TV ONE'S UPCOMING ORIGINAL MOVIE MEDIA, PREMIERES SATURDAY, FEB. 25 AT 8 P.M. ET
MEDIA, an original TV One movie, will premiere on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. ET. The dramatic film explores the secrets of the Jones family dynasty; a wealthy family battling the competitive challenges of keeping their status and position in the communications industry. MEDIA is executive produced by Radio One Founder and Chairperson Cathy Hughes and her production partner Susan Banks, Kevin Arkadie, (who also served as writer), Sheila Ducksworth. The film was produced for TV One by Ducksworth Productions. MEDIA was directed by Craig Ross, Jr. and Tracy "Twinkie" Byrd served as casting director.
"MEDIA is a positively motivating story about families and the problems that they go through, but also the love that bonds them together," said Hughes. "This has been one of the greatest blessings of my career and I am hopeful that our audience will find it as exciting to watch as I found it exciting to make."
The drama is the latest addition to TV One’s network of original films. Cast members include Brian White, Penny Johnson Jerald, Stephen Bishop, Pooch Hall, Gary Dourdan, Denise Boutte, Blue Kimble, Chrystee Pharris, Stelio Savante, Jillian Reeves, Finesse Mitchell, Jeff Sprauve, Diane Kirby, Jimmy Gonzales and Jasmine Kaur.
A powerful matriarch, Jackie Jones, and her children embark on a venture of passion, intrigue and murder, in this captivating urban production. Portrayed by Penny Johnson Jerald, Jackie is the founder of Jones Universal Media Properties, known as JUMP, the world's premier urban media conglomerate. A family tragedy forces her son, prominent lead city attorney and prosecutor Michael Jones, played by Brian White, to abandon his political aspirations and take over the company just as a ruthless rival challenges JUMP's longtime domination of this lucrative industry.
When Michael Jones steps up to run the company, he is confronted by the sins of the past and the dangers of the present when Gary Dourdan as Jabbar Randolph, CEO of JUMP's biggest competitor, is released from prison. Grabbing back the reigns from his brother, Will, played by Stephen Bishop, he embarks on a mission of revenge, betrayal and corporate intrigue.
In a recent interview with Brian White, he tells Fuzionz Magazine what he likes most about his role in Media. “It’s a curve ball for me. It’s the closest role to me, my family and the people I know in a relationship, that I’ve ever played. I usually don’t get to play characters that I consider to be close to my roots," said White. "We’re a business- minded family; we’re an educated-minded family; we’re a church-minded family. You find all of those things in the Jones family; we’re a family-minded family. You put the people that you’re related to, that you consider and label as family, first. You help them up in good times and bad times, for better, for worse. That’s the life-blood of the series. It’s a calling card for Michael Jones and my involvement in this project and that’s why I’m so excited for everybody to see it at its essence.”
