The Closet
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Monday, April 26 2004, 1:59PM
Black gay television has taken a huge step forward with the release of the new television series, The Closet, which opened this weekend at the New York Film Festival. Billed as "the world's first black gay drama series," the show takes us into the lives of an interconnecting circle of black gay and bisexual men in Baltimore. It's a powerful story that's never been seen on television before, and it's about time.
In the pilot episode of The Closet, Jeffrey Freeman, a black man on the down low, is about to be married to the rich and powerful Harriett Lexx (Sylvia Hudson), but Jeffrey's gay and bisexual friends have their doubts about the wedding.
In the opening scene, Jeffrey is literally in the closet getting head during the wedding rehearsal. Confronted by his angry best man, Nicholas Coleman (T. Bernard Isaac), Jeffrey shrugs off his friend's concern and makes it clear that he plans to continue sleeping with men even as he marries his fiancé.
That's just the beginning of a tangled web of deceit that connects more than a dozen characters in The Closet. Jeffrey has his issues, but his skeptical friends are hardly saints themselves.
Zach Zachary Sledge (Kevin F. Allen), a popular radio show host, also disapproves of Jeffrey's wedding, but he too is on the down low and trying to decide between his girlfriend and his boyfriend.
Eugene Henderson (Patrick Labat) is another groomsman on the DL. In one of the most dramatic scenes in the show, Eugene is in bed with his friend Nathaniel Bullock (Raphael Joseph) when Eugene's wife makes a surprise visit to the house.
Even Isaiah Edwards (Preston J. Horne), a successful doctor, is on the DL, or so he thinks. Isaiah's white boyfriend Eric Sutton (Bogdan Shepard) wants a commitment after dating for 2 years, but Isaiah's father, a minister, would never approve. Meanwhile, the receptionists at Isaiah's medical practice are secretly questioning the doctor's sexuality.
The two most redeeming figures in the story are Jeffrey's best man Nicholas and Jeffrey's uncomfortable groomsman, Emory Lawsen (Shannon L. Crawford), an openly gay black businessman in a committed relationship with his partner Brandon.
Nicholas is an antique dealer but we don't learn much about his personal life in the pilot episode. Emory, on the other hand, is the archetype image for the perfect black gay man, who along with his 12-year partner, is raising his son Tyler.
The most touching scenes in the film involve Emory and Brandon, as for example, when they kiss and embrace in front of their son, or when Tyler asks Emory how he should refer to his two dads.
Still, Emory is didactic and self righteous in his moral indignation at homophobic heterosexuals and closeted gay men. More than any other character, he seems to give the story its political correctness and his current relevance, as he does when he jokes about moving to Boston to marry his man.
The most central female characters, Kathy Sledge (DeMyia King-Gordon) and Ramona Lexx (Paris), round out the cast with a Dynasty-style conflict between two powerful black women. You can almost imagine them pulling each other's hair out in a dramatic cat fight in some luxurious office suite one day. The pilot opens up the conflict, which will inevitably unfold in future episodes.
The Production
Written and directed by Maurice Townes, The Closet is more soap opera than high theater. Melodrama works well for the former genre but not quite as well in other settings, and the pilot is filled with melodramatic scenes.
In one scene where Zach speaks to Jeffrey's fiancé, Zach looks toward Jeffrey and says "some men will do anything for money." A few of the lines in the script would be much more powerful with more subtlety. Another example: When Nicholas confronts Jeffrey in the first scene, he tells him to "get your ass in the closet where you're most comfortable."
The actors are talented and attractive, but the story suffers from the wooden delivery of unnecessarily formal dialogue. On a plane from London to Baltimore, Nathaniel tells his secretary: "Inform my wife I'll be stopping by the office briefly before going home this morning, but I'll return home in the late afternoon." There's no way for any actor to deliver that line without sounding stiff.
In a scene where Zach tries to salvage his relationship with his boyfriend Quincy, he seems to lose all his soul when he explains: "I know the way I've been conducting myself lately has not met your approval, but please be patient with me." In another stiff moment, Nicholas tells Jeffery, "you must work on changing, man." You must work on changing?
Some of the dialogue is (presumably purposefully) troubling. When Isaiah explains to his boyfriend Eric that "black people are not as accepting" of homosexuality as white people, Eric makes what could be considered an inappropriate racial remark. "I want us to live together," he says. "I want to wake up every morning and see your black ass, which belongs to me, here." But the relationship between these two never seems genuine, and the most intimacy we see is when Isaiah pinches Eric's nose in bed.
The film's technical flaws are not easy to overlook but fortunately they don't stop the plot from developing. The sound is often choppy and inconsistent, the outdoor lighting is off, and the music is a bit repetitive and distracting at times.
In one scene, Nathaniel and his business partner Chad board a private plane in what is supposed to be London but the plane is still enclosed in the hangar when they get on. When they leave the plane in Baltimore, the plane is still in the same hangar. And the plane itself looks more like a twin-engine Cessna than a private jet capable of transatlantic flight.
But the true value of The Closet is not about the nuances of film technique as much as it is about dealing with an important issue in our community. This film/tv series is mostly about the real-world closets in which far too many black gay and bisexual men dwell. With all the media hype and misinformation about the down low recently, it's refreshing to see a more accurate depiction of the diversity of black gay and bisexual experiences on television. The Closet is not perfect, but it's an incredibly important step in the right direction.
Black gay men have been yearning for healthy images of themselves on television for years. Although most of the characters in The Closet don't fit that bill, the ones that do redeem the rest. Yes, there is hope for the black gay man who wants to find another black gay man who is comfortable with his identity.
In the final poignant scene of the story, Zach's boyfriend Quincy has had enough with Zach's confusion. "You're a DL brotha, and I need a man in my life who understands how to be with me in the bedroom and in public," Quincy says. After a few moments of almost tearful melodramatic banter, Zach sets up the future episodes with a threat and a promise. "I'm gonna prove it," he says. "I love you Quincy."
The Closet is a dvd-Drama Series available by subscription at http://www.thecloset.tv.
Comments conceal
Jon
April 26 2004, 2:17PM
Those who have been out for a while sometimes forget what it is to be closeted, and what it is to wrestle with whether or not to be out, as well as to what degree with whom. This drama will surely help many people to reflect on their own situations as well as the life-situations of those friends and acquaintances who share the struggle. Kudos to "The Closet" and all who had a part in putting it together!
Guest
April 26 2004, 3:21PM
The new Noah's Arc promo is up and it's hot!!! Check it out at http://www.noahsarc.net.
I like the Closet but I am not in the closet nor do I support that lifestyle. I like Noah's Arc because it is about gay men who know they are gay and are not trying to hide it.
You go Patrik :)
Barry
April 26 2004, 3:22PM
I'm so thankful to see a television program dealing with gay men of color. It is almost as if we don't exist. I enjoy movies and shows dealing with gay issues. But, I get tired of not being represented as a black man. I remember my coming out experience quite well and I'm looking forward to seeing how these mens lives play out on screen. Sadly though, the coming out process never ends. We are constantly faced with should we, could we or do we need to tell this person every day of our lives. Kudos to "The Closet" and I wish the show much success.
Troy
April 26 2004, 3:50PM
Forget it! Mama Done Burned the Cornbread RULES!!!
(I didn't know Tyler Perry wears size 14 shoe, must mean something, huh?)
Fred Moreau
April 26 2004, 9:24PM
I am pleased about the new TV series "TheCloset". I just don't understand why the cost of Season One is over $300. I am baffled!
Leo
April 26 2004, 10:08PM
The reason the first season is over $300 is because as a subscriber you will be getting 26 seperate dvd's, one for each episode. If you were to buy each dvd individually at a cost of $20 per dvd, you would spend well over $450 for the entire season. The creators of the show have given subscribers a discounted price with over 25% savings on the individual dvd cost.
John
April 27 2004, 3:41PM
Your review of the pilot episode was right on the money Keith. My partner and I were laughing out loud at some parts....and cringing at others. Some of the dialogue and acting are excruciating, but not enough to take from the overall effect of the movie. Although not perfectly produced, definitely entertaining.
Nee
April 27 2004, 9:14PM
Wait why so many DVDs? How long is one episode?
Well with all these closets we'll never get too far any time soon...So I don't see all the hype and negativity towards misinformation. How can there not be misinformation when no one will speak out because they are in the closet? lol.
Bklynbro
April 27 2004, 11:17PM
I'm going to assume that brothers will have to go online to order the DVD. Well, that alone will leave MANY not seeing it. And I guess any brother on the low income side won't be seeing it either. Oh well, too bad for them I guess.
Keith, surely you of all people could arrange public screenings somewhere - and charge a reasonable fee. And maybe a small portion could go to one our financially struggling AIDS organizations like GMAD.
Anyhoo, you can count me out(no pun intended)on this show. I'm so tired of the whole DL thang and gay brothers, drama and their issues. Why would I what to spend money to see the mess on DVD?
A fabulous comedy would have been much more in order. Hooray for PUNKS!
Bklynbro
April 27 2004, 11:24PM
Do you think any portion of the money made from this series will be given back to the community is some way? I sure hope so. But if the history of giving back (the lack thereof) and supporting our organizations in the Black gay community is any indication...
If not, I say protest this show until they pledge/give something to some Black gay AIDS/Marriage organization that's needed and struggling financially.
Maxwel
April 30 2004, 3:22AM
Folks,
Why is it we expect every show/series with a Black character base to reflect all Black Americans???? PLEASE explain that!
I wonder if the fool who stated he will not support The Closet because he disagrees with dl life...I wonder if he supports Soul Food or Will & Grace? Soul Food has no openly gay black men in their series and Will & Grace has NO Black Men of any type in their series....so are you supporting them? And if you're only going to support series/shows that reflect you....You're not watching ANYTHING on television.
The Closet & Noahs Arc are two shows/series that we as Black Gay Americans should ALL EMBRACE!!! STOP saying one show is better than the other and respect Maurice & Ian for doing something we have not done. Maurice has put the damn series out there and Ian is getting his series out. One is the World's First Black Gay Series and the other is America's First Black Gay Series. I JUST LOVE IT!!!!!
They are making history folks. DON'T fight or compare them....JUST BE THANKFUL WE HAVE THEM. Last year this time - April/May 2003 - we had nothing, but white gay people on the screen (i.e. Will & Grace, Queer as Folk, Queer eye, etc.) and now we have The CLOSET and this summer we'll have Noahs Arc. So that means this Fall we'll have TWO Black GAY shows. Horray!!!! I'm so excited.
Black GAY men LISTEN UP.... STOP COMPLAINING and EMBRACE all that we're being offered by our leaders because we're not doing anything and they are.
Open your checkbooks and purchase these series developed by two talented youngmen who has the BALL to do it and not complain!
And don't start with you don't have any money -- I find it strange you all seem to have money without question for clubs, drugs, sex parties, more clothes, new cars, trips, traveling to other cites for clubbing and sex parties, movies with white actors, plays with white actors, etc. etc. etc. but when it comes to supporting 2 films that is VERY much needed for EACH and EVERY ONE of you/us.....YOU don't want to spend the money. PLEASE understand....when you support these guys you're supporting our community. You're giving our community a voice.
Some fool even said he was not supporting one of the shows unless they are donating some money to an organization. How crazy is that???? Have you asked the same question of your other shows??? I think not!!! The fact you can NOW watch an image of yourself in a positive light is a donation to our community in itself. Maurice and Ian are making a STRONG donation......ARE YOU making one?????
If you're not getting it -- peep this......my spouse is employed with HBO and I was all over him about presenting these two shows to his executives and he informed me that ALL executives want to know one thing especially if it's a Black show or series..."how many units have they sold" which means....has the Black shows sold any copies, yet? So we have to purchase these series/shows to be noticed. ARE YOU GETTING IT.. If Noahs Arc and The CLOSET were white shows like Queer as Folk or Will & Grace or Queer Eye...the executive would not ask that question. PLEASE men do your homework. Showtime did not ask that quesiton of Queer As Folk and they never will because their white shows. But with our shows WE must make the first step. Remember, Russell Simmons sold deaf comedy jam out the truck of his car because HBO would not pick his show up -- within three months Russell earned 16M and that's when HBO said "Hey we can't let this kid make all this money" and that's when they picked up his show. Russell in turn gave back to the community by starting film programs and projects in our urban communities. I'm sure Maurice and Ian WILL DO the same thing.
One of my STUPID friends had the nerve to say "I'm not going to purchase these show or support then until they get on cable". What a fool. In order for us to get these types of shows on television we must support then now and call our cable companies and demand they consider or pick-up BOTH shows. Think about it folks we need to band together to get OUR programming on television or cable. We're already paying for it. So we have the RIGHT to tell them what we would like to see. If HBO can air Real Sex and BET and air UnCut they can air The Closet and Noahs Arc. We're just got to let the white executive know that we want to see these shows.
Lets band together and force television or cable to air our 2 new series this fall. I'm ready to get started with an email or letter writing drive. We're embarking upon Black Gay Pride Summer 2004 lets start a boycott or letter writing drive to get OUR TWO NEW SHOWS ON THE AIR WAYS. Spread the word!! If those white girls can do it for Sex and the City we can do for with The CLOSET and Noahs Arc. Come on guys what do you say? I'll begin to pull the names together. My spouse is going to kill me, but what the hell. Hit me back.
LaVon
April 30 2004, 2:47PM
I agree with you 100% Maxwell When you get the list together I will be the first to sign it. After attending the Cleveland Ohio Premier Which was a great success and the first screening outside of Atlanta. I have shared my copy with friends that said they could not afford the cost only to manage to some how come up with the $24.99. With the cliff hangers Kevin and Maurice have created I'm sure they will continue to buy the rest of the series. As a platinum member of the closet TV I have came to far with the closet to turn around now.
Bklynbro
April 30 2004, 10:16PM
"Black GAY men LISTEN UP.... STOP COMPLAINING and EMBRACE all that we're being offered by our leaders because we're not doing anything and they are."
Maxwel - Who's not doing anything? and who are they? How would you know who's doing what, how and for whom? Black gay men are quite diverse. And Black gay men hardly need your approval on their personal leadership accomplishments, goals etc. There are so many other important issues to deal with other than some Black queer dl bullshit dvd series. Check yourself, bro. You sound like a fool.
And please, let me know what leaders you are talking about. That way I'll be sure not to follow them. Kiss, kiss.
Cory James
May 11 2004, 10:39AM
I'm all for it being on HBO/SHOWTIME it would cut individule costs, because we already pay for those media venues and it would put moneies in the pockets of all involved in the production of the series and educate us as a people.
Brian
June 4 2004, 11:48AM
i like your site and i really would like to meet you someday and maybe be with you.