5th Ward The Series

Last updated

5th Ward The Series
5thWardTheSerieslogo.jpg
Genre
Created by Greg Carter
Based on Fifth Ward
by Greg Carter
Directed byGreg Carter
Starring
Theme music composerCharlie Mac
ComposerScott Szabo
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Traci Otey Blunt
  • Greg Carter
  • Derrick "D-Reck" Dixon
  • Bob Johnson
  • Angela Northington
  • Marchris G. Robinson
  • Dominique Telson
  • Peyv Raz
  • Eduard Osipov
Producers
  • Greg Carter
  • Dominique Telson
  • Jalene Mack
  • Junie Hoang
  • Shawn McElveen
Production location Fifth Ward, Houston
CinematographyDaphne Qin Wu
EditorSean Henderson
Running time60 minutes
Production companyNexus Films Entertainment
Release
Original network Urban Movie Channel
Original releaseMarch 2, 2018 (2018-03-02) 
September 3, 2020 (2020-09-03)

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. [1] [2] The series is based on director Greg Carter's first movie Fifth Ward (1997). 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. [2] [3] 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. [2] 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. [4] The series was renewed for a second season which premiered on July 30, 2020. [5] [6]

Contents

Background

Fifth Ward was indie director Greg Carter's first feature film which he wrote, produced, edited, and shot on 35mm. [7] It won awards at a number of festivals, but had a mixed reception when selected into the SXSW Film Festival. [7] The movie was later distributed by York/Maverick Entertainment and released nationwide in March 2000 to Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. [7]

Synopsis

"In Houston's historically black neighborhood known as the "5th Ward," long-time resident, Mina (Mýa), 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

Supporting

Recurring

Guest stars

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 6March 2, 2018 (2018-03-02)April 6, 2018 (2018-04-06)
2 6July 30, 2020 (2020-07-30)September 3, 2020 (2020-09-03)

Season 1 (2018)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Keepin' It Trill"Greg CarterGreg CarterMarch 2, 2018 (2018-03-02)
Life in Houston's Fifth Ward as seen through the eyes of some of its residents including single mom, Mina (Mýa) and her sons (Jefferson, Wilson). Councilman Davis (Payne) maneuver through political minefields with the Mayor (Temple) and Rev. Parker (Jolivette). Officer Robert Kennedy (Tommy) embraces his past in Fifth Ward after a promotion. The Tran family moves into Fifth Ward. Neighborhood club owner, Blue (Sturgis), makes a romantic move.
22"Da Nickel"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Christi LavariasMarch 9, 2018 (2018-03-09)
Mina faces challenges adjusting to her new job facing condemnation from every corner. Robert tries to get closer to his estranged nephews. Mina's son, James, paints a mural. Ray Ray meets Jazmine Tran (Nguyen) and her mother (Hoang) registering at school. Councilman Davis makes a political enemy and has doubts about an office affair with Marcie (Steele), his office manager.
33"Elbows & Vogues"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Julie Anne WightMarch 16, 2018 (2018-03-16)
The death of a latino kid on the wrong side of the tracks creates tension. Robert and his next in command, Sones (Gusemano), try to diffuse the problem. Ray Ray and Jazmine fall for each other much to the dismay of Bam (O'Neal) and her friends. Councilman Davis meets reporter Allyson Lathan (Carrasco). Seth's cousin is murdered, his latino counterpart in Fifth Ward and rival Carlos is suspected.
44"Aw' Ready"Greg CarterJoe Elmore Jr & Fowzi Abdelsama and Greg CarterMarch 23, 2018 (2018-03-23)
Davis breaks it off with Marcie. Robert and Sones try to strategize peace between Carlos and Seth's crews before it escalates further. Mina gets in deeper at her new job working for Blue. Jazmine enters Ray Ray into the H-town Rap Battle.
55"Flossin'"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Fowzi AbdelsamadMarch 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
The Mayor makes plans to bring Davis down. Mina and Blue connect. James has a birthday party. Jazmine and her friends attend. Ray Ray and Bam try to get back into the studio.
66"Candy"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Richard Dane ScottApril 6, 2018 (2018-04-06)
While Ray Ray and Bam performs in the rap battle. Robert and Sones prepare for the truce meeting. Mina prepares for a new future, Davis is cornered, and Blue takes command.

Season 2 (2020)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
71"LBJ General"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Richard Dane ScottJuly 30, 2020 (2020-07-30)
Blue and Mina await the birth of their first child together. Davis is forced to make a deal with his rival to avoid going to prison, but people from his past are determined to bring him down. Kennedy and Sones are investigated for staging the massacre at the truce meeting, while Sones remains in a coma. Jazmine and Ray Ray are forced to make difficult decisions.
82"Lyons Ave."Greg CarterGreg Carter & Christy LavalaisAugust 6, 2020 (2020-08-06)
The untimely death of Anthony Barnes, a black kid in the Fifth Ward, at the hands of police creates tension in the city and Donell X is there to take advantage of the situation. Internal Affairs presses Sones and Kennedy for answers. Blue opens a jazz club but he and Mina face challenges. Ray Ray and Jazmine do a radio interview with dire consequences. Davis faces harassment from an unseen threat.
93"Harris Co. Jail"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Fowzi AbdelsamadAugust 13, 2020 (2020-08-13)
Robert and Sones build a team to help solve the gun problem in the Fifth Ward. Ray Ray and Jazmine face their biggest challenge yet. Bam's grandmother takes a turn for the worse as he discovers a family secret. Davis meets with a reporter to help solve the mystery of who is plotting against him. Mina plans to sing at the church but Blue is against it.
104"Crane Street"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Julie Anne WightAugust 20, 2020 (2020-08-20)
Davis and Loretta meet with an attorney about her adopting Kenyatta. Robert and Sones meet with Chief Lewis. Mina finds her faith but can Blue find his? Jazmine finds herself at her lowest point. James and his best friend Rip find themselves in hot water. Ray Ray meets Neisha, a new student to Wheatley High.
115"Wheatley Wildcats"Greg CarterGreg Carter & Denisha HardemanAugust 27, 2020 (2020-08-27)
Mayor Coletti unveils his plans for the new NFL stadium in the Fifth Ward. Mina and Blue find their groove at his new jazz club. Bam tries to adjust to his new family life. Davis comes face to face with a terrifying truth. Jazmine and her friends attend senior prom, while Ray Ray brings Neisha. Lexus makes her move.
126"Liberty Rd."Greg CarterGreg CarterSeptember 3, 2020 (2020-09-03)
Blue is cornered. Kennedy and Sones realize something bigger is happening in 5th Ward. Mina prepares for a new future. Davis and Loretta fight for custody of Kenyatta.

Production

Development and conception

FifthWardnewsign.JPG

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. [8]

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.' " [8]

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." [8]

Music

5th Ward Series
(Season 1 Original Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedMarch 2, 2018 (2018-03-02)
Genre
Label
  • Nexus Entertainment
  • Coutrá Music Group
Producer
  • Scott Szabo
  • Charlie Mac

Director Greg Carter and his Nexus Entertainment partnered with Melissa Harville-Lebron of E2 Northeast Motorsports, Inc. (NASCAR) and Coutrá Music Group, Inc. to release the free soundtrack Spotify playlist for the show on March 2. [9] Additionally, E2 Northeast Motorsports, Inc. unveiled the 5th Ward- UMC NASCAR vehicle as part of the Camping World Truck Series in Las Vegas on March 2 as well. Charlie Mac created the theme song and took on the role as music supervisor. Additional music was contributed by Mac A Million Dollar Man Musick, Mýa, Just Brittany, Christopher Jefferson, Chris O' Neal, Corr Kendricks, Cierra Denise Carter, Mista Roe, J. Marie, Jamie Sparks, and more. Scott Szabo is the composer for the series and contributed to the soundtrack as well. [9]

Track listing

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Before I Fall"Christopher Jefferson and Chris O'Neal 3:17
2."See You Smile"Royal4:40
3."Jealous"Just Brittany3:19
4."Electric Feeling"Just Invisible2:59
5."I Be Rollin'"Corr Kendrick and Big Ooh3:01
6."Another Level"Conceptz3:00
7."Daddy" Mýa 2:00
8."Bees and Birds"Mista Roe4:39
9."Personal"Cierra Denise3:45
10."All That"Jamie Sparks3:46
11."Don't Think That"Deloach4:01
12."His Eye Is on the Sparrow"Mýa2:35
13."Falling Into You"Just Invisible4:21
14."Make It Clap Dirty"Earkandi3:26
15."Street Life"Charlie Mac1:24
16."All Talk"Deloach3:58
17."You Ain't My Friend"Royal5:21
18."Used to Love You"Cierra Denise3:35
19."Slow Down"Earkandi3:53
20."Higher"Desiree McKinney4:12
21."A Letter to You"J.Marie3:43
22."Tonight"Coutrá Music Group3:38
23."Twist in My Hips"Troublesum3:49
24."Don't Ask"Ryan Star and Coutrá Music Group3:13
25."Tension"Mista Roe3:16
26."Break Bread"Lex Lavo and Coutrá Music Group3:14
27."Runnin' and Gunnin'"Cap Slaps3:08
28."Blak Amerikkka"Young Pari$3:18
29."Stay"Ryan Star and Coutrá Music Group3:45
30."Getting High"Jamie Sparks4:33
31."Blue & Mina's Theme"Scott Szabo2:12
32."Ray Ray and Jazmine's Theme"Scott Szabo1:56
33."Councilman Davis"Scott Szabo2:11
34."Blue"Maureen Munroe3:32
35."All I Know"Filero and Milton Bradley5:08

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, editions and reference
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelEdition(s)Ref.
VariousMarch 2, 2018 streaming
  • Nexus Entertainment
  • Coutrá Music Group
Standard [10]

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References

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  3. "5th Ward: The Series – About". Facebook . Retrieved October 4, 2017.
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  6. "Summer Premiere Dates 2020: Here's What's On As Lockdown Starts To Lift". Deadline . May 25, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
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  9. 1 2 "Trailer To Urban Movie Channel's New Series '5th Ward,' Starring Mýa, Carl Anthony Payne". blackfilm. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  10. "5th Ward Series on UMC.Tv (Season 1 Original Soundtrack)". Spotify . Retrieved April 28, 2018.