A Cheryl Dunye Film

In near-future Oakland, a broke trans man finds refuge in the mansion of a reclusive Black trans ex-tech mogul, only to discover he's a pawn in her revenge plot, carried out with the help of her android double.

BLACK IS BLUE is a story born from both the realities of trans-of-color life in America and the legacy of my award-winning 2014 short film of the same name. This feature expands that foundation to explore themes of power, control, identity, and reinvention through a speculative, genre-blending lens.

At the center is Laverne Cox, playing both Blue—a reclusive, wounded genius—and Lison, her AI creation. Their performances unfold like a mirror loop: creator and creation, mother and daughter, star and shadow. Their duality explores grief, legacy, and the brutal fantasy of self-perfection.