BlackOakTV's New Web Series "The Closet Bitch"
BlackOakTV is a new YouTube streaming channel that puts Black characters and stories front and center through films, web series, and shorts. One of those shows is “The Closet Bitch”, a new web series from actress Shana Solomon (Cool Kidz, Shades of Blue, Power) and filmmaker William Alexander Runnels (Young N’ Reckless).
“The Closet Bitch” is a coming of age dramedy, loosely based on Shana Solomon’s life, about Shana’s struggle to please everyone around her, told through the eyes of Shana, with her family and friends in supporting roles. This raw, unfiltered, one-woman dark comedy series has Solomon playing all 8 characters.
“The Closet Bitch” takes place in Bronx, New York in what looks like the early 2000s. There are currently four episodes: “Are You Well Yet, Clara”, “Shana’s 10th Birthday", “Lucky to Have Each Other”, and “High Times.”
“Are You Well Yet, Clara”
“Are You Well Yet, Clara” introduces the audience to the main characters, a 9-year old Shana, her mother Clara, her father, and her father’s girlfriend. In this first episode, Clara has shown up to Shana’s home unexpectedly, desperately wanting to talk to her daughter. It briefly touches on how family members deal with the mental health issues of a loved one.
“Shana’s 10th Birthday”
In “Shana’s 10th Birthday,” an excited Shana is having a sleepover and wakes up early to rouse her friends to celebrate her birthday. She’s trying to have a conversation with them and get them excited about her special day, that is, until they walk in on something they should not have seen.
“Lucky to Have Each Other”
In “Lucky to Have Each Other,” we see a teenage Shana doing neighborhood shit: trying stay neutral in a situation between one of her friends and a girl who wants to fight her. But of course, Shana wants the details.
“High Times”
“High Times” sees Shana and her friend smoking weed in the stairwell and just talking while Dad and his girlfriend are fighting over what to watch on TV. When they go inside, the lecture they get isn’t what audiences would expect, but it’s one many have had to learn on their own.
Each episode is just as entertaining as the next. However, as a girl who grew up in Philly, I really felt seen in “Lucky to Have Each Other” and “High Times.” Navigating life as a young Black girl in the ‘hood was most definitely challenging and these two episodes hit close to home. Especially “High Times.” There’s always that one friend who thinks they know everything and could possibly get you into more trouble than you bargained for.
My own “High Times” experience.
When I was in high school, a friend of mine, let’s call her Rocky, wanted to get some weed. I would usually get it from my uncle, tbh. Anyway, there was a dude around the corner from her house that she would normally get hers from. When we went to dude’s house, he handed us two bags and asked Rocky to give one of the bags to the guy in the car out front. Rocky agreed. But when we got into the hallway, Rocky examined the bags and was like, “Uhh uh. Why is his bag fatter than ours?” I didn’t say anything. Next thing I know, she switched the bags and gave the guy in the car the slightly slimmer bag.
We walked around the corner, sat on the step of one of the many abandoned houses, and rolled two blunts. Nothing unusual. After a few minutes, I felt numbness in my face. Rocky was feeling the same, except all over, and she panicked. “Keesh! I can’t feel myself! I can’t feel myself.” I just looked at her because I didn’t want to panic either. So, I said, “Let’s go to Chrissy’s house. We went to my best friend, Chrissy’s house and Rocky is still in a panic. Chrissy was on the phone with her then boyfriend who was laughing so loud, but said he could help. He told Rocky to drink some orange soda and eat some bread to absorb the high. I knew he was bullshitting and I couldn’t help but laugh. But Rocky took everything seriously and followed his instructions.
Then, Chrissy’s older brother came home and found us and noticed we were high. He gave us the very same lecture that Dad gave to Shana and her friend.
“The Closet Bitch” web series is excellently written, expertly performed by Shana and absolutely made this Black girl from Philly feel like I recognized those memories. I can’t wait to see what else Shana Solomon brings us. Shana Solomon is an up and coming television and film star with over 23 acting credits.
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