Zig Gauthier currently oversees Los Angeles-based television and film production company Red Varden Studios. Red Varden Studios was formed in 2007, building upon his experience over the past decade on scripted comedies, dramas, MOWs and all forms of non-scripted programming for television. As a former development executive at Fox Cable Networks, Fox Television Studios, NBC Universal’s Sci Fi Channel and the joint Sony/Liberty Media’s Game Show Network, Gauthier brings a very unique network and studio executive perspective to Red Varden Studios programming. Upon receiving an undergraduate degree from UCLA in Political Science and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University, Gauthier got his first full-time entertainment experience in feature films at Mandalay Entertainment before moving to Fox. After a stint at FBC in Comedy Development on the team that developed That 70s Show, Gauthier began his career as an executive at Fox Television Studios. At the time, this division of Fox Television Studios was a supplier of both scripted and non scripted series to broadcast and cable outlets. Gauthier oversaw numerous projects, including the hit FX comedy Howard Stern’s Son of the Beach and the highest rated MOW at FX to date at the time, The Sight. He also oversaw development on numerous other projects spanning game, talk, documentary, animation and other reality formats.
Gauthier left Fox Television Studios to become the Co-head of Alternative Programming at NBC Universal’s Sci Fi Channel. In addition to covering other scripted and non-scripted projects, he developed the successful hidden camera prank franchise Scare Tactics and created the highly polarizing Mad Mad House. Mad Mad House helped launch one of the most successful nights of programming in the history of the Sci Fi Channel and bolstering the night by almost 200% among P18-34. Gauthier was then hired as the head of development for Fox Sports Net and the head of west coast development for the Speed Channel, where he focused exclusively on non-scripted programming. In this capacity, he was the primary liaison between agents, managers, producers and writers to oversee original programming to eventually replace network stalwarts The Best Damn Sports Show Period and Beyond the Glory. While at Fox Cable Networks, Zig was also a Board Member of the Newscorp Diversity Advisory Board.
After this stint at Fox Cable Networks, Gauthier was hired as the Vice President of Original Programming at the Game Show Network, with the strategic goal of expanding the programming from traditional studio based game shows. Over the next few years, his accomplishments include developing and launching the highly successful Poker Royale franchise (seven different poker series to air in a one year span). This franchise also resulted in several fully sponsored series for the first time in GSN history, generated millions of dollars in advertising and sponsorship revenue and solidified the Game Show Network as a permanent player in the gaming world on par with ESPN, Bravo and the Travel Channel.
He also oversaw the development of the largest documentary series in the history of the network, the critically acclaimed Anything To Win. This series chronicled the stories of individuals who did something extraordinary to win, ranging from such positive stories as the 1996 United States Olympics female gymnastics team that won team gold for the first time in history and the untold story of Johnnie Cochran and his three decade commitment to free political prisoner Geronimo Pratt…..to the highly controversial story of Tonya Harding and the events surrounding her life as an Olympic figure skater. Gauthier also developed or created numerous other franchises at the Game Show Network, including the launch of a series of documentary specials, including the creation of the Game Show Hall of Fame. In 2007, Gauthier left the Game Show Network to form Red Varden Studios, where he currently develops a television and film slate featuring all forms of content for studios, broadcast networks, cable networks, syndication and digital media outlets, including comedies, dramas, documentaries, celeb reality, game and other scripted and non-scripted genres.
When not working on behalf of Red Varden Studios, Zig also enjoys sports, reading, riding motorcycles and doing volunteer work as the founder of the Hollywood Mentorship Program.org. Via overseeing this program, internship programs and the teaching of various entertainment career seminars, he has mentored countless individuals, more than a hundred of which now work full time in entertainment.