Film

Inspired by Quarantine, EC Native Creates Docuseries

‘Out of the Woods’ seeks to spread positivity and hope

Caitlin Boyle |

CAN WE ZOOM IN ON THAT ONE? The coronavirus forced Eau Claire native Jessica Wachs from her home in Los Angeles to quarantine in a Wisconsin cabin. There, she began working on a docuseries, Out of the Woods, which features 40 people from around the world pursuing self-improvement for 40 days. Submitted photo. 
CAN WE ZOOM IN ON THAT ONE? The coronavirus forced Eau Claire native Jessica Wachs from her home in Los Angeles to quarantine in a Wisconsin cabin. There, she began working on a docuseries, Out of the Woods, which features 40 people from around the world pursuing self-improvement for 40 days.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still seemingly dominating the world, one Wisconsin native hopes her new docuseries, Out of the Woods, will help people find positivity during these uncertain times. The series chronicles 40 people from around the world who are challenged to be the best versions of themselves for 40 days as they navigate this new normal.

Jessica Wachs is an Eau Claire native working and living in Los Angeles where she founded the award-winning Rumble Productions, a company that creates unique entertainment and personalized content featuring musical comedy, sketch comedy, a cappella theatrics, film productions, and more. Wachs was thriving in LA, but all that changed once COVID-19 hit the United States. She was forced to leave LA to quarantine in a cabin in the northwoods of Wisconsin, where she got the idea for Out of the Woods.

This is single-handedly the most inspiring project I’ve ever been a part of. The global pandemic aside, so many on the team faced personal crises or disadvantages due to race, sexual orientation, gender, and religion, yet they still persevered toward their personal challenges.” –Jessica Wachs, creator of new docuseries 

“This is single-handedly the most inspiring project I’ve ever been a part of,” she said. “The global pandemic aside, so many on the team faced personal crises or disadvantages due to race, sexual orientation, gender, and religion, yet they still persevered toward their personal challenges.”

Wachs has assembled an eclectic international team to participate in the series, including a decorated New Orleans musician who barely survived the coronavirus, a Muslim woman in South Africa who continues to fight for her voice while working as a single mother, and an out-of-work hairdresser in Brazil trying to navigate life as a member of the LGBTQ community. It’s a chance to not only see how people are dealing with social issues nationally, but internationally as well.

Wachs is still searching for an online home for the series – a goal she hopes to complete by the end of August. In the meantime, you can check out the teaser trailer for Out of the Woods by visiting facebook.com/outofthewoodstv.