Episodes 4 & 6 (THE FINALE)
Series Air Date: April 21, 2023
Directed by Lauren Wolkstein (Ep. 4)
Directed by Sean Durkin and Lauren Wolkstein (Ep. 6)
Written by Miriam Battye (Ep. 4) & Alice Birch (Ep. 6)
Executive Produced by Alice Birch (Showrunner)
Executive Produced by Sean Durkin
Executive Produced by Rachel Weisz & Stacy O’Neil
Executive Produced by Sue Naegle, Megan Ellison, & Ali Krug
Executive Produced by Anne Carey
Executive Produced by Erica Kay
Director of Photography: Laura Merians Gonçalves
Production Designer: Erin Magill & Adam Scher
First Assistant Director: Deanna Leslie Kelly
Editor: Daniel A. Valverde & Affonso Gonçalves
The show is produced for Amazon Prime Video by Annapurna Television and Morgan Creek Entertainment.
Starring Rachel Weisz (x2), Britne Oldford, Poppy Liu, Michael Chernus, Jennifer Ehle, Emily Meade
In Dead Ringers, the Mantle twins, played by Weisz, are the most successful, brilliant and extraordinary people you’ve never met. Identical from head to toe, these two OB-gyn’s are on a mission to change the way women birth, starting with Manhattan. Drugs, pioneering but very much illegal medical research, sex and falling in love, this psychological thriller based on the David Cronenberg 80s cult classic, takes us to darker and stranger territory than we could have possibly imagined.
THE FINALE: Episode 9
Episode Air Date: November 10, 2022
Directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Written by Nick Antosca & Brian Evenson & Alana B. Lytle
Executive Produced by Nick Antosca (Showrunner)
Executive Produced by Eliza Hittman
Executive Produced by Alex Hedlund (Eat the Cat)
Produced by Jamie Travis
Executive Produced by Erik Crary, Lucy Teitler, & Jan Broberg
Director of Photography: Celiana Cardenas
Production Designer: John Kretschmer
First Assistant Director: Tony Kountz
Editor: Fabienne Bouville
The show is produced for Peacock TV by Eat The Cat and Universal Content Productions.
Starring Jake Lacy, McKenna Grace, Hendrix Yancey, Anna Paquin, Colin Hanks, Austin Stowell, & Lio Tipton
A Friend of the Family is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them. This is the story of how their lives were permanently altered — and how they survived.
Season 1 Episode 107
Episode Air Date: October 11, 2021
Directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Written by Charlie Jane Anders
Executive Produced by Eliza Clark (Showrunner)
Produced by Nellie Reed & Anna Beben
Executive Produced by Nina Jacobson & Mari Jo Winkler
Director of Photography: Claudine Sauvé
Production Designer: Alexandra Schaller
First Assistant Director: Josh Gray
Editor: Amy Fleming
The show is produced for FX on HULU by Color Force & FX Productions.
The series is based on the Eisner Award-winning DC comic by Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra.
Starring Diane Lane, Ben Schnetzer, Ashley Romans, Diana Bang, Amber Tamblyn, Olivia Thirlby, Marin Ireland, Missi Pyle, Jennifer Wigmore, Paris Jefferson
Y: The Last Man traverses a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event has decimated every mammal with a Y chromosome save for one lone human and his pet monkey Ampersand. Y: The Last Man tells the story of the survivors who plan on building a better world out of the remnants of this disaster.
All episodes of the season will be directed by women and the production has a significant number of female department heads, including all DPs, the production designer, costume designer, casting director, editors, stunt coordinator and more.
QSS5 Producing Director
Season Five Premiered Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 8 pm ET/PT on OWN
Season five was helmed entirely by three filmmakers, including producing director Lauren Wolkstein, Lisa France and Cierra Glaude.
During the production stop-down in 2020 due to COVID-19, DuVernay decided to completely revamp the season five storyline to address the very real issues our country was facing through the lens of the beloved Bordelon family and the fictional community of St. Josephine. DuVernay reconceived the character arcs and storylines, writing alongside returning showrunner Anthony Sparks and supervising producer Norman Vance to tackle head-on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protest movement that swept the country, and corruption in politics to showcase the specific impact and ramifications these issues have on communities and people of color. Through it all, viewers will see the joy around the pain, and humanity’s ability to persevere and find light in the darkest of times. Led by the talented cast of Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner and Kofi Siriboe, “Queen Sugar’s” storylines continue to delve into important topics such as police brutality, addiction and recovery, and systemic racism, among many others.
“The way Ava creates space to allow these characters to embody real-world experiences is television at its finest and we are proud to continue this ground-breaking series,” said Oprah Winfrey, CEO, OWN. “I hear from so many people that they see themselves in the Bordelon family, and my hope is that through this kind of storytelling the hearts and minds of people are opened for a deeper understanding and empathy of one another.”
“When Ava came to us with the idea to revamp the storyline for the new season after production was halted due to the pandemic, we knew it was the right decision to give our viewers her unique perspective on the very real issues impacting their daily lives and the affect the demand for racial equality has had on the Black community and our society as a whole,” said Tina Perry, president, OWN. “We are proud to announce today the pickup of the show’s sixth season which will air later this year enabling us to further explore the compelling story of the Bordelon family. We are grateful to Ava, her creative team, the incredible cast and tireless crew for all the hard work they have put into the show.”
“What a joy and an honor to continue the stories of ‘Queen Sugar’ with our partners at OWN and Warner Bros.,” said DuVernay. “On behalf of every producer, editor, costumer, grip, writer, cast member and all departments involved in making this series, we’re delighted to delve into a sixth season and to bring our beautiful audience more of the Bordelon family.”
At the outset of production, beginning with production of the first season, DuVernay established an inclusive initiative to hire an all-female directorial team. Since its debut in September 2016, 37 women have directed episodes of “Queen Sugar,” 34 of whom made their television directorial debut on the series.
“Queen Sugar” was recently recognized by the Television Academy Honors for its powerful portrayal of an African-American family in the Deep South that sheds light on complex issues and challenges facing our society. The series has additionally been awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series, and for three consecutive years was named Best TV Show Drama by the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and nominated as Television Show of the Year by the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). “Queen Sugar” has averaged over two million total viewers throughout its series run. During its most-recent season (6/12-9/11/19), “Queen Sugar” placed among the top 3 scripted series across broadcast and cable with African-American Women, households and total viewers.
The first four seasons of "Queen Sugar" are available to stream exclusively on Hulu, making it possible for viewers to catch up on all past episodes.
Season 1 Episode 103
Episode Air Date: 1/12/2020
Directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Written by Ariel Schrag
Executive Produced by Megan Abbott & Gina Fattore (Showrunners)
Produced by Jamie Travis (Producing Director)
Produced by Dan Kaplow
Executive Produced by Sarah Condon, Peter Berg, Michael Lombardo, Karen Rosenfelt
Director of Photography: Dagmar Weaver-Madsen
Production Designer: Michael Bricker
First Assistant Director: Chi Fung
Editor: Annie Eifrig
The show is produced for USA Network by Universal Content Productions & Film 44.
The series is based on the novel by Megan Abbott.
Starring Herizen F. Guardiola, Marlo Kelly, Willa Fitzgerald, Rob Heaps, Zach Roerig, Paul Fitzgerald, Alison Thornton, Taveeta Szymanowicz, Erika Prevost
Based on the acclaimed novel by Megan Abbott, who serves as writer and executive producer along with Gina Fattore (“Dawson’s Creek,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Californication”), Dare Me is an unflinching exploration of teen angst, jealousy, loyalty and the dynamics of power in a small Midwestern town. Peter Berg (“Friday Night Lights”) and Michael Lombardo of Film 44, Sarah Condon and Karen Rosenfelt executive produce. Netflix will co-produce and have first-run rights to the series outside of the U.S.
Peering behind the all-American facade, the series dives into the cutthroat world of competitive high school cheerleading. It follows the fraught relationship between two best friends (Herizen Guardiola and Marlo Kelly) after a new coach (Willa Fitzgerald) arrives to bring their team to prominence. While the girls’ friendship is put to the test, their young lives are changed forever when a shocking crime rocks their quiet suburban world. Part coming-of-age story, part small-town drama, part murder mystery, Dare Me exposes the physical and psychological extremes that some young women are willing to endure in order to get ahead. Academy Award®-nominated director Steph Green (“The Americans”) directed and executive produced the pilot.
MORE INFO
Season 2 Episode 206
Aired on 05/02/2019
B Sides
41 minutes
Directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Written by Kate Rorick & Pornsak Pichetsote
Created & Executive Produced by Joe Pokaski (Showrunner)
Produced by Paul Garnes
Executive Produced by Marvel Television & ABC Signature Studios
Director of Photography: Cliff Charles
Production Designer: Meghan C. Rogers
First Assistant Director: George Bott
Editor: Tucker Marolf
Network: Freeform
Based on the Marvel Comics by Bill Mantlo & Ed Hannigan
Starring Olivia Holt, Aubrey Joseph, Gloria Reuben, Andrea Roth, Ally Maki, J.D. Evermore, Emma Lahana, Brooklyn McLinn
Two teenagers from very different backgrounds find themselves burdened and awakened to newly acquired superpowers while growing closer together every day.
Episode 206: Trapped, Tandy is forced to live out alternate "what if" versions of her life until she reveals the key to breaking her.
Season 3 Episode 303
Aired on 06/06/2018
Your Distant Destiny
42 minutes
Directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Written by Erika L. Johnson
Created & Executive Produced by Ava DuVernay
Executive Produced by Kat Candler (Showrunner)
Produced by DeMane Davis (Producing Director)
Executive Produced by Paul Garnes
Executive Produced by Oprah Winfrey
Director of Photography: Antonio Calvache
Production Designer: Ina Mayhew
First Assistant Director: George Bott
Editor: Shannon Baker Davis
The show is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Scripted Television.
The series is based on the novel by Natalie Baszile.
Starring Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe, Omar J. Dorsey, Nicholas L. Ashe, Tina Lifford, Ethan Hutchison, Bianca Lawson
The contemporary drama Queen Sugar, set in Louisiana, chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings: Nova (Rutina Wesley, True Blood), a worldly-wise journalist and activist; Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Unforgettable), the savvy wife and manager of a professional basketball star; and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe, Awkward), a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption.
Episode 303: Micah starts his new school with excitement, an interaction with Blue leaves Ralph Angel guilt-ridden, and Nova must come up with new material for her book. Plus, Charley reveals her secret plans to Nova, and Darla returns.
