A struggling actress is given one more chance to keep her party princess job after a gig goes horribly wrong.
Written, directed, and shot by Jordan Fouts, Play Pretend is a short film celebrating the unknown actress and the impact they have by reminding us that there is value and magic in art no matter where it comes from.
Creativity, Imagination, Originality
From handcrafted costumes to an original illustrated book, many talented artists came together to bring the story of Play Pretend to life.
To the left, see the original concept art as well as the finished integration of the work in the film.
Behind The Scenes
Hours of hard work and dedication by the creative team were poured into this project. After an exciting three day shoot, production officially wrapped in November of 2024. While the film now resides in the post-production phase, take a moment to view some of the memorable moments on-set in the photos to the right.
Film Premiere
Play Pretend premiered at the Fox Theater in Tucson, Arizona on May 10th, 2025 as part of the 20th annual I Dream In Widescreen event. During the event's awards ceremony lead actress Haiden Pederson won the Monte Ralstin Award for Excellence in Acting of her performance as Crystal.
The completion of this film marked the end of my journey as a film student at the University of Arizona and the beginning of the next chapter of my artistic career. Play Pretend is now entering the festival circuit.
Play Pretend is a short film produced at the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film, and Television.
Directed by Jordan Fouts
Produced by Madison Hernandez
Cinematography by Jordan Fouts
Starring Haiden Pederson and Mayson Adams
Filmed in Tucson, Arizona
©2025 Jordan Fouts