Beneath the brims of hundreds of colorful hats is a woman who shares her wisdom, humor, and personal experiences about being black in America, then and now. Frances Pratt’s hats make a bold statement as does her southern charm and pithy expressions which she garnered through a lifetime of service to her community fighting for racial equality, voting rights and education.
Watch the Audience Feedback Video;
Project Links
News & Reviews
- “Weekender Recommendations – Frances Pratt’s Hats Shine on Screen”nyack news and viewshttps://nyacknewsandviews.com/2021/02/watch-frances-pratts-hats-shine-on-screen/
- “Frances Pratt’s fabulous hats tell a story of love, strength and leadership”Rockland County Journal Newshttps://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/perspective/2018/05/30/nya
Director Biography – Susan Hillary
DIRECTOR: Susan Hillary aka Susan Hillary Shapiro has been making independent feature films and documentaries since the 1980s. Some of her films have premiered at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. The documentary “Studio 54” on which she was the archival cinematographer is streaming on netflix.
Link to Studio 54 film: https://www.netflix.com/title/81004511
Director Statement
I was inspired to create this piece when I spotted Frances across a crowded political event. Pratt was adorned in one of her striking hats and she was a beacon of color in a sea of grey. I asked her if she would allow me to photograph her in her hats. She agreed and I found what lay beneath her large-brimmed bonnets was a woman whose personal insight and firsthand knowledge into racial equality is one that is relevant, now more than ever.
FEEDBACK Female Film Festival 
