Arnetta Randall, a passionate admirer of romantic comedies, has embarked on an inspiring journey to promote greater representation in the genre through her film project, ‘Kismet.’
Growing up in Chicago, Randall fell in love with classics like ‘While You Were Sleeping’ and ‘Serendipity,’ but she often found a lack of stories centered on lesbian couples, particularly those that featured Black women.
“The genre I loved most rarely centered on lesbian couples… they didn’t look like me or the Black women I knew growing up in Chicago,” she shared.
To address this gap, Randall decided to create her own narrative, combining the whimsy of romantic comedies with a heartfelt story of Black love.
Her short film, ‘Kismet,’ tells the story of Jessica, a driven Black woman whose life takes an unexpected turn after a breakup, leading her to meet Jada, a fun-loving barber.
The film has already gained significant traction, having been selected for festivals like the North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and NewFest back in 2017, ultimately garnering over 9.5 million views on YouTube.
Now, as Randall aims to transform ‘Kismet’ into a feature-length film, she is raising $50,000 to support this endeavor.
With an initial fundraising goal of $8,000, Randall has already secured $1,515 as of Wednesday, encouraging others to contribute to her vision.
“I’m a hopeless romantic who wants to read love stories and watch love stories on TV because it’s fun and low stakes,” said Randall.
She hopes that the feature film will not only expand on the characters from the short film, but also introduce wider audiences to queer romantic comedies featuring Black women leads by its planned release in the summer of 2026.
Randall’s writing journey began at an early age, inspired by her childhood experiences in Englewood, where she participated in her school’s Young Authors program.
After pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in fiction writing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she obtained a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Columbia University in New York City.
Initially focusing her writing on historical narratives and political activism, Randall’s focus shifted as she began to navigate her experiences in relationships.
In 2016, inspired by a project involving a web series for her cousin, she developed the script for ‘Kismet’ within just a few weeks.
The strategic casting process involved using platforms like Backstage and Craigslist to find her leads, Jessica and the supporting cast.
However, casting the character of Jada, who is described as a masculine-identifying woman, posed challenges for Randall as she aimed to celebrate diversity in representation.
After connecting with Milon V. Parker, a notable performer in Chicago’s independent film scene, Randall was able to cast her in the key role.
Filming took place in a single weekend in 2017, utilizing local spaces such as homes of friends and Simone’s Bar in Pilsen.
Released in August of the same year, the short film laid the groundwork for Randall’s aspirations in filmmaking, although it initially remained on her YouTube page for several years.
Fast forward to 2023, Randall discovered the OML TV platform and submitted ‘Kismet,’ witnessing an incredible spike in views as it soared from 1 million to 9.5 million.
This surprising success has motivated Randall to pursue a feature film adaptation, as she recognized an audience yearning for light-hearted, relatable romantic stories within the LGBTQ+ community.
Reflecting on this journey, she expressed her delight at the ongoing connection audiences have with ‘Kismet.’
The planned feature will continue to explore Jessica and Jada’s relationship and further develop the world Randall created, catering to the audiences craving representation in this genre.
Feedback from viewers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many sharing their enthusiasm for seeing Black women featured in the film.
Randall’s heartfelt ambition signals a transformative shift in romantic storytelling, as she seeks to create an inclusive space that resonates with diverse experiences and emotions in love.
Through her work, she hopes to encourage others to dream big and embrace their narratives.
As she forges ahead with ‘Kismet,’ Randall stands as a beacon for aspiring filmmakers, demonstrating the power of representation in storytelling and the importance of authentic voices in the media.
image source from：blockclubchicago
