RODENT THE URBAN SOAP OPERA

Director Vera Edwards honored with Citation

Vera Edwards (March 4, 1966) is an American director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born and raised in the South Bronx, New York City, Edwards began her career as an author and then graduated to write, direct, and produce television shows on a cable channel called Bronxnet. The show was titled “Street Line.” It was an entertainment show that not only showed what was happening in the streets, but showed celebrities as well as up-and-coming artists, dance, hip-hop, businesses, current events, and politics. The show revolutionized the urban community. In 2009, Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero (director of photography) received several Beta Awards for their contributions to television.

In 2011 Edwards published her first book titled “BAND OF GOLD,” which was written by Vera Edwards herself. This was the start of her writing career which jumped started her in the direction of making movies.

One of the first female independent multimedia film director and producer in the Bronx, Edwards has captured the essence of urban life by utilizing members of the community by taking real-life experience and turning it into art. She has become a true pioneer in hip-hop culture and urban day living.

Edwards wrote, produced, and directed with her son Ricardo Cordero her first underground independent feature film, Chicken (2013); The film was an urban drama. The entire cast was first-time actors. The film received worldwide praise from parents, children, teens, and several educational institutions ranging from different fields of study that implemented different story elements into their own syllabuses. It was a scripted reality show at its finest. Chicken showcased unfortunate realism that many individuals face in urban communities even to this day. The movie Chicken sold-out not only at the theaters but also sold out as DVDs in stores. It became one of the most sought out underground urban movies till this day.

Her second film was a romantic love story titled “Waiting for 4 Mr. Wright” (2015), which won a Bronxnet Beta Award. It too had first-time actors, Anabel Castillo, and Hip-Hop artist, Mighty Mike C (Michael Clee), from the legendary hip-hop group, The Fearless 4. The film received a standing ovation which was played at the iconic Mist Theater in Harlem, New York; It also was a DVD hit.

This was followed in 2015 by Edwards’s first novella “Perate,” a movie drama that starred Artie Cordel and hip-hop legend Wilfredo “Tito” Dones, of the legendary group The Fearless 4. It was a challenge for Edwards to write and produce the life of a Hispanic dysfunctional family. Her daughter Bobbi Cordero(writer) helped create the movie, which won Edwards another Beta Award. The movie Perate also played in the iconic Mist Theater in Harlem, New York City.

In 2015-2018, Edwards directed her first web series that started out as a small pitch that led to a bigger series of its own name and a powerful relationship drama, “Rodent,” starring Seven and Antoinette “Toni Styles” Vereen. This was a drama that identified with personal relationships amongst friends and family. The web series had twists and turns. Rodent was in high demand on the internet but ended abruptly because of ‘unsettling’ events created only amongst actors based off their newfound popularity that was developed from the success of the Rodent series.

In 2016, Edwards produced and directed “PPRESSED,” based on the everyday life of battle rappers. The movie starred Karine “Sho-Time” Thornton and Michael Deering (Mikey D) from the legendary group, “Main Source.” Since its success and debut, it has become the anthem and blueprint of videography used in today’s hip-hop rap culture within television and feature digital movie format.

Edwards wrote, produced, and directed “A Teenage Story” (2020) starring LA Sunshine (Lamar Hill), from the legendary group The Treacherous 3, DJ and creator of scratch, Grandwizard Theodore (Theodore Livingston), Stevie D (Stevie Lundy), from the legendary Force Mds and first-time actor Justin Hines. The movie was shot during the COVID pandemic and was set for the theaters, but due to the worldwide COVID restriction lock-downs, the 1:49-minute movie was released on YouTube and generated over 800,000 views.

When asked in a recent interview on the podcast “SHO-TIME TV PODCAST,” the interviewer asked Edwards “How were you able to create so many hit movies in such a short time,” Edwards replied” I couldn’t have done it without my son Ricardo Cordero. He is an excellent cameraman. He and I work great together, I know him, and he knows me. He knows my vision. I leave all the camera work to him, and he makes it happen. I think he is the best director of photography I know. To be able to create and share time as a mother and son is priceless. I enjoy those moments”.

On March 26, 2023, Edwards was honored with a Citation by Senator Cordell Cleare for her work with the community as a Film director.

Rodent where’s the next episode?

A Street Line original, soap opera drama from creator Vera Edwards, with social media stars Seven Overton, Eric White, Sho-time, Regina Alston, Toni Styles, Andre Frasier, Jerome Hill, Lola Campbell, Gabrielle Williams, Catherine Hodge, John Hopson, Quintin Drakeford, Anabel Castillo, and a slue of social media friends has caught the attention of many video watchers. The soap opera series blends fictional and real-life situations, places and events, as it charts the rise of the cultural phenomenon of relationships gone wrong. The story centers around the creators past friendships that she counseled in her earlier days. When asked how did she come up with the ideals, Edwards stated her past plays back in her head and she decided to bring it out through film. With director of photography, Ricardo Cordero, and music composer, Travis ‘Prizzy’ Piskura, the first three episodes has become a smash hit on YouTube and the Street line video website amongst bootleggers all over the world.

The long awaited episode 4 will resume sometime next year. Many viewers have written the producer and wanted to see more. Emails have piled up questioning about the characters they have fell in love with. When asked what happened, Edwards only sung out ” How do rumors get started…they get started by the jealous people and… “A song written by Timex Social club. To clear it up, Edwards stated it was a difference of opinion and drama on and off the set. A lot of people were in their feelings and it just didn’t work out. Edwards stated the project isn’t abandoned, just put on halt for a while. Edwards stated that Rodent came out first back in 2015 as a pilot and moved onto a series later in 2017 and ending in 2018. Each episode was at least 90 minutes long, making it mini movies.

Edwards also stated that Rodent will continue in the future and that Street line enjoyed the experience with some of the cast, but now is looking for actors that aren’t so sensitive and can take direction. Edwards has helped many in their careers and has worked on other projects since then. Street line has new auditions and new movies they are working on now. Rodent the Urban soap opera is based in Bronx NY

Rodent episode 2

If you had an opportunity to watch Rodent, Episode 1 than you would know that the show is packed with drama. Episode 2 is no different. In the absence of Hammer Thornton Vanessa Hollingsworth has been making some corporate decisions. She has been hiring anyone that came into White Lines Media. Felix and Niles are not feeling the decisions that Vanessa is making. Her excuse is that Hammer can’t be there because he is tied up at the moment! When she said he was tied up at the moment she did not just mean that figuratively. She meant it literally. She had the man tied up in her bedroom and was drugging him up. Thank God for his wife and two closest friends. They saved him from Vanessa but that was after Niles made a pass at Gladys. I wonder what will become of that! Felix has a problem of his own. Farrah came off of the elevator of White Lines Media and caught him lip locking with the new talent who is also his new girlfriend. She gave oh boy back his ring and told him that she will see him in court after dismissing ole girl. At least Farrah was woman enough to know that it was not the girl’s fault.

I guess you want to know what is going on with Drew and his drama! His sister Khris called Pops over to the house. She had some really disturbing news. She is pregnant. Pop swore to kill Drew’s friend only thing is his friend denied ever having sex with Khris. I guess it’s time for a DNA test. That is not all that is going on with the Douglass family. Drew is over at his children’s mother’s apartment when Pops walk in with a key. Before Drew even has an opportunity to find out why his dad has the key to the apartment Pops goes off on Drew about him being irresponsible and not having a job. Wait that’s not the end. Drew is in the room about to be intimate with the mother of his children while Pops is behind the door with his shirt off.

In Episode 1 Ebony told Porsha to find her own hive. Porsha turns to her mother’s long- time boyfriend Greg for a place to stay. Greg watched Porsha grow up all of her life but that doesn’t make him resist when Porsha uses her black girl magic to entice her mother’s boyfriend into sleeping with her. While they are making it do what it do, in walks Ebony with a key that Greg gave her. Imagine his surprise when Ebony informs him that Porsha is her daughter.

Meanwhile Krystal decides to go out clubbing with her straight friends Farrah and Michelle. They are hungover and asleep when Krystal hears her girlfriend Dime walking out. She wakes her girls up and tries to get them out of the apartment before Dime can get an attitude. All hell broke loose when Dime finds Krystal’s bra laying on the sofa. This is when Dime decides to smack daylights out of Krystal!!!!

I am telling you episode 2 was definitely something to be watched. Between the fight scene with Vanessa and Gladys, Felix getting caught by his wife, Pop’s in Drew’s Baby momma’s apartment I was on the edge of my seat. Khris being pregnant and the sex scene between the father and daughter was over the top. I sure cannot wait for Episode 3. This is definitely All my Children In The Hood.

Written By: Regina Alston

Rodent: Episode One; The Introduction of Characters

If you have had the time to watch Rodent the Urban Soap Opera you are familiar with what is going on. If you have not watched it by now I will make you familiar with the plot of the show. Episode one is the introduction of characters. You will meet all of the people featured in that episode and learn a little about their story.

Felix, Niles, and Thornton are long time friends. Actually, they are more like brothers. Thornton and Niles come to rescue Felix from the sidewalk where he is waiting with his black garbage bags after his wife Farrah put him out. Tired of his social media adultery Farrah decides that it is time for her husband of twenty years to go.

Farrah loves Felix with all of her heart. It is evident when she approaches a young lady that he has been making conversation with her husband inside of his social media inbox. Still Felix manages to win his wife back despite the advice of her friends Michelle, Sasha and Krystal.

Then there is Drew. Drew is a father of multiple children. He is the oldest of Pop’s children. He has siblings, a set of twins, that he uses and manipulates to his convenience. Drew is irresponsible with no job. He is constantly soliciting funds from his family to support his children. His brother Khris is a model with a bright future ahead of him. His sister Khris wants to be down with the boys. She goes to hang out with her brother Drew and wakes up in a very compromised situation.

Lola Hammer is Thornton’s wife. She is beautiful, and has no area with playing nice with other women while inviting them into the bed that she shares with her husband. Things go south when she wants to play with one of her husband’s business partners Jose Rodriguez. She is caught rendezvousing with him while her husband is supposed to be out of town on business.

Vanessa is in love with Thornton Hammer. Her obsession with him has become really bad. So bad in fact, that she decides to kidnap him and take him home. She will stop at no length to be with the apple of her eye. Even if it involves felonious capers.

While this is going on seventeen-year-old Porsha is in a new relationship with a recent graduate from her high school named Shane. Ebonie, Porsha’s mom disapproves of the relationship. She and Porsha share a love/hate relationship. Ebonie will go to the extreme to prove to her daughter that Shane is not the man for her. She even goes as far as sleeping with her daughter’s boyfriend to prove her point.

Episode one of Rodent the Urban Soap Opera is filled with nothing but drama. You will ooh and ahh from the beginning until the end. Make sure you use the bathroom and have everything that you need within arm’s reach. You will be stuck and unable to move until the show ends.

Written By: Regina Alston

click the link to watch episode 1 below.

Written By:

Regina Alston