#FreeRayshawn on Quibi pairs If Beale Street Could Talk’s Stephan James with Hamilton’s Jasmine Cephas Jones in a stress-inducing, police-brutality-themed series. We caught up with Cephas Jones to weigh in on the impact of the show as real-life protests of police violence and impunity turn up nationwide.
“We’ve been telling these stories in our music and in our television, in film for years as well. It’s just another story, you know, that’s kinda added onto the list,” said the actress, “And I think, you know, we’ll keep telling these stories until we see some sort of change.”
Jasmine Cephas Jones and Stephan James star in ‘#FreeRayshawn.’ Credit: Quibi
For Rayshawn Morris (James), the only hope of making it out of a barricaded New Orleans apartment lies in the humanity of a cop played by Laurence Fishburne. Until then, Rayshawn livestreams as he, his son, and partner Tyisha (Cephas Jones) evade the standoff of gun-happy SWAT and maintain his innocence in a cop’s death. All episodes are currently available to stream on Quibi and each range from five to 10 minutes.
Cephas Jones’ role as the ride-or-die of a wanted man landed her the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. Her first-ever Emmy nomination and win added to Ron Cephas Jones’ second win to make history as the first father-daughter duo to win Emmys in the same year. Fishburne and James both earned nominations for Outstanding Actor in the genre as well. Fishburne took home the win. The series also stars Danny Boyd, Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Annabeth Gish, and Ana Ortiz
Credit: Quibi