Facebook Watch drama series Five Points, which was executive produced by Kerry Washington, premiered on Monday at a private screening and cast Q&A session at Boulevard3, Los Angeles.
According to Washington, she signed on to produce the show because it tackles issues that teens are currently facing.
“The writing was so good and then the opportunity to work with people that I love,” the Scandal star told ET. “Thomas Carter, who put me in my first big feature, Save the Last Dance, and Rodrigo Garcia, from Indigenous Media, he directed a movie that I [was] in called Mother and Child. So it was a reunion to work with artists that I really admire and the possibility to create content that’s about really important issues: drug abuse, LGBTQIA identity, gun safety, self-esteem…all of it.”
The 10-episode series stars Hayley Kiyoko, Madison Pettis, Ray Cham Jr., Spence Moore II and Nathaniel Potvin. The story follows five students at a Southside Chicago high school. Each episode is told from the point of view of a different character, while the series’ plot highlights how daily pressures that teens face can result in difficult and sometimes life-changing choices.
The first episode is told from the perspective of CJ (portrayed by Cham Jr.), a charming teen whose mother is having difficulties to make ends meet. CJ makes a plan to bring in quick money to save the family from eviction. But the decision triggers a domino effect that could end up costing someone’s life.
Five Points not only depends on social media as a streaming platform, but to spread the word about the show. Washington also shared during Monday’s screening that the success of Scandal was spearheaded by its popularity on social media.
“These are issues that have been around for a really long time, and that young people are dealing with because they’re at the turning point of becoming adults,” the 41-year-old actress told ET. “I think any time that we can give them the space to have those conversations to create an inspiring platform and space for that, that’s meaningful.”
The new series marks Washington’s first TV gig since the series finale of the Scandal aired in April. Her former castmates Bellamy Young, Katie Lowes, Scott Foley, Guillermo Diaz, Jeff Perry and George Newbern were all in attendance to support her at the premiere.
“It’s so special, I love them so much!” she exclaimed. “I’m so grateful that they’re here and I was proud to share it with them. We’re all doing exciting new things!”
Recently, the Scandal cast members were in Mexico to screen Foley’s new pilot, Whiskey Cavalier.
“I was, like, tearing up because I loved it so much and I’m so happy for him. We really do support each other, and this [Five Points] cast reminds me of us,” she said. “I was texting my Scandal family, I was like, ‘They’re like the younger, greener [version of] us!'”
Five Points airs every Monday at 9 p.m. ET on Facebook Watch.
