Ruth & Erica | Ep. 1 of 13 | Feat. Maura Tierney & Lois Smith | WIGS

"Ruth & Erica": Episode 1 of 13 -- "January" Erica and Ruth argue about the elderly couple's declining abilities. Subscribe to WIGS on KZbin today! wigs.ly/SU4amA
Like us on Facebook: wigs.ly/NY4Tlg
Follow us on Twitter: wigs.ly/SUi368
Explore the world behind WIGS on Pinterest: wigs.ly/MHaG2Z
About "Ruth & Erica":
A woman struggles with her mother's reluctance to make the life changes necessary in light of her increasing frailty.
Starring Maura Tierney, Lois Smith, Philip Baker Hall, Michael C. Hall, and Steven Weber
About WIGS:
WIGS, the #1 channel for scripted drama on KZbin, brings you high-end, original series, short films, and documentaries, all starring female leads.
Catch new releases every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6am PST / 9am EST!
General Inquiries: [e-mail]
Press: [e-mail]
Episode Credits:
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY
Amy Lippman
Lois Smith as RUTH
Maura Tierney as ERICA
Philip Baker Hall as HARRY
PRODUCED BY
Effie Brown
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Jon Avnet
Rodrigo Garcia
Jake Avnet
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Marsha Oglesby
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeff Jur
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Tracey Gallacher
MUSIC BY
Jon Ehrlich
MAIN AND END TITLE MUSIC BY
Thomas Newman
EDITED BY
Lauren Connelly
CASTING DIRECTOR
Rick Pagano
COSTUME DESIGNER
Ernesto Martinez
UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Nicole Colombie
1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Michele Panelli-Venetis
2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Lynn Struiksma
KEY SET PA
Wendy Geary
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
Robert Statwick
David Brustein
Nicholas Smith
ART DIRECTOR
Kristyn Ingle
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
Aleksandra Landsberg
LEADMAN
Chance Quinn
PROP MASTER
Brenden Salmoni
SWINGS
Lisa Son
Mike Luce
PAINTER
Robert Castaneda
ART ASSISTANT INTERN
Diana L. Wright
1ST ASSISTANT CAMERA A CAM
Joshua Turner
2ND ASSISTANT CAMERA A CAM
Justin Gamboa
DITs
Joe Kocsis
Kyle Peters
STEADICAM OPERATOR
Dennis Noyes
GAFFER
Justin Dickson
BEST BOY ELECTRIC
Justin Suriano
KEY GRIP
Vincente Rodriguez
BEST BOY GRIP
Frank Garbutt
KEY HAIR STYLIST
Theodora Katsoulogiannakis
MAKEUP DEPARTMENT HEAD
Denise Paulson
EXTRAS CASTING
Zachary Foppe
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Robert Shapiro
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Charles Butler
Lara Ramirez
SPANISH LANGUAGE POST PRODUCTION
Daniel Eduvijes Carrera
POST PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Ed McCarthy
SCRIPT SUPERVISORS
Ingrid Urich-Sass
Barry L. Caldwell
Jenny Siff
SOUND MIXER
David Parker, C.A.S.
BOOM OPERATORS
Dean R. Thomas
Chris S. Walmer
COSTUME SUPERVISOR
Michael R. Chapman
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT
Marcia Matthew
ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
Rebekah Stevens
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Cara Brown
PRODUCT PLACEMENT
Joy Phillips
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
Mark Lyons
Jonathan Fung
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT INTERNS
Wesley Chao
Sarah Kaplan
CATERING
Alex's Gourmet Catering
CRAFT SERVICE
Antonio "Speedy" Marcos
ASSISTANT TO JON AVNET
Kevin Chalk
ASSISTANT TO RODRIGO GARCIA
Karen Graci
ASSISTANT TO EFFIE BROWN
David Cummings
CASTING ASSISTANT
Cassidy Boyd
MUSIC SUPERVISOR
Andrea von Foerster
POST-PRODUCTION SERVICES
Point 360
RE-RECORDING MIXER
Mitchell Lindskoog
COLORIST
Mark Nakamine
PRODUCTION LEGAL BY
Vince Ravine Law
WIGSCO LLC LEGAL
Tara Kole
Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc.
FOR WIGSCO:
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Steve Shin
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER
Megan Hannay
MARKETING COORDINATOR
Caitlin McGowen
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Patricia Lindberg
MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGNER
Colin Arndt
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Sarah Stoecker
FOR BROOKLYN FILMS:
EVP, FINANCE
Carol Chacamaty
FINANCE ASSISTANT
Kelly Hennessy
INTERNS
Alex Abrahams
Marlowe Griffin Lyddon
Elaine Ogden
Keyla Vasconcellos
WIGS Logo Designed by Barbara Brody Avnet
WIGS Productions are filmed under IATSE, WGA, DGA and SAG union contracts.
This Motion Picture, Story, Screenplay, Original Score
© 2012 WIGSCO, LLC
All material is protected by Copyright Laws of the United States and all countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. Country of First Publication: United States of America. WIGSCO, LLC is the author of this motion picture for purposes of copyright and other laws. Any unauthorized exhibition, distribution or copying of this film or any part thereof is an infringement of the relevant copyright and will subject the infringer to severe civil and criminal penalties.The story, all names, characters and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons, places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
/ wigs

[@HappygrrrrinChrist]

I love that these stories are so real. My great grandmother is 91 and was a school bus driver. It hurt her so much when she had to stop driving. I also rememeber her and my grandpa talking about fruit being bad and she'd say "it's better than what we ate in WW2"... so real to me!

[@MarysUTubeVideos]

The idea of creating short series of amazing life stories is brilliant! I am glued to Wigs! This series of Ruth & Erica brought me to tears and reminder of the importance of loving our family with patience and dignity both young and old. Thank you Wigs!

[@brandil3101]

Whoa, where are they getting all these people from?! It's like they're shaking the forgotten famous tree and getting all awesome people from back in the day that I totally forgot about and they're totally rocking it. Sweet!

[@debrabelz]

THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL. TOUCHING, MEANINGFUL, BRILLIANTLY ACTED AND WRITTEN THING I'VE SEEN IN YEARS. PHILLP BAKER HALL IS JUST BRILLIANT.

[@The9cjn]

I love the insight into this family's life. I can't wait for the other episodes.

[@Asiahudn]

Ruth and Erica's relationship reminds me of my mother and grandmother, this series feels very real and natural so far.

[@TheNL]

1 of 13...finally, you have a full series again. something we can actually get into.

[@bjkmurray]

I sooo love the pre-running sippy cup.

[@kellysghost]

I can instantly relate to this series because my mom is the same way in that she loves to keep food until it is too rancid to eat!

[@Cybelemoon]

WOOT... so glad this is one of 13 instead of one of 3. About time we get a longer set! :D Thumbs up!

[@littlemaridee]

OMG, did you guys put a camera in my grandmother's house? We just moved my 80 yr old grandmother from the house she was in for 50+ years because the steps in the house weren't safe for her anymore. And we're always sneaking old food out of her house she won't throw away because she swears she can still eat it and doesn't want to waste food. And every conversation with her is loaded with tension. Thanks, wigs. We were starting to feel like we were the only family like this.

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Love everything about it. Fantastic cast, topical story that people can relate to, gorgeous set and .... YAY!! 13 episodes!!! Something we can sink our teeth into!! Am looking forward to this series, can't wait to meet Michael C. Hall's character. I have a feeling my faith in WIGS will be restored by this one. Still a little gun-shy after the Georgia fiasco, I admit....

[@metalangel01]

Holy crap..this reminds me of me and my mother.. Have you been spying on me?.LOL

[@jacoches808]

that was a great beginning ... cant wait to see the next....

[@nekodameow]

haha I love her moms face after she offers to drive her dad. Priceless! I am a tad ticked off that this seemingly normal series is long, and the fun off the wall ones are 2 and 4 episodes...but I will still dutifully watch them, because Wigs is awesome :)

[@DaughterOfFrankenste]

Ooooooh this is going to be a delightful series. Whenever you guys do a long script there's proper resolution of some sort. I'm often dissatisfied with your 3 parters. Always relieving when I see something like "p1 of 12-13".

[@tbizone2002]

I'm loving this first episode. The ending is so deliciously akward! I can feel the tention building….will be a good series.

[@puddlethecat]

omg!!! news radio person! Omg!! im in high school and my dad showed me the show and i lov it!

[@Afrodytee]

Reminds me of my step grandmother! LOL!

[@LindyLooo99]

This is SO my mom and dad! LOVE IT!

[@clearspiritnow]

I think the director is exploring a history of confrontation between mother and daughter by illustrating unresolved issues which are seemingly played out in little disagreements like spoiling fruit, stale milk, driving and tipping wait-staff.

[@fionafearon]

I have a feelinf¡g this is gonna be the first one to make me cry...

[@SapphireStorm76]

Oh good a long series this time!

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Yeah, and even if you give it directly to the waiter, they often have to share their tips with the people who clear the tables and the cooks etc. Sometimes the wait staff have to pool their tips and all take home an equal portion.

[@JennTasya]

this is totally going to be my parents in 15 years

[@muttley555]

Can't wait the next episode!.

[@DearElyse]

This show seems really promising. I sense a tear-jerker coming on.

[@tanjida2008]

I think she means in general; this video probably made her realise from previous situations that tipping is a topic of discussion which happens a lot. My parents are the same when I mention tipping at a restaurant. :P

[@juliedont1929]

I agree! Georgia was really good, very disappointing that it was so short!

[@SonaMona2108]

i miss the Blue series :( Please bring them back!

[@Tttxxxj]

Ahh this is going to be great!

[@CanPry]

I am intrigued!

[@JKSCN]

GREAT SHOW!!!!!

[@RebbelReb]

My concern when the gratuity is on the bill and not given directly to the person offering the service is that it goes to the companies' coffers and not to see that "the waiter/waitress gets their dues"

[@ShazamVEE]

so stoked for this series! i really enjoyed this episode :)

[@TheBhumiChannel]

That said, I have seen WIGS pull off the shorties too. I loved Jennifer (The futuristic Twilight Zone one) and Leslie, Dakota and Lauren. But for some reason, and I am not sure I have reduced it down to number of episodes, Georgia just did not work in so few episodes. I am definitely excited that this series is longer though. Something to really dig your teeth into and the subject of elderly parents is something most of us go through.

[@MsSimplyDiana]

Reminds me of my grandmother =)

[@MTChannel3]

Love it already !!!

[@EmilyDNelson]

I was trying to remember where I'd seen her! I LOVED Newsradio as a kid!

[@foreverchelsea27]

This looks like a great series!

[@alansariammar]

I remembered how much I love Maura Tierney. but she doesn't do much these days :( good thing she is here

[@marisagetz1]

As I read the comments, I see that people are saying that they don't like the "endings", because maybe it was an open-ended one. If you leave a story of any kind closed, then if you want to come back to it at any time to add to it, it's very difficult. The reason they may do that is so, if they feel they have the budget and demand to go back to a story line and "continue" it, they have a way to do it.Just food for thought!

[@TheBhumiChannel]

I think your take on the open ended closings on the shows are true in practically all of the cases and of course, some of them will come back with a second season and some of our questions will get addressed. But Georgia seemed to end in the most peculiar way, and left the audience shaking their heads going "HUH?" "You can't be serious?" Whatever, that one is a write-off for me and I have ceased caring what happens to her. If they can't put out just a little, I can't be bothered to care.

[@phoenix9999]

This first episode was awesome!

[@WIGS]

Glad to hear you're excited about "Ruth & Erica." We don't think it'll disappoint!

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Exactly. A tip is a little something that you give someone for exceptional service and a good server will work to earn it. In America, I do not usually see a manditory tip included in the bill, except when they are dealing with a large party of people. If they give average service 15% is about right. But a waiter who really aims to please, I'll always give them extra and 20% is a nice tip.

[@tanjida2008]

Wow - this was a powerful first episode. Can't wait to see more! Worried about the ending though - if it's as disappointing as the last series, then I'm sorry WIGS but you're going to lose a subscriber. Keep 'em comin'! :D

[@Troyju2006]

I KNEW I recognized her!!!

[@1stStrawberryGirl]

Love these shows!

[@Mariivee1]

Gran Stackhouse! She's great!

[@ebony89633]

love it so far....:)

[@jingersyx5780]

Love this

[@omshanti5684]

Yep! I noticed that too. She is unnecessarily undermining her daughter relationship with her dad. I think that is a sort of normal behavior when old folks sense that they are losing their independence and it is a form of denial, by holding on to every ounce of freedom they still have and declaring firmly that they don't need help. She senses that Erica is going to step in on their life and she is trying to undermine her confidence in doing so.

[@loLissyismyname]

Okay. So, Sunshine was venting to Georgia, and Georgia was telling her (Sunshine) that she (Sunshine) has more love than she (Georgia) does, to make Sunshine feel better. Georgia then realized that the reason she has been pushing the wedding with Michael away is because she might not love him. Georgia goes to her yoga healer, and tells him that her stress induced symptoms were back. Sorry about the she thing :P

[@Troyju2006]

Her mother is like that because she doesnt want her or her husband to lose their sense of independence.

[@kellygonzalezsuarez]

amaziing!

[@YourMomIsAPerra]

seems good so far

[@MartinDeHill]

This is now my favourite WIGS series. You know, aside from the ones that have Laura Spencer.

[@TheBhumiChannel]

I forgot to mention Serena. That was only one episode, but MAN! was that powerful and told a complete story. The acting in that one, especially Jen Gardner was spellbinding, and the topic, so forbidden that it made me uncomfortable to watch. You were simultaneously horrified and seduced by it, all at the same time. That piece should be nominated for some awards, I think. But mostly it is an example of how powerful a story can be told in just a few minutes. Not every story can do that, though.

[@Dataisthetruth]

BLUE!!!!!

[@KoalaAngie11]

This could be pretty good, I just wish it wasn't 13 parts

[@yattapgnorts]

These vignettes are so fascinating but the way they are loaded into KZbin makes them very difficult to navigate. I perserve

[@moodi3bluez]

Haha thats great! I love her, especially on that show. Shes been on others but nothing I cared to watch endlessly, like ER.....

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Glad it amazed you. Can you please explain the ending?

[@marisagetz1]

I guess I see a different point of view as far as the Artistic way a writer chooses to end a story. Some are clear cut..Others make you choose the ending. Not every story told will be liked by everyone. That is the beautiful thing about the cinema and the talented people who can develop characters as if they were "real" people. That is great writing! Out of all the WIGS story lines, this one hits closer to home with me. Almost scary in a way!

[@UrbangirlFabulous]

Tips are not required, they are suggestions. I haye when ppl tell me how much to to tip. Tip what you can afford.

[@00101110o]

No. Well, it's odd. 15-25% is what happens. Some places even include the gratuity in the check as part of the final price so that the waiter/waitress gets their dues (since the hourly is less because of the tips they *should* get).

[@vlondoo]

i love maura!!! from argentina!

[@TheBhumiChannel]

I agree with you about the safety issue, but she also went through the refrigerator and was all in a tizzy about there being old or rotting stuff. I think she definitely has some control issues but I can relate to them. I think Ruth also has big control issues. But in both cases, they are understandable. It is very hard to face old age and lose your independence and it is equally difficult to watch your parents health decline. It is a huge burden on families.

[@MetalOfAllOwns]

I regret pushing the *Show More* for the description, I kept scolling till the show was over...

[@cierrablue]

This is going to strike a chord with a lot of people.

[@moodi3bluez]

It's ABBY from ER!!!

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Did anyone notice that they never turned on a flame under the tea kettle?

[@loLissyismyname]

Georgia was amazing

[@stcarnamedwant]

If you don't tip at least ten percent, your server is losing money on your meal because it is assumed that they are tipped ten percent on everything they sell, and they are taxed based on those wages. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go out to eat.

[@omshanti5684]

Actually, it seems that the mother/daughter dynamic is pretty realistic. Both of them are pretty controlling. Ruth took the liberty of telling her husband that Erika went back and left a larger tip when Erica was trying to be subtle about it and also was guilting her that her father was upset about her not letting him drive. It does seem that Erica is losing her patience a lot and being a control freak, but if you really look, Ruth can dish it out, too.

[@guybaxendale]

Interesting in the UK its 10-15% but I guess the minimum wage laws make them less dependent on tips. Similarly service is often included in the check.

[@ibliveinme]

I don't know why...but some of these WIGS stories are slightly bland. Probably because I'm only a teen, but.... Anyhooo. It's still refreshing and insightful so, way to go, WIGS!

[@loLissyismyname]

I agree with you. That is what I was getting at. :D

[@DebriahPatterson]

This one is gonna be good.....I can tell.

[@DaughterOfFrankenste]

Like how Jack Black always gets typecast as a awkward geek with a metal obsession when he has the potential to do plenty else?

[@SolMalus]

4:25 Anyone notice the clock flickering because of the camera?

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Ohai! I've been missing you. Where you been?

[@TheBhumiChannel]

In America there are minimum wage laws too, but really, no one can really support a family on minimum wage. I work in the tourist industry in a motel and I find it hard to believe that people these days are paying 20% tips. It seems that everyone is stretched to the limit and are cutting back on everything. Even the Europeans, with the Euro going down against the dollar are not willing to spend as much on luxuries.

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Thanks for the synopsis, and it seems that your understanding is similar to mine, except I do think she loves Michael but for some odd reason just can't commit. By the end of the series, we don't have any sort of clue what her problem is in this regard and they make no attempts to give us hints. That's what bothered me. Of course we can speculate but mostly I usually will try to get into the head of the writer, but we can't really do that in this case since they don't give us much to work with.

[@TheBhumiChannel]

Yeah, Rochelle could have been really cool if we had been privy to the relationship development between Panna and Charlie instead of just simply a conversation between two women, which is essentially what Rochelle was, in all three episodes. On the other hand, these webisodes are also exploring film more in a short story form which I find really interesting. Some of them work, and some of them are disasters, as Georgia was. I don't know what they were thinking with that one.....

[@noodlejamp]

that mother is really trying to get under her daughter's skin. what is she trying to put across when obviously there is no tension coming from the father.

[@mehar94anand]

What was the episode about? Really can anyone tell me and what was the tip thing? Was it usual mother daughter conversation ?

[@BL3SSed-Bliss]

Oh God... I quite identify with _Ruth_ here. 😅

[@tnykuuh]

but what if she doesn't give me a good service? you're telling me that I am obliged to pay her a tip even if she didn't do her job properly? Because for me, a tip you need to earn it...

[@poppunk77]

agreed

[@TheBhumiChannel]

You mean why are people discussing it? Because she mentions that 20% is a standard tip these days. I don't see any obsession being made about it though. Rather it is just a little side conversation that is relevant to the video.

[@westportalyce]

Very realistic. Difficult.

[@DaughterOfFrankenste]

I was patient with Hollywood's tendency to do this with him until they remade King Kong and wasted what could've been a good opportunity. Not that there was anywhere to go but down with that movie... but gosh was it depressing to see him forced to stay in Hollywood's comfort zone.

[@AuthorForSale]

DEXTER!!

[@bunbacheso]

At 1:37, why does she speak sign language if her dad is not deaf?

[@Tas--]

yay :)

[@TheNamesKierra]

*doesn't

[@julissabennespinosa.]

even 25 in certain places

[@yattapgnorts]

Persevere because they are that good, but I wish you'd make it easier.