With a broken heart, I share news with you all that the film project Hard Hatted Woman has been discontinued as of 2022. Over the past year, in the final editing of the film, two of our main subjects decided that they no longer felt safe sharing their stories—one for personal and the other for professional reasons. I know that tradeswomem and allies everywhere can understand the extreme vulnerability and ambivalence these women felt about putting their raw experiences and emotions under a spotlight, and the career repercussions they would have faced in doing so. I wholly respect and honor their choice to self-protect.
Unfortunately, their late withdrawal left us without enough material to do justice to the story. A theatrical-length film had always been our intention, and this turn of events made that impossible. For months I tried hard to salvage the project and find any path forward, but for creative, logistical, and financial reasons, as well as personal ones, I had to accept that Hard Hatted Woman had reached the end of the road. And wow, what a road she travelled.
Exactly ten years ago, in July of 2012, I decided to go after my dream and take a huge leap of faith and make this film. Hard Hatted Woman was the passion and purpose of my life for a decade. It was a longer and harder journey than I could have ever imagined, full of the highest highs and the lowest lows. I met unforgettable women and made unforgettable memories. To all of you who opened your hearts to the project—who showed your support and solidarity for the cause by donating, sharing, connecting, reaching out, and inviting me into your spaces with camera in tow—thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am forever grateful and forever changed by the irrepressible strength, pride, joy, humor, resilience, tenacity, and bad-assery of tradeswomen.
Words can’t describe my sorrow and regret that I wasn’t able to give you a finished film, one that I hoped would be a positive force for change. But I take comfort in knowing that the project message—and the voices and stories of tradeswomen— reached thousands over the years through our outreach efforts. In time, I will decide if/how my remaining footage can be of service to the movement. But change is coming either way, because I know that thousands of formidable women will keep the fires burning. Onward and upward. - Lorien Barlow