but this game has virtually unlimited professional possibilities,” says Ed Cheetham, Chair of the Department of Motion Design at Ringling and regular host of the Demo Duel.
“If you’re interested in captivating and engaging a large audience—and letting them actively participate in the outcome—this is a fantastic tool. It can be serious, silly, playful, or professional.
The format is totally flexible. I can imagine FritoLay using this at a conference to let the attendees select the next new potato chip flavor, or Anheuser Busch using this Duel to select the greatest Budweiser Commercials, or the Motion Awards to select the People’s Choice Winner.”
The Video Duel has spread far beyond a campus environment. Most notably, the Video Duel made its way to Dash Bash, an animation and motion design conference hosted by Raleigh-based Dash Studio. There, the format was adapted to include freelancers and independent artists.
Participants submitted short demo reels (under one minute), and the top 16 were selected to compete live at the event. It was an inspiring, crowd-powered contest that turned portfolio review into a party.
Dash Studio founder and creative director Mack Garrison first saw the game in action at FutureProof and immediately knew he wanted to bring that excitement to his own event.
“We’re always looking for ways to make the Bash better and the Demo Duel was the perfect interactive component to get the crowd hyped and energized. We took 16 of the industry’s best demo reels, voted on by some of the top studios, and put them against each other in front of a live audience – it was awesome!”
The beauty of the Video Duel lies in its versatility. It doesn’t have to be demo reels. It can be any video, music, photography, or visual media. It can work online over a long time period or immediately in person, in conference settings, banquet halls, classrooms—or even at your next backyard gathering. It is easy to set up and customize. Once your content is uploaded, you can start your bracket immediately.
The success of Video Duel represents a broader shift toward interactive experiences that transform passive audiences into active participants. In an era where attention spans are shrinking and engagement is paramount, platforms like this offer a compelling solution for anyone looking to energize their event.
Whether you’re an event planner or team leader, teacher or creative director, Video Duel offers a fresh way to showcase work and bring people together through an engaging friendly competition experience.