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On June 4 at 7 p.m., House of Yes in Brooklyn will host a screening of the short film “Bodega.” This captivating story follows a young queer Black woman who experiences love at first sight, with social media content creator and model Ocean van Exel portraying the woman of her dreams.
Written and directed by Sharik Atkinson (she/they), “Bodega” is driven by Atkinson’s profound desire to bring more queer stories to both big and small screens that aren’t centered around the trauma of “coming out.” After the screening of “Bodega,” there will be a cast Q&A session moderated by Womxn in Windows.
While Atkinson makes her directorial debut with this short, she is no stranger to the film industry. She has contributed to major productions, including NBCU’s “Genie,” “’Law & Order SVU,” and Netflix’s “Manifest.” She has also produced commercials for renowned brands including Foot Locker, Apple, and Google. Atkinson currently serves as the social media director at a prominent production and development company.
In the role of the young woman’s crush, content creator, model, and actress Ocean van Exel delivers a sublime and memorable performance. Born in Amsterdam and now calling New York City home, this out and proud lesbian with Surinamese, Black, Asian, and Dutch roots is a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ community. Her content focuses on lifestyle, fashion, and the queer experience. Notably, she is known for her TikTok series, “Femme Talk Fridays” and “The Femme Dressing Room,” which highlight and uplift queer voices through fashion, storytelling, and community building. She has also modeled for brands like VS Pink, Lucky Brand, and Champion. Ocean van Exel is certainly one to watch.
Here is what Ocean van Exel had to share about stepping into her first short film “Bodega,” being a successful content creator, and why LGBTQ+ stories are so important.
AmNews: Who are you versus the person people on social media think you are?
Ocean Van Exel: I would like to think that I am similar online to who I am offline. I try to authentically show who I am and the things that I care about. Surprisingly, social media has taught me not to take myself so seriously. There are obviously parts of my life that people do not see, but at the end of the day, I am just a girl who loves to talk about queer things and look stylish while doing it!
AMN: What does it mean to be LGBTQ+ in 2024?
OVE: It means to be ourselves and to express ourselves fully without limits. Living in the digital era, we can connect in a way that is different from before, and it is so important to use our digital platforms to protect and stand up for each other. Being queer is to be yourself unapologetically, and I love seeing people having fun, living their truth, and I am rooting for every queer person, always.
AMN: Do you know your Queer history? If so, what’s the importance of young folks knowing it?
OVE: I believe that Queer history is such a huge and integral part of our culture. Living in NYC as a lesbian, it is almost impossible not to know the Queer history. Especially being surrounded by queer historical establishments like Stonewall Inn and some of the first lesbian bars in America like Cubbyhole and Henrietta Hudson—I feel privileged and empowered by the rich, deep history living in this city. The Herstory Archives in Brooklyn is one of my favorite places to visit because it showcases documented sapphic history which is beautiful to witness. The ability to access these historic spaces is truly amazing—but honestly, my favorite way to learn is through people. The queer people that have lived to tell the tales of their time and the way they have contributed to shaping our culture and have fought for our rights today is so impactful. Most importantly, I love hearing queer stories first hand because it is so inspiring to know where we came from to see how far we have come and where we are headed.
AMN: How do you keep yourself balanced? Do you balance your life away from social media?
OVE: Finding a balance can be a challenge, especially since getting sucked into social media is so easy. However, I was an athlete when I was younger—so fitness is a huge aspect of my life still, and I love to keep myself occupied through physical activities such as running, soccer, and dancing. I also enjoy picking up different DIY hobbies and learning how to create things with my hands like accessories and thrifting items that I can style.
AMN: Why did you say yes to this short film?
OVE: I said yes to being in “Bodega” because I loved the vision of seeing a POC lesbian love story unfold that wasn’t tied to trauma about coming out. Lesbian representation is so important, and we need to see more of it. Being able to be a part of anything queer in the media was super exciting but equally important to me.
To book your tickets to see “Bodega” visit https://www.houseofyes.org/
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