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WIGS (web channel)

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]

Awards and accolades

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. ^ a b c 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.

External links