#SPOTLIGHT ON ARNETTA RANDALL

How did you come of age as an artist? How did you come to your current practice?

I have a degree in creative writing, so my dream was to be a best-selling author. One day, I got a call from my dad urging me to write for my cousin who was putting together a web series. After writing a couple of scripts for the show, I was enamored. I dusted off an old screenwriting book I had and watched numerous YouTube tutorials and taught myself screenwriting. I wrote my first short film, Kismet in September 2016 and made the film in February 2017; that film was accepted into film festivals. Kismet is a lesbian romantic comedy featuring two black women. I make art that centers black peoples, especially women and queers of color.

What was the inspiration for your OTV project?

Hook Ups originated from my desire to showcase the dating lives of people I don’t usually see. I wanted to create a queer web-series with people of color that felt honest. I wanted to see a story about a dark skin, voluptuous black woman, so I wrote episode 3. I read a lot about femme-phobia on your page, so I wrote episode 5 that follows an effeminate gay man. I wanted to use comedy as a means to explore identity, gender, and sexuality.

What's next for you or your series?

I’m going to play it by ear. If the audience loves Hook Ups, I’ll make a season two. I already have a few topics and storylines I would like to explore. What I’m working on next is a comedic web-series called Freaky Phyllis that follows a bad grandma.