Talking “The Red Line” with Showrunner and Atlantic Beach Native Caitlin Parrish

Caitlin Parrish has come a long way from the shores of Atlantic Beach.

Parrish, now living in Los Angeles, is set to premiere her original mini-series, “The Red Line,” on CBS this Sunday.

The show follows three Chicago families in the immediate aftermath of a police shooting that involves an unarmed black man. It stars Noah Wyle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and Noel Fisher and is backed by well-known producers Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti.

“We thought we had a really interesting opportunity to take a look at the two Americas that exist – one with white privilege, one without,” says Parrish.

The show is based on “A Twist of Water,” a critically-acclaimed play Parrish wrote with her creative partner Erica Weiss. Parrish, who has also written for shows like “Supergirl”, “Under the Dome”, and “Emily Owens, M.D.”, describes theatre as her first love.

“There’s just an intimacy about theatre. You can tell a story in any way you want,” she explains.

It’s a passion she cultivated while attending Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville and while growing up in nearby Atlantic Beach. She then branched out into the Chicago theatre scene, penning “The Burials” and “The Downpour” in addition to “A Taste of Water.”

“It’s a very beautiful place with a very lovely sense of community,” Parrish says of her hometown.

“I do remember feeling like the out-of-place pale bookworm,” she adds.

In “The Red Line,” Parrish tackles the grave topic of wrongful police shootings and the devastating impact they have on everyone involved. But despite the tense subject matter, Parrish emphasizes the optimism that she hopes the show can bring.

“This show is about people who choose to fight for a better tomorrow,” she explains.

“There is cause for hope. There are reasons to turn away from cynicism.”

You can watch the two-hour premiere of “The Red Line” this Sunday, April 28, at 8:00 PM on CBS.