Silver Spring, MD – Following the success of her Daytime Emmy-nominated original series, The Rich and the Ruthless, UMC – Urban Movie Channel – the go-to streaming network for Black film and television – will premiere a new original miniseries from writer/director Victoria Rowell (The Young and the Restless) and Days Ferry Productions, centered around the opioid crisis. With roughly two million people affected by this issue in the U.S. alone, JACQUELINE AND JILLY showcases just one of the many stories of opiate addiction.
Starring Rowell alongside Richard Brooks (Being Mary Jane), Daphne Maxwell Reid (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Nikko Austen Smith (Queen Sugar) and Shannon Wallace, Jacqueline and Jilly is a portrait of three generations, two shattered dreams, one accidental addiction. When the daughter of a privileged political family develops an addiction to prescription pain killers following an unfortunate accident, it goes unnoticed by those around her. As the problem becomes more apparent, the family must face the truth about addiction and each other while banding together for the sake of their daughter’s survival and recovery. The first episode of Jacqueline and Jilly will premiere at www.UMC.tv (and on various devices) on Thursday, December 6, 2018. Also featuring an exclusive piece of music from legendary musician, Wynton Marsalis, new episodes of the miniseries will air weekly through January 10, 2019.
“In my opinion, the functionality of the entertainment industry should not solely be to entertain but should also be used as an awareness mechanism for calls to action in any crisis” said Victoria Rowell, President of Days Ferry Productions and creator of Jacqueline and Jilly. It is incumbent upon me to use my voice and collaborate with entertainment partners such as UMC to inform the public through the powerful vehicle of storytelling, streaming and more. My hope is that Jacqueline and Jilly will inspire spirited conversation between families and communities while also encouraging legislative limitations on pharmaceutical distribution — because lives depend on it.”
Jacqueline and Jilly is executive produced by Victoria Rowell through Days Ferry Productions and former Urban Movie Channel President, Traci Otey Blunt. Carletta S. Hurt, Richard Brooks, and Jonathan D. Ortiz also serve as producers on the miniseries.
Created by Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), Urban Movie Channel (UMC) is the first and largest subscription streaming service for Black film and television in North America. UMC showcases fresh original series, feature films, documentaries, stand-up specials, stage plays and other popular Black entertainment with new and exclusive content added every week. Watch UMC on iOS, Apple TV, Android, Amazon Prime Video Channels, Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand, Roku, Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick. At www.UMC.tv, UMC offers a free 7-day trial and thereafter is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Keep up with UMC on Facebook at Facebook.com/UrbanMovieChannel and on Twitter/Instagram @WatchUMC.
UMC Press Contact: Farah Noel, 301.830.6247, fnoel@umc.tv