“Technical Difficulties,” a Web series directed by an NIU instructor, was posted Feb. 10 on comedy website Funny or Die.

Music instructor Anthony Perrella and several students shot the five-episode series in the fall. The series follows a group of technical theater students working on a play with a difficult director, who is found dead on the play’s opening night. The students must now direct it and find the murderer.

Perrella and alumnus Kevin Bartelt wrote the script for the series, and Perrella directed it.

“We usually prep our students with film acting towards the end,” Perrella said. “And Kevin suggested to me to do a Web series since those are really popular nowadays.”

Perrella said he and his students spent seven months working on “Technical Difficulties,” starting in July, though all five episodes were shot within two days.

The series’ five episodes have garnered a combined 782 views.

Editor’s Note: Kevin Bartelt, who helped produce “Technical Difficulties,” is a former Scene editor of the Northern Star.