Spotlight Is on Warner Bros. Digital Networks’ S

Award-Winning Digital Content Brand’s Fall Series Streaming Dates Announced

Unscripted Hip Hop Series “Independent” Leads Schedule followed by “Lipstick Empire,” “I Love Bekka & Lucy”

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stage 13, the fearless digital content brand that is part of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, today announced launch dates for its highly anticipated fall series “Independent,” “Lipstick Empire” and “I Love Bekka & Lucy.”

Stage 13 begins streaming for free on Thursday, October 19 through its YouTube, Facebook and Stage13.com channels.

“It’s time for us to pull back the curtains and share these three unique and diverse series with all fans,” said Diana Mogollón, SVP & General Manager of Stage 13.  “We have had tremendous response from our early premieres at festivals like SXSW, UrbanWorld and SeriesFest and know that we have a young, impassioned audience with an insatiable appetite for relevant, multi-dimensional stories and characters. The time is now to super-serve them with our unique premium digital content.”

The first three series scheduled to launch under the Stage 13 banner include: 

• “Independent” - Premiering on October 19 ^th  – It’s about the hustle, the vision and the American hip hop dream. This unscripted series follows four of hip hop’s most exciting independent artists, Futuristic, Reverie, Sean Brown, and Trinidad James, as they work to take over the music scene without the ties of a major record label. Stage 13 follows these bold artists as they grow their fan base, tour internationally and deal with the harsh realities that come when chasing the dream. The series was in the digital shorts episodic competition at SeriesFest and screened at the UrbanWorld Film Festival on September 23. The series was produced by Adrian Guillemet and Joshua Evan Greenberg for We Are Famous Productions and Stage 13’s VP/Head of Unscripted Content Shari Scorca. To view the trailer, click here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyZ1HkBMX3c

• “Lipstick Empire” - Premiering on October 24 ^th - This female driven, unscripted series follows two of the beauty industry’s biggest brands - Lora Arellano and Dana Bomar, co-founders and CEOs of Melt Cosmetics. As the owners and faces of Melt, the two fierce makeup moguls tell their story that began behind a makeup counter and has blossomed to be one of the biggest independent makeup brands, with over 3 million global fans. The fast-paced, fans-first business keeps the co-CEOS’ busy balancing friendship, life and the highly competitive beauty industry. “Lipstick Empire” is Executive Produced by Pam Healey, John Hesling, John Paparazzo, Amanda Scott and Lisa Shannon for Shed Media, and Stage 13’s VP/Head  of Unscripted Content Shari Scorca. To view the trailer, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5IKiChknnU

• “ I Love Bekka & Lucy” - Premiering on November 7 ^th - The first digital series to be showcased in the episodic category at SXSW, takes an honest and comedic look into the friendship of two best friends who face the evolution of their relationship when one of them gets engaged.  Rachael Holder created, wrote and directed the series. It stars Jessica Kennedy (“Black Sails”) as Bekka, Tanisha Long (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) as Lucy, Alexis Denisof (“How I Met Your Mother”) as Glen and Chris Smith (“Paranormal Activity 3”) as Harry. In addition to Holder, “I Love Bekka & Lucy” is produced by Haven Entertainment and Stage 13’s SVP/Head of Scripted Content Christopher Mack. To view the trailer, click here:  https://youtu.be/b61RTdjFgQM

www.stage13.com @stage13network

ABOUT STAGE 13 Stage 13 is a fearless, original digital content brand showcasing a new generation of inspired talent and voices in scripted and unscripted storytelling. The brand’s series will be seen on the Stage 13 distribution platforms including the brand’s Facebook, YouTube and social channels, mobile partners including Verizon’s go90, in addition to Stage13.com. Creating dynamic, unapologetic series for a multidimensional audience, Stage 13 is part of the Warner Bros. Digital Networks.

ABOUT WARNER BROS. DIGITAL NETWORKS Warner Bros. Digital Networks is responsible for creating and building the Studio’s digital footprint and OTT video services, producing digital native content and harnessing the power of social media through Machinima. As part of Time Warner's overall growth strategy , WBDN works closely with sister divisions Turner and HBO. WBDN’s current portfolio includes: Boomerang (a partnership with Turner), DramaFever, Machinima, Stage 13, Uninterrupted (a partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter), Ellen Digital Ventures (a partnership with Ellen DeGeneres) and a DC-branded service debuting in 2018. Warner Bros. Digital Networks’ premium programming puts fans at the intersection of entertainment, sports, gaming and pop culture, reaching audiences anywhere, across any platform.

Contacts: For Stage 13: Hanna Bolte, Bolte Media Hanna@BolteMedia.com ; 310-497-5586

MPRM: Natalie Yallouz nyallouz@mprm.com  / 323-933-3399

For Warner Bros. Digital Networks: Sean Martin, PMK-BNC 212 373 0124 Sean.martin@pmkbnc.com