Filmmaker Spotlight
Shawn Pipkin-West
Cheater
Director: Shawn Pipkin-West
Country : USA
Runtime: 4:59
Genre: Queer Horror
Language: English
Completion Year: 2025
Links: Instagram
Synopsis
CHEATER is loosely based on the El Salvadoran urban legend of "La Siguanaba." Known by many names throughout Central America. But in El Salvador, she haunts urban legends by the name of “La Siguanaba.” In the darkest of nights, she is said to take on the form of a beautiful woman to lure men, particularly unfaithful ones, out to meet their end. Right before they give in, she shape-shifts to her true form taking their lives. And if she shows mercy, it comes at the expense of their sanity.
About the Director
As a graduate of the 2024 DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE of the Directors Guild of America and a Director participant in the DISNEY DIRECTING PROGRAM for 2024-25, Pipkin-West was personally selected by Showrunner Frank Valentini to shadow and direct an episode of GENERAL HOSPITAL which aired on October 7, 2025 on ABC/Hulu. With directing work showcasing a range of genres - Pipkin-West has directed 2 episodic mini-series (Workplace comedy - WORK RETREAT Ep. 111 & Murder Mystery - Casaluxe: (S2) HOMICIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Ep. 201), Horror Short Film - CHEATERS, Rom-Com Short Film - DOWN BAD, Action Short Film - THE FINAL TEST (co-wrote).
Pipkin-West’s directorial debut was the short film, MO (starring the debut of STARZ’S BLINDSPOTTING actor Atticus Woodward). MO is a film about a determined single mother who gives up on her dream of becoming a musician and desperately takes a job as an English as a Second Language teacher to pay the rent. This job ends up opening her eyes to a familiar language and that language is called music; something that we all need in our lives. We all know that music is a universal language but realizing that it’s also helps people learn how to speak languages is amazing. The short film was accepted and won several awards on the film festival circuit such as THE SANTA MONICA FILM FESTIVAL, BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL, CHARLOTTE BLACK FILM FESTIVAL, LAS VEGAS BLACK FILM FESTIVAL, TORONTO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL, THE CHICO INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL, INDEPENDENT SHORTS AWARDS, and BEST SHORTS FILM COMPETITION.
With a background as a DGA Assistant Director, Pipkin-West has an extensive filmography of prestigious film and television shows such as Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING directed by Academy Award Winner Barry Jenkins, Marvel’s SECRET INVASION, ABC/Shondaland’s Grey’s Anatomy, The Catch, For The People, Peacock’s THE ‘BURBS pilot directed by Nzingha Stewart, and Steven Spielberg produced CBS show EXTANT starring Academy Award Winner Halle Berry to name a few.
Pipkin-West is focusing on directing full-time with emphasis on directing independent feature films and network/streaming episodic shows. Industry insiders are expecting promising art from this emerging Director.
Director Statement
Good Things are supposed to happen to us. Show us how good it can get!