Indie Spotlight: Gingers Lead The Way In “Redheads Anonymous”

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now.  Read previous installments here. 

Through independent web series, underserved groups can get the representation they deserve. This quality isn’t limited to race, gender, and sexual orientation; a new niche web series is titled Redheads Anonymous, and it’s all about people with red hair.

Natural redheads make up just 2-6% of the American population, but all four of the principal characters who appear in the debut episode of Redheads Anonymous  are proud gingers. Chief among them is Molly, played by series creator Elisabeth Ness. Molly is out to earn herself a “redhead scholarship,” and in order to apply for it, she must learn what it means to be a redhead.

This may sound like a ludicrous premise, but that’s the point. Redheads Anonymous

frames a more general discussion of what it means to be different around the relatively trivial subject of hair color. “Ness is also targeting anyone who’s ever felt like an outcast because of a physical attribute,” writes the Huffington Post.

Comedy is a key part of Ness’ puzzle, too. Redheads Anonymous, which is filled with charming characters, subtle sight gags, and 30 Rock-esque cutaways, is quite sharp. The series’ unusual gimmick grabs our attention, but it’s the witty script that will keep us around for entire five-episode first season.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Southern Dish. A “syrupy sweet Southern belle” opens up a bar in New York City.
• This Is Good. This web series spreads seven stories about seven different characters across seven episodes.
• After Ever After. Like the YouTube video of the same name, this series takes a realistic and comedic look at Disney characters.
• No Small Parts. Little known actors who played famous roles are at the center of this web series.

Got a series you’d like to see featured in the Indie Spotlight? Be sure to contact us here. For best coverage, please include a full episode in your e-mail.