WIGS (web channel)
WIGS is a web channel, part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative. It presents web series, short films and documentaries about the lives of women. WIGS targets a female audience. Most videos are around five to ten minutes in length.
The channel was co-created by Jon Avnet, producer of Black Swan and Risky Business, and Rodrigo Garcia, who directed Albert Nobbs and In Treatment.
History
Jon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia developed and wrote a handful of series and recruited writers and directors such as Lesli Linka Glatter, Rose Troche, Amy Lippman, Marta Kauffman, and Julia Stiles, to direct projects for the channel. They have recruited actors such as Jennifer Beals, Jena Malone, Troian Bellisario, and Julia Stiles.WIGS officially launched on May 14, 2012. The channel's first season includes 100 episodes of short films, series and documentaries. "Jan," written and directed by Jon Avnet, was the first series released by WIGS. 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."
On February 19, 2013, Fox announced the launch of an event series and multiplatform programming department and a multiyear partnership with WIGS. 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. WIGS will fall under Fox's Shana C. Waterman's purview.
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.
Beginning in June 2013, WIGS released seven of its series on Hulu under the FOX banner. 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.
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.| Year | Season | Series | Episode Number | Cast | Additional Information |
| 2013 | 1 | "Susanna" | 12 | Anna Paquin, Maggie Grace | Written and directed by Jon Avnet. A new mother must rely on her investment-banker sister to look after her and her baby after developing postpartum depression |
| 2013 | 1 | "Paloma" | 4 | Grace Gummer, Rhys Coiro, Garret Dillahunt | A young woman deals with the unpredictability of relationships—both in romance and in the workplace. Written and directed by Julia Stiles. |
| 2013 | 2 | "Lauren" | 12 | Troian Bellisario, Jennifer Beals, Bradley Whitford, Raymond Cruz, Sean Harmon, Mykelti Williamson, iJustine, Sarah Jones | When 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. |
| 2013 | 3 | "Blue" | 40 | Julia Stiles, Alexz Johnson, Uriah Shelton, David Harbour, Mark Consuelos, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Holly Robinson Peete, Kathleen Quinlan, Carla Gallo, James Morrison | Blue 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Ro" | 6 | Melonie Diaz, Scott Michael Campbell, Christopher Carley, Colleen Foy, William Mapother, AJ Trauth, Jonathan Tucker | A 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Gumdrop" | Short Film | Venti Hristova | A robot's life story emerges during a casting session. Written by Kerry Conran and directed by Kerry Conran and Stephen Lawes. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Mary" | Short Film | Melora Walters, Patrick Fabian, Eric Roberts | An emergency room doctor is distressed when a familiar face is brought in for treatment. Written by Rodrigo Garcia and directed by Tracey Gallacher. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Kendra" | 8 | Sarah Jones, Kate Beahan, Bill Brochtrup, Jason Isaacs, Devaughn Nixon, Leland Orser, Sydney Poitier, Yaniv Rokah | A 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Audrey" | 6 | Kim Shaw, Bobby Campo, Gary Cole, Arielle Kebbel, Amy Pietz | A 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Celia" | Short Film | Allison Janney, Dakota Fanning | A 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Ruth & Erica" | 13 | Maura Tierney, Lois Smith, Philip Baker Hall, Michael C. Hall, Steven Weber | A 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Georgia" | 3 | Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Harold Perrineau, Nancy Carell, Mark Povinelli, Rusty Schwimmer, Debra Azar, Nikki McCauley, Jason Gedrick | A yoga psychotherapist tries to bring some serenity into her clients' lives, and her own. Written by and directed by Marta Kauffman. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Vanessa & Jan" | 6 | Caitlin Gerard, Laura Spencer, Walton Goggins, Jimmy Wolk, Kevin Christy, David Del Rio, Adam Rose, Langston Fishburne | A young woman brings her friend to a speed dating event and things go awry. Written by and directed by Jon Avnet. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Rochelle" | 3 | Rosanna Arquette, Nazanin Boniadi | An ex-wife seeks revenge. Written by Scott Turow and directed by Rose Troche. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Jennifer" | Short Film | Dana Davis, Dawnn Lewis, Mark Ivanir, Angelique Cabral, Ty Granderson Jones, Zubevi Khalifani | In the near future, a tough job market results in a creative solution for handling dangerous convicted felons. Written and directed by Mykelti Williamson. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Leslie" | 2 | Catherine O'Hara, Anthony "Cass" Castelow | An 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | 3 | Troian Bellisario, Jennifer Beals, Mike Serlin, Alex Smith, Justin Woods | When 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Christine" | 12 | America Ferrera, Eric Balfour, Gary Dourdan, Josh Malina, Emily Rutherfurd, Corey Stoll | A young woman on a nutty evening of speed dating. Written by and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Dakota" | 3 | Jena Malone, Michael Massee, Jason O’Mara | A 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Allison" | Short Film | Marin Ireland, Joel Johnstone | What happens when you go 90% of the way? Written and directed by Paul Brickman. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Denise" | Short Film | Alison Pill, Chris Messina, T. Lynn Mikeska | A girl helps a guy untangle his web of lies. Written by Neil LaBute and directed by Lee Toland Krieger. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Serena" | Short Film | Jennifer Garner, Alfred Molina | An 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. |
| 2012 | 1 | "Jan" | 15 | Caitlin Gerard, Stephen Moyer, Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Jaime Murray, Laura Spencer | Jan 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
| Year | Season | Series | Award | Category | Recipients and Nominees | Outcome |
| 2012 | 1 | "Blue" | IAWTV | Best Female Performance Drama | Julia Stiles | Winner |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | IAWTV | Best Female Performance Drama | Troian Bellisario | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | Streamy Awards | Best Drama Series | N/A | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | Streamy Awards | Best Female Performance Drama | Troian Bellisario | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Jan" | Streamy Awards | Best Director | Jon Avnet | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | Writers Guild of America | Outstanding Achievement in Writing Original New Media | Jay Rodan | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | New York Festivals | Best Drama Series | N/A | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Blue" | New York Festivals | Best Performance By An Actress | Julia Stiles | Nominee |
| 2012 | 1 | "Lauren" | New York Festivals | Best Performance By An Actress | Troian Bellisario | Winner |
| 2013 | 2 | "Blue" | IAWTV | Best Drama Series | N/A | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Susanna" | IAWTV | Best Drama Series | N/A | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Blue" | IAWTV | Best Directing | Rodrigo Garcia | Winner |
| 2013 | 2 | "Lauren" | IAWTV | Best Directing | Jon Avnet | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Blue" | IAWTV | Best Female Performance | Julia Stiles | Winner |
| 2013 | 2 | "Lauren" | IAWTV | Best Female Performance | Troian Bellisario | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Susanna" | IAWTV | Best Female Performance | Maggie Grace | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Susanna" | IAWTV | Best Female Performance | Anna Paquin | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Blue" | IAWTV | Best Writing | Rodrigo Garcia | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | "Lauren" | IAWTV | Best Writing | Jay Rodan Jon Avnet | Nominee |
| 2013 | 2 | WIGS | IAWTV | Best Online Channel | N/A | Winner |
| 2013 | 2 | "Lauren" | IAWTV | Best Returning Series | N/A | Nominee |