5th Ward The Series
5th Ward The Series is an American television drama series written, produced, and created by director Greg Carter and premiered on Urban Movie Channel on March 2, 2018. The series is based on director Greg Carter's first movie Fifth Ward. It is centered around the life of Mina, a single mother of two struggling to make ends meet; as well as several additional locals and town officials residing in the historical district of Houston's Fifth Ward and serves as a prequel with season one consisting of six episodes airing weekly. It stars Carl Anthony Payne and Mýa with a feature ensemble cast of Brittany Bullock, Corr Kendricks, Nephew Tommy, Christopher Jefferson, Chris O'Neal, Gary Sturgis and Lew Temple. 5th Ward The Series along with other UMC's original series had a preview screening at the 26th Annual Pan African Film Festival on February 10, 2018. The series was renewed for a second season which will consist of six episodes and air early 2020. Season 2 is set to begin streaming July 30, 2020.
Background
Fifth Ward was indie director Greg Carter's first feature film which he wrote, produced, edited, and shot on 35mm. It won awards at a number of festivals, but had a mixed reception when selected into the SXSW Film Festival. The movie was later distributed by York/Maverick Entertainment and released nationwide in March 2000 to Blockbuster and Hollywood Video.Synopsis
"In Houston's historically black neighborhood known as the "5th Ward," long-time resident, Mina, has been struggling to make ends meet – especially since the death of her husband two years ago. Now a single mother of two sons, James and older brother Ray Ray, Mina fears for their safety after an argument at a local convenience store leaves a young girl dead. When James is taken away from her following a police raid on her home that results in the arrest of her new boyfriend, Mina battles with the idealism of remaining on the straight and narrow and the reality of what difficult decisions her circumstances will require her to make."Cast and characters
Main
- Mýa as Mina Kennedy – A single mother of three and aspiring singer. Prior to the show, her husband is killed. Mina is a loving, good natured but firm mother who had enjoyed singing on her church's choir until it was discovered she was dancing in the strip club. The church's congregation voted to have her remove from the church. With nothing left, she continues to dance in Blue's night club in order to support her family financially. During Season 1, Mina discovers she's pregnant and contemplates whether or not to keep the baby. In the midst of her dilemma, Mina and Blue become romantically closer and develop feelings for each other.
- Christopher Jefferson as Ray Ray Kennedy – Mina's eldest son and a talented, aspiring singer/rapper. He falls in love with Jazmine much to the dismay of his friend, Bam.
- Nephew Tommy as Robert Kennedy – A police officer, Mina's brother in law and Ray Ray's and James' estranged uncle. Throughout Season 1, Robert has a strain relationship as well with his wife Wanda.
- Carl Anthony Payne as Councilman Kendrick Davis – A corrupt, manipulative elect official with hidden, dark secrets and Blue's little brother. During Season 1, Councilman Davis carries on an affair with his one-time office manager, Marcie and has fathered a child with the local church's reverend's niece.
- Chris O'Neal as Bam – Ray Ray's friend and aspiring rapper. He doesn't approve of Ray Ray's relationship with Jazmine.
- Gary Sturgis as Odell "Blue" Davis – A club owner with a romantic interest in Mina and Kendrick's older brother. Throughout Season 1, Blue continuously pursues Mina much to the dismay of his now ex-girlfriend Lexus.
- Lew Temple as Mayor Bob Coletti– A corrupt elect official with a hidden agenda of his own as well.
- Corr Kendricks as Ace – One of Seth's former lackey who betrays Seth during an organized truce meeting against Seth's rivals. He's killed at the end of the season finale.
Supporting
- Cayden Wilson as James Kennedy – Mina's youngest son and Ray Ray's little brother. A talented, gifted artist as well.
- Allison Nguyen as Jazmine Tran – Huong's and Dat Tran's eldest daughter, My Hahn's older sister, and Ray Ray's love interest. She falls in love with Ray Ray and encourages him to continue to do music whenever he begins to doubt himself. Her friends are Jaylene and Darien.
- Derrick "D-Reck" Dixon as Seth – Fifth Ward's crime boss who owns a chop shop. He's double crossed and shot by his former lackey in the organized truce meeting.
- Louis Gusemano as Greg Sones – Robert's second in command in the police department. Sones and Robert decides to organize a truce meeting between Seth's and Carlos' crew however the truce meeting goes awry and Sones is shot in the crossfire.
- Mandy Carrasco as Allyson Lathan – A local television reporter working with the FBI investigating suspicious activity against Councilman Davis. Unbeknownst, she's married to Lavell, Councilman Davis mysterious protege.
- Junie Hoang as Huong Tran – Jazmine's and My Hahn's strict mother. She doesn't approve of her daughter's relationship with Ray Ray.
- Kendrick Smith as Gibson – A crooked police officer working for the mayor.
- Jalene Mack as Wanda Kennedy – A nurse. She is Robert's wife, Mina's sister in law and Ray Ray's and James' aunt. She and her husband Robert have a strain relationship due to the fact she wants children but he doesn't.
- Brittany "Just Brittany" Bullock as Lexus – Blue's now ex-girlfriend and Mina's former colleague. She develops a personal vendetta against Mina because of Blue's interest in her and decides to sets her up to get date rape at a bachelor's party.
- Golden Rice as Dat Tran – Jazmine's and My Hahn's father. He owns the neighborhood local convenience store.
- Nayeli Escamillia as Lettie Sones – A lawyer and Sones' wife. Her and Sones met while in college and have a daughter.
- Micheal Anthony Jackson as Lavell – Councilman Davis' sneaky, mysterious, and dangerous protege. Unbeknownst, he's married to the local television reporter Alyson and working with the FBI investigating suspicious activity against Councilman Davis.
- Denisha Hardeman as Jaylene Ward – One of Jazmine's friends. She doesn't care for Jazmine and Ray Ray's relationship.
Recurring
- Leslie Steele as Marcie Wiggins – Councilman Davis' one time office manager and part-time lover. Following her dismissal, she vows to seek revenge against her former lover Councilman Davis.
- Neshia Brathwaite Farhangi as Mrs.Jackson – A CPS worker.
- Savannah Phan as My Hahn Tran – Jazmine's little sister and Huong's and Dat's youngest daughter.
- Tasha Denise as Kiki – Mina's friend and colleague at the strip club.
- Amelia Jefferies as Loretta Davis – Councilman Davis' wife.
- Justin Mabrie as Tony – Mina's incarcerated boyfriend. Mina and Tony share one child together, Little T. He's release from prison at the end of the season finale.
- Mista Roe as Mike Batts – Seth's cousin who is killed by an unknown assailant.
- Cat Tebo as Darien Mack – One of Jazmine's friends.
Guest stars
- Hawthorne James as John – Mina's father and Ray Ray's and James' grandfather. Mina and her father have a strain, estranged relationship.
- Scarface as OG Jeffrey – an incarcerated inmate with Mina's boyfriend.
- Willie D as FBI Bureau Director Broussard – He's investigating Councilman Davis.
- Golden Brooks as Erica Ward – Jaylene's mother.
Episodes
Season 1 (2018)
Season 2 (2020)
Production
Development and conception
As a longtime resident of Texas, 5th Ward The Series finds Carter expanding on themes from his first feature film – titled Fifth Ward – which he made 20 years ago. The son of a minister, Carter moved to Houston from Arkansas when he was a child. Although he was only in Fifth Ward a short time, the neighborhood left an impression on Carter. Initially, Carter went to Texas A&M University to study engineering, however he took a detour into drama. After the completion of school, Carter was ready to tell his Fifth Ward story. Fifth Ward, Carter's debut film was featured in the SXSW Film Festival and set Carter on a path writing, directing and producing feature films.Over the years, he kept developing a Fifth Ward story. "I wanted to tell a story that was bigger than just one about being black, about being who I am," he commented. Carter's vision was to capture the oft-changing demographic makeup of a neighborhood with a long history dating back to the end of the Civil War, when it was largely settled by freedmen. For the series, Carter wanted to infuse the show with a feeling of authenticity, so he prefaced his episodes with documentary-style interviews with residents, "people who were models in appearance and story to the four main characters on the show," he commented. "I wanted to give it that feeling, 'This is Houston.' "
Among Carter's storylines are one about a Pakistani family and one about a Vietnamese family. Leading actress Mýa stars in another narrative about a struggling single mother with two sons and aspiring singer. With his series, Carter hopes viewers unfamiliar with the neighborhood's history may find information threaded through the show. For 5th Ward The Series opening credits, Carter combed through archival photos and music, old and new. "If a kid sees it and doesn't know who Mickey Leland is, I hope he'll want to find out," he says of the late congressman. "And the music tells a story, too. I wanted some ragtime in the opening sequence: That feeling of the past going back to Reconstruction and then move it forward to a trap beat like kids would listen to today. I want it to revolve around a vernacular particular to Houston and its culture."