L-Word.com News Stories

By LanaRus

WIGS is the #1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube that introduces original series, short films, and documentaries, all starring female leads and dealing with important issues of love, betrayal, power, and friendship, just to name a few. Season two of WIGS’s award-winning series, LAUREN with Jenifer Beals as Major Jo Stone and Troian Bellisario as Sergeant Lauren Weil, will premier on May 3 on WIGS channel at Youtube and Watchwigs. Four additional episodes will be available on May 10 and the final four on May 17. LAUREN won a Silver Medal for Drama at the 2013 New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards, and Bellisario took home a Gold Award for Best Performances by an actress.

LAUREN explores the consequences of dealing with sexual assault in the military and in season one we were introduced to Sergeant Lauren Weil, who reports her own rape and ongoing harassment by her superiors to her female commanding officer Major Jo Stone. Stone tries to do the right thing, but is caught between military code and what she may believe is proper because she has to navigate between seeking justice while remaining loyal to the institution, to which she dedicated her life.

The story of Lauren is fictional but it is an honest portrayal of the endless red tape and bureaucracy that many victims of sexual assault experience while serving in the military. Second season will continue to explore Lauren’s fight for what is right “the way it should be and not just the way it is.” Additional cast include well-known actors like Bradley Whitford, Raymond Cruz, Mykelti Williamson and Sarah Jones (reprising her self-titled role as a military veteran from WIGS series KENDRA).

Season 2 Trailer

From WIGS press release:

“Before working on LAUREN, I was oblivious to the struggle of those sexually assaulted while serving our country,” explained Bellisario. “There are thousands of young women and men who are harassed or assaulted by their fellow soldiers and forced to keep their pain a secret – or worse, if they bravely come forward, they can be punished for seeking justice. Lauren’s story represents a powerful and important issue, an issue to which attention must be paid. If we truly do ‘support our troops,’ we must put an end to this.”

Conversation behind the scene with Jennifer and Troian

According to Deadline Hollywood, Jennifer Beals has signed on for a lead in “Venice”, while creator and executive producer Ilene Chaiken has come on board as executive producer and showrunner. This is the exciting news that Jennifer Beals hinted about earlier today in her tweet that promised good news for all the fans of “The L Word”. Perhaps it’s not the news everyone was expecting, especially because the fans are still waiting for L Word movie, but it is some sort of a reunion and a very good news for the fans of Jennifer Beals.

Written by Byron Balasco, “Venice”  is a soap about two rival families in Venice and a forbidden and dangerous romance emerging between them as they battle for control of Venice. Jennifer Beals will play Lisa Carver, the elegant bohemian matriarch of the Carver family, one of the two feuding clans. McG is directing the pilot, which he, Chaiken and Belasco executive produce with Peter Johnson.

Jennifer Beals and Lauren Lee Smith have joined writer-director Terry Miles’ indie film, “Cinemanovel.”

Smith, who played Lara on The L Word, stars as Grace, a young woman whose estranged father is a famous filmmaker. When he dies, she organizes a retrospective of his films, uncovering destructive patterns in his life that mirror her own. Beals will play Grace’s best friend and confidant.

The pair previously appeared in Miles’ “A Night for Dying Tigers,” which played at the Toronto Film Festival in 2010.

“Cinemanovel’s” $100,000 budget is financed by Miles and Smith, who will also produce with Ines Eisses and Kristine Cofsky attached as co-producers.

Miles said, “We decided to self-finance to maintain creative control of the film.”

Smith added, “I know we will create a beautiful film and by keeping control of it we can ensure that it will not just get lost in the mix as is the case with so many Canadian indies.” Filming may be in Vancouver, where The L Word was also filmed.

The filmmakers have also turned to crowd-funding site Indiegogo to help raise $25,000 “enhancement” funds.

The film is set to go into production September.

By LanaRus

As we reported before, the YouTube channel WIGS is presenting a series of short films, all featuring strong complex female characters and employing female writers and directors. Launched in May, WIGS quickly became the #1 scripted channel on YouTube because the series are original, provocative, and edgy and they combine some of Hollywood’s successful creative minds, talented actors and the innovation and power of the digital age. Web series is not entirely a new concept but only recently it has become a popular way of entertainment and the WIGS project is one of them.

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By LanaRus

“These new series feature a great range of bold concepts, rich characters, big stars and fresh faces,” CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said in a statement during upfronts in New York. “From a new take on Sherlock Holmes to an epic battle for control of 1960’s Las Vegas to a working-class point of view in a prestigious law firm, the dramas each have a unique style and sensibility. And, our new comedy “Partners” fits perfectly with the CBS Monday night tradition of relationship comedies with a lot of heart and humor.”

The 2012-2013 Fall Schedule: CBS (New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)

MONDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “How I Met Your Mother”

8:30-9 p.m. – “PARTNERS”

9-9:30 p.m. – “2 Broke Girls”

9:30-10 p.m. – “Mike & Molly”

10-11 p.m. – “Hawaii Five-0”

Mondays will stay the same with an addition of a new half-hour comedy, “Partners”. I do hope that in the new season of “How I Met Your Mother” we will finally meet that illusive mother.

“Partners” – The personal story of two lifelong friends and business partners — one straight (David Krumholtz) and one gay (Michael Urie) — whose friendship has lasted longer than any of their romantic relationships. When one decides to propose to his girlfriend (Sophia Bush), their ‘bromance’ is tested and nearly results in a breakup. Will & Grace duo David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are executive producers. Also star Brandon Routh, Tracy Vilar, and Molly Shannon.