Her Story (web series)

Last updated
Her Story
Genre Comedy drama
Created by Jen Richards,
Laura Zak
Written byJen Richards
Laura Zak
Directed by Sydney Freeland
StarringJen Richards
Angelica Ross
Laura Zak
Music byAllyson Newman
Isley Reust
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducersKate Fisher
Eve Ensler
Sarah Baker Grillo
Juliet Lopez
Jen Richards
Laura Zak
Stephanie Bell
Tina Pavlides
CinematographyBerenice Eveno
EditorBryan Darling
Original release
ReleaseJanuary 2016 (2016-01)

Her Story is a 2016 drama web series produced exclusively for Internet distribution. The set of six 9-minute episodes tells the story of two transgender women, played by Jen Richards and Angelica Ross, living in Los Angeles and their struggles in dating and in their professional lives. [1]

Contents

Characters

CharacterPortrayed byDescriptionNo. of

Appearances

VioletJen RichardsA transgender woman working as a bartender in Los Angeles.6
AllieLaura ZakA queer reporter in L.A. and love interest of Violet.6
PaigeAngelica RossA transgender woman and attorney at Lambda Legal who represents trans women who have experienced discrimination. Violet's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor.5
JamesChristian OchoaA straight, cisgender man and love interest of Paige.4
LisaCaroline Whitney SmithA trans-exclusionary radical feminist friend of Allie's.4
Mark Josh Wingate Violet's abusive boyfriend.4
Kat Fawzia Mirza A lesbian friend of Allie's.5

Episodes

Episode No.DescriptionOriginal Release DateViews (YouTube)
1Magazine reporter Allie approaches Violet in hopes of interviewing her for an article on trans people in the community. Attorney Paige works to help a trans woman who was not allowed entrance into a women's homeless shelter.Jan. 18, 2016655,000 [2]
2While at lunch for their interview, Allie and Violet begin to flirt. Allie finds that her friend Lisa does not accept trans women as women. Paige and Violet discuss how much of themselves they can reveal to others.Jan. 18, 2016280,000 [3]
3While Allie and Violet get to know each other better on a night out, Paige goes on a date with James that goes surprisingly well.Jan. 18, 2016264,000 [4]
4Allie and Violet are interrupted while watching a movie and snuggling when Violet's boyfriend Mark comes home. Allie begins to fear that Violet is in an abusive relationship. Lisa denies that trans women should be allowed in women's shelters after meeting Paige and her associate Pema. Paige begins to open up to James.Jan. 18, 2016251,000 [5]
5Violet abruptly departs Bad Penny's concert, leaving Allie confused. After talking to Penny, Allie follows Violet back to her house to find that Mark had beat her. And not for the first time.Jan. 19, 2016245,000 [6]
6After outing Paige as transgender, Lisa is confronted by her. Paige then faces James, who reveals a truth of his own and accepts Paige as she is. Violet leaves Mark's home for good and goes to Allie, kissing her in lieu of words.Jan. 19, 2016333,000 [7]

Production

Jen Richards originally planned on producing the web series for $10,000, but when producer Kate Fisher joined the project, $40,000 was raised through crowdfunding, and the series budget capped at $150,000 with the addition of two grants and money from Fisher's savings for graduate school. [8] Richards claims she was able to publicize the series widely in part due to her connections with trans people, especially those like Caitlyn Jenner, with whom Richards worked with on her show I Am Cait , and others such as Laverne Cox, Kerry Washington, and Eve Ensler (who came on as an executive producer).

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2016 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Nominated [9]
Gotham Independent Film Award Breakthrough Series - Short FormWon [10]
2017 Aritos Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Short Form or Web SeriesWon [11]
GLAAD Media Award Special RecognitionWon [12]

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References

  1. "How "Her Story" Challenges the Way We Think About Trans Romance". Bitch Media. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  2. HER STORY S1, Episode 1 , retrieved 2020-02-17
  3. HER STORY S1, Episode 2 , retrieved 2020-02-17
  4. HER STORY S1, Episode 3 , retrieved 2020-02-17
  5. HER STORY S1, Episode 4 , retrieved 2020-02-17
  6. HER STORY S1, Episode 5 , retrieved 2020-02-17
  7. HER STORY S1, Episode 6 , retrieved 2020-02-17
  8. "'Her Story': How a Web Series Can Save Lives". Film Independent. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  9. "Outstanding Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2016". Television Academy. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  10. "Past Recipients – IFP Gotham Awards" . Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  11. "The Casting Society of America". www.castingsociety.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  12. "28th GLAAD Media Awards: Complete List of Winners". variety.com. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 2020-02-21.