Julia Stiles, Jennifer Garner Among Featured In YouTube Brandcast

YouTube just announced that Hollywood filmmakers Jon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia will be among the talent featured in the upcoming YouTube Brandcast this afternoon.

WIGS, the new channel from Avnet (Black Swan, Fried Green Tomatoes, Risky Business) and Rodrigo Garcia (Albert Nobbs, In Treatment, Mother and Child), will feature scripted shows and short films with female leads—basically the Oxygen Network online.

The new channel features name actors Virginia Madsen, Stephen Moyer, Caitlin Gerard, Jennifer Garner, Alfred Molina, Julia Stiles, Sarah Paulson, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. Directors include Betty Thomas, Paul Brickman, Lesli Linka Glatter, Walter Salles, and Amy Lippman.

“WIGS offers our writer, director, and actor friends and colleagues an enormous amount of freedom to tell stories that they connect with intimately,” said  Avnet. “The excitement in the creative community surrounding the productions has been palpable. We hope and believe the audience will enjoy these very diverse voices that explore women of all ages, races, and beliefs.”

WIGS will also feature documentaries, behind-the-scenes videos, and cutting-edge unscripted content, all starring female leads.
WIGS will have its world premier in coming weeks:

• Jan – written and directed by Jon Avnet, debuting May 14th. The cast includes: Caitlin Gerard, Virginia Madsen, Stephen Moyer, Kyle Gallner, Laura Spencer, Iddo Goldberg, and Jaime Murray.
• Serena – written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. Jennifer Garner and Alfred Molina star.
• Blue – written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, with a cast including Julia Stiles, David Harbour, Uriah Shelton, Kathleen Quinlan, Sarah Paulson, and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

The first trailers for the channel and series are available now accessible worldwide in English and Spanish.

Over the coming months, WIGS will be releasing content produced with a renowned group of writers and filmmakers. Upcoming programming showcases actors including: Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Beals, Maura Tierney, Michael C. Hall, America Ferrera, Jason Isaacs, Allison Janney, Sarah Jones, Jane Kaczmarek, Troian Bellisario, Jena Malone, Rosanna Arquette, Philip Baker Hall, Lois Smith, Walton Goggins, Jimmy Wolk, Gary Cole, Tim DeKay, Jason Gedrick, Jason O’Mara, Kim Shaw, Melonie Diaz, Arielle Kebbel, Catherine O’Hara, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Marin Ireland, Melora Walters, Nancy Travis, Alison Pill and Dana Davis.

Other filmmakers creating shows for WIGS include: Ami Canaan Mann, Lee Krieger, Rose Troche, Patricia Cardoso, Kerry Conran, Leah Rachel, and Mattie Brickman.

“All of our shows and shorts combine high-end serialized content with great hooks and cliffhangers. They have edge; they’re a little bit naughty. The shows are fun, comedic at times, moving at others, and always entertaining,” remarked Rodrigo Garcia. “We want to hook people on great stories, great characters and create an addictive type of viewing experience where people are eager to see what’s next.”

Rupert Murdoch‘s News Corp. Digital Media Group (NDM), a division of News Corporation, is the Marketing Partner for WIGS.

Check out the Tubefilter Calendar for a complete schedule of the Digital Content NewFronts, and be sure to consult Tubefilter’s Complete Guide to DCNF 2012 for all the latest news.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

• International Academy of Web Television Leadership Luncheon
• MiTu Network NewFront & Reception
• YouTube Brandcast
• MediaLink NewFronts Closing Night Party