Pretendian: A True-ish Story
Tagline: A provocative tale of identity and illusion - how far would you go for fame?
Synopsis: Cheyenne, a celebrated actress, has built her career on a fabricated Navajo identity. On the day of her big magazine cover shoot, her lie catches up with her, and the fallout is swift and public. As the set turns into a stage for her unraveling, Cheyenne clings to performance, blurring truth and illusion. In a world obsessed with image, what happens when the mask slips?
Director’s Statement:
My filmmaking journey reflects a movement away from imposed narratives and toward self-defined, complex, and purposeful stories. Through filmmaking, I reclaim authorship of my story, image, identity, and voice. 'Pretendian' is a fictional film based on real-world experiences. 'Grey' is a personal and introspective film. Together, these two films form a conversation about truth, representation, and the need to dismantle tropes that have long defined Native peoples in film and media. 🔗 Regina Dezbah Simons