WIGS
GenreScripted and Unscripted Web Series
FoundedMay 14, 2012 (2012-05-14)
FoundersJon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia
HeadquartersCulver City, California
Key people
Julia Stiles
Troian Bellisario
Jennifer Beals
Kim Shaw
Sarah Jones
America Ferrera
Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Melonie Diaz
Laura Spencer
Caitlin Gerard
Maura Tierney
Rosanna Arquette
Catherine O'Hara
Jena Malone
Websitehttp://www.watchwigs.com

WIGS is a web channel, part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative.[1] It presents web series, short films and documentaries about the lives of women.[2] WIGS targets a female audience.[3] Most videos are around five to ten minutes in length.[4]

The channel was co-created by Jon Avnet, producer of Black Swan and Risky Business,[5] and Rodrigo Garcia, who directed Albert Nobbs and In Treatment.[6]

History

Jon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia developed and wrote a handful of series[7] and recruited writers and directors such as Lesli Linka Glatter, Rose Troche, Amy Lippman,[8] Marta Kauffman,[9] and Julia Stiles,[10] to direct projects for the channel.[11] They have recruited actors such as Jennifer Beals, Jena Malone, Troian Bellisario, and Julia Stiles.

WIGS officially launched on May 14, 2012.[11] The channel's first season includes 100 episodes of short films, series and documentaries.[11] "Jan," written and directed by Jon Avnet, was the first series released by WIGS.[12] While the channel's tagline "Where it gets interesting" does not fully match the acronym WIGS; on their website, the words "Where It Gets . . ." are used to begin to describe each series, and the last word is changed. For example, for the first series, "Jan," the tagline is, "Where It Gets Spicy." [13]

On February 19, 2013, Fox announced the launch of an event series and multiplatform programming department and a multiyear partnership with WIGS.[14] The multiyear programming, marketing and distribution pact with WIGS was intended to serve as an incubator for original content that can be programmed on Fox or other networks.[15] WIGS will fall under Fox's Shana C. Waterman's purview.[16]

In May 2013, WIGS celebrated its first anniversary and combined viewing figures of over 33 million. The channel was at that point YouTube's number one channel for scripted drama.[17]

Beginning in June 2013, WIGS released seven of its series ("Blue,"[18] "Lauren," "Jan," "Christine," "Ruth & Erica," "Audrey," and "Vanessa & Jan") on Hulu under the FOX banner.[19] The series were recut into fewer, longer episodes for the new medium.

In September 2013, WIGS announced that "Blue" would return for a 3rd season, adding Eric Stoltz and Alexz Johnson to the cast.[20]

Series

The channel features series that follow the lives of different women. The stories include a poker player on a losing streak, a mother with a secret life and one that follows a woman on a series of speed dates. Many of them follow a woman's professional life, romance, war, or family structures.[21]

YearSeasonSeriesEpisode NumberCastAdditional Information
20131"Susanna"12Anna Paquin, Maggie GraceWritten and directed by Jon Avnet.[22]

A new mother must rely on her investment-banker sister to look after her and her baby after developing postpartum depression [23]

20131"Paloma"4Grace Gummer, Rhys Coiro, Garret DillahuntA young woman deals with the unpredictability of relationships—both in romance and in the workplace. Written and directed by Julia Stiles.
20132"Lauren"12Troian Bellisario, Jennifer Beals, Bradley Whitford, Raymond Cruz, Sean Harmon, Mykelti Williamson, iJustine, Sarah JonesWhen a soldier reports an assault, she is forced to choose between what she loves and what’s right. Written by Jay Rodan and directed by Jon Avnet.
20133"Blue"40Julia Stiles, Alexz Johnson, Uriah Shelton, David Harbour, Mark Consuelos, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Holly Robinson Peete, Kathleen Quinlan, Carla Gallo, James MorrisonBlue is a mother with a secret life. She’ll do anything to keep it from her son. But her past has other plans. Written by Rodrigo Garcia and Karen Graci. Directed by Rodrigo Garcia.
20121"Ro"6Melonie Diaz, Scott Michael Campbell, Christopher Carley, Colleen Foy, William Mapother, AJ Trauth, Jonathan TuckerA woman's attempt to shed her past and reinvent herself at a speed dating event is thwarted when she runs into her probation officer. Written by Mattie Brickman and directed by Patricia Cardoso.
20121"Gumdrop"Short FilmVenti HristovaA robot's life story emerges during a casting session. Written by Kerry Conran and directed by Kerry Conran and Stephen Lawes.
20121"Mary"Short FilmMelora Walters, Patrick Fabian, Eric RobertsAn emergency room doctor is distressed when a familiar face is brought in for treatment. Written by Rodrigo Garcia and directed by Tracey Gallacher.
20121"Kendra"8Sarah Jones, Kate Beahan, Bill Brochtrup, Jason Isaacs, Devaughn Nixon, Leland Orser, Sydney Poitier, Yaniv RokahA post-op nurse experiences the world of the twilight room where painful secrets of her patients under anesthesia are revealed, and the consequences play out. Written by and directed by Jon Avnet.
20121"Audrey"6Kim Shaw, Bobby Campo, Gary Cole, Arielle Kebbel, Amy PietzA bubbly young woman tries to rise up the ranks in the culinary world, but her appetite for both love and haute cuisine complicates her journey. Written by Leah Rachel and directed by Betty Thomas.
20121"Celia"Short FilmAllison Janney, Dakota FanningA doctor is forced into an uncomfortable decision when her patient turns out to be the daughter of an old friend. Written by and directed by Rodrigo Garcia.
20121"Ruth & Erica"13Maura Tierney, Lois Smith, Philip Baker Hall, Michael C. Hall, Steven WeberA woman struggles with her mother's reluctance to make the life changes necessary in light of her increasing frailty. Written by and directed by Amy Lippman.
20121"Georgia"3Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Harold Perrineau, Nancy Carell, Mark Povinelli, Rusty Schwimmer, Debra Azar, Nikki McCauley, Jason GedrickA yoga psychotherapist tries to bring some serenity into her clients' lives, and her own. Written by and directed by Marta Kauffman.
20121"Vanessa & Jan"6Caitlin Gerard, Laura Spencer, Walton Goggins, Jimmy Wolk, Kevin Christy, David Del Rio, Adam Rose, Langston FishburneA young woman brings her friend to a speed dating event and things go awry. Written by and directed by Jon Avnet.
20121"Rochelle"3Rosanna Arquette, Nazanin BoniadiAn ex-wife seeks revenge. Written by Scott Turow and directed by Rose Troche.
20121"Jennifer"Short FilmDana Davis, Dawnn Lewis, Mark Ivanir, Angelique Cabral, Ty Granderson Jones, Zubevi KhalifaniIn the near future, a tough job market results in a creative solution for handling dangerous convicted felons. Written and directed by Mykelti Williamson.
20121"Leslie"2Catherine O'Hara, Anthony "Cass" CastelowAn actress vying for the role of Mother Teresa sees a chance to play the part in her real life. Written by Mitch Albom and Jesse Nesser and directed by Mitch Albom.
20121"Lauren"3Troian Bellisario, Jennifer Beals, Mike Serlin, Alex Smith, Justin WoodsWhen a soldier reports an assault, she is forced to choose between what she loves and what's right. Written by Jay Rodan and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
20121"Christine"12America Ferrera, Eric Balfour, Gary Dourdan, Josh Malina, Emily Rutherfurd, Corey StollA young woman on a nutty evening of speed dating. Written by and directed by Rodrigo Garcia.
20121"Dakota"3Jena Malone, Michael Massee, Jason O’MaraA poker player on a short losing streak is invited to a high-stakes home game, but the stakes for her son are what matter most. Written and directed by Ami Canaan Mann.
20121"Allison"Short FilmMarin Ireland, Joel JohnstoneWhat happens when you go 90% of the way? Written and directed by Paul Brickman.
20121"Denise"Short FilmAlison Pill, Chris Messina, T. Lynn MikeskaA girl helps a guy untangle his web of lies. Written by Neil LaBute and directed by Lee Toland Krieger.
20121"Serena"Short FilmJennifer Garner, Alfred MolinaAn aging actress. A forbidden lover. A wife who does 90%. Experience brief moments in the eclectic lives of these characters and more in our series of short films. Written by and directed by Rodrigo Garcia.
20121"Jan"15Caitlin Gerard, Stephen Moyer, Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Jaime Murray, Laura SpencerJan handles a camera like a pro. Now if only she can do the same with the seductive actor, her charismatic ex, and her prickly boss. Written by and directed by Jon Avnet.

Awards and accolades

YearSeasonSeriesAwardCategoryRecipients and NomineesOutcome
20121"Blue"IAWTVBest Female Performance DramaJulia StilesWinner
20121"Lauren"IAWTVBest Female Performance DramaTroian BellisarioNominee
20121"Lauren"Streamy AwardsBest Drama SeriesN/ANominee
20121"Lauren"Streamy AwardsBest Female Performance DramaTroian BellisarioNominee
20121"Jan"Streamy AwardsBest DirectorJon AvnetNominee
20121"Lauren"Writers Guild of AmericaOutstanding Achievement in Writing Original New MediaJay RodanNominee
20121"Lauren"New York FestivalsBest Drama SeriesN/ANominee
20121"Blue"New York FestivalsBest Performance By An ActressJulia StilesNominee
20121"Lauren"New York FestivalsBest Performance By An ActressTroian BellisarioWinner
20132"Blue"IAWTVBest Drama SeriesN/ANominee
20132"Susanna"IAWTVBest Drama SeriesN/ANominee
20132"Blue"IAWTVBest Directing (Drama)Rodrigo GarciaWinner
20132"Lauren"IAWTVBest Directing (Drama)Jon AvnetNominee
20132"Blue"IAWTVBest Female Performance (Drama)Julia StilesWinner
20132"Lauren"IAWTVBest Female Performance (Drama)Troian BellisarioNominee
20132"Susanna"IAWTVBest Female Performance (Drama)Maggie GraceNominee
20132"Susanna"IAWTVBest Female Performance (Drama)Anna PaquinNominee
20132"Blue"IAWTVBest Writing (Drama)Rodrigo GarciaNominee
20132"Lauren"IAWTVBest Writing (Drama)Jay Rodan Jon AvnetNominee
20132WIGSIAWTVBest Online ChannelN/AWinner
20132"Lauren"IAWTVBest Returning SeriesN/ANominee

References

  1. "YouTube Original Content Channels". YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  2. Boorstin, Julia (2012-05-02). "YouTube Makes Pitch for Sports and Women". CNBC. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. Crupi, Anthony (19 February 2013). "Fox Inks Partnership With YouTube's WIGS Channel". Adweek. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  4. Stone, Brad (4 May 2012). "Must-See YouTube". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  5. Boorstin, Julia (2 May 2012). "YouTube Aims for 25 Hours of Original Content Per Day". USA Today. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  6. "Ladies First". The Daily. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  7. Hale, Mike (4 October 2012). "YouTube Dramas Aimed At Women". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  8. Span, Paula (24 September 2012). "The Drama of Aging and Caregiving". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  9. Hurwitz, Daniel (17 September 2012). "'Friends' Co-Creator Ventures into Web TV". USA Today. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (2013-03-06). "Web Channel Wigs Orders Julia Stiles Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 Acuna, Kristen. "FIRST LOOK: WIGS–The YouTube Channel That Will Change The Way We Watch TV". Business Insider. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  12. Goldsmith, Jill. "Google, YouTube Reveal Partners, Channels". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  13. Acuna, Kirsten. "FIRST LOOK: WIGS–The YouTube Channel That Will Change The Way We Watch TV". Business Insider. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  14. O'Connell, Michael. "Fox Restructures Programming With New Department, Partners With YouTube Channel". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  15. Stelter, Brian (20 February 2013). "Fox Broadcasting Partners With YouTube Channel". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  16. Morabito, Andrea. "Fox Restructures Current Programming Team". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  17. Palumbo, Michael (May 3, 2013). "YouTube Flips Over Wigs at First Anniversary Party". Variety.
  18. Spangler, Todd. "Hulu Picks Up WIGS Series as Fox Expands Beyond YouTube". Variety.com. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  19. "Stream TV and Movies Live and Online". Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  20. Abrams, Natalie (2013-09-17). "Exclusive First Look: Julia Stiles and Eric Stoltz Team Up for WIGS Season 3 in Blue". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  21. "WIGS on YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  22. Team, The Deadline (8 April 2013). "WIGS Greenlights 'Susanna' Starring Anna Paquin And Maggie Grace". Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  23. Hurwitz, Daniel (16 June 2013). "TV on the Web: Anna Paquin's new blood". USA Today.
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