Debut: ‘DENIM’ Is A Masterclass In Authenticity
Love, passion, and style bleed out of every frame in DENIM, a pilot directed by TĒDRA, a storyteller and director based in New York City. The short serves as a pilot for what the filmmaker hopes will eventually develop into a docuseries. DENIM spotlights three LGBTQIA+ visionaries who candidly share their experiences of being Black and queer, navigating their identities within systems shaped by Eurocentric and heteronormative ideologies. Each segment is beautifully distinct, perfectly tailored to its subject, and specially crafted to reflect their journeys. The flair with which they live their lives is only amplified by the short’s sleek editing and set designs of the segments.
We open with Kidd Kenn, a queer rapper from Chicago whose sheer presence launches the short into another world, literally. He’s dressed as a futuristic astronaut, with galactic purple hair to match. Style, verve, and confidence drip from every word he speaks, aided by the brilliant set designs woven throughout his brief segment. He’s randomly greeted by an alien, to whom he delivers a prop brain; unbelievably quirky and perfectly symbolic of Kenn’s brand as one of the few openly queer rappers in the hypermasculine world of hip-hop.
Kenn discusses how he found his light through music, ultimately allowing him to feel like the main character in his own story. He certainly earned that title. Even in his brief segment, Kenn transitions from humor (saying his pronouns are “that/bitch”) to uniquely stylish (wearing plastic baby doll hands in place of fingernails). His eccentric persona echoes through every frame, where he eventually sums everything up with, “I can’t come in this world trying to please everybody. I gotta come in this world pleasing me.”
The highly successful Baltimore-based fashion designer and Project Runway alum Bishme Cromartie takes the next segment. It opens with an operatic melody, paired with various shots of a sleek denim outfit floating through the air. The entire sequence is very much “in,” as Project Runway would state, which is right at home for Bishme, a two-time contestant of the show. His poignant eye for style is reflected in his studio, where the interview takes place, in which an abundance of creativity is wrapped into a single frame. It’s familiar and comfortable, yet distinctly representative of Bishme and his journey.
Bishme is shown constructing a garment through various ASMR-like shots interwoven through the segment. These visuals are more than aesthetic; they showcase him at his most fulfilled, as fashion is not only his greatest passion but also plays a pivotal role in expressing his identity. He states, ”Fashion has always been a way to help me escape. When I design, I balance both my feminine and masculine sides.” Fashion is not just a career for Bishme, but a lifestyle.
Devastatingly, Bishme shares that in July 2022, only a month before filming the short, Bishme lost his sister. She was his biggest fan, confidant, and supporter in everything he did. She was with him every step of the way, whether it be through discovering his queerness or reaching his ultimate goal of being a contestant on Project Runway. Despite his loss, he went on to return to Project Runway for Season 20, All Stars, four years after he came close to winning Season 17. Bishme went on to win it all, carrying his sister alongside him every step of the way.
The final segment takes a bold turn, diving headfirst into the world of animation to tell the story of Deniim, a young trans woman who recently underwent gender reassignment surgery. While Deniim shares the trials and tribulations of her transition and newfound journey of navigating womanhood, the segment takes another twist. The beautiful art depicts the process of her procedure, but instead of a traditional telling, it paints her as a flower, blossoming as she becomes the truest version of herself.
While beautiful, Deniim’s words are equally powerful. “As a whole, I feel complete,” she says. “I’m comfortable.” Her journey to be in a place of inner peace was no cakewalk, however: “Being a gay Black male, and trans, you’re gonna go through hell… I’m used to it, so that’s not something that would ever not want to make me be who I am.” Her candid words and the animation captivate to produce a final product that is clearly a labor of love. While Deniim’s blossoming has only just begun, her words hold a lifetime of authenticity and wisdom. She has become the “butterfly” she’s always wanted to be.
Though each segment is distinct, they are united by more than just their LGBTQIA+ themes. All three subjects discuss the realities of being Black, particularly being Black and queer in America. The already daunting task of navigating gender and sexual identity is compounded for Black folks, whose entire existence is at odds with the multiple hegemonic systems working to silence and erase their existence.
As Bishme says, “Sometimes I forget that I’m actually gay because I’m reminded that I’m Black first.” For Black LGBTQIA+ individuals, there is no being queer without being Black; these two facets of their identity are inseparable from one another. DENIM is a rare instance where Black LGBTQIA+ voices are uninhibited. TĒDRA’s pilot is a masterclass in authenticity, giving a platform to three inspiring visionaries living as their fullest, most authentic selves, undeterred by outside hate or judgment.