The Pratt in the Hat
A film by Susan Hillary
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.
Synopsis
The PRATT in the HAT is a short film about Frances Pratt, her hats, her “prattisms”, and her history as a civil rights leader begining in 1957 and continuing to this day.
The PRATT in the HAT is a celebration of her unique wisdom which she gained through observation and perseverance as a woman of color.
Susan Hillary Shapiro was inspired to create this piece when she spotted Frances across the room at a crowded political event. Ms. Pratt was adorned in one of her striking hats and to Susan, she seemed a beacon of color in a sea of grey. “I asked her if she would allow me to photograph her in her hats,” Susan explains. “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.” If Frances Pratt’s hats make a bold statement so too does Pratt’s southern charm and pithy expressions which she garnered through a lifetime of service to her community.
“What a beautiful and gracious lady with an amazing story!”
“Loved the incredible spirit, the wisdom and of course the hats!”
Awards
World Film Carnival, Singapore (WFCS)
Accolade Global Film Competition
Cannes International Cinema Festival
Sugar Loaf Film Festival (SLFF)
Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival
Silk Road Film Awards Cannes
Oniros Film Awards® - New York
New York Movie Awards
New York International Women Festival
8 & Halfilm Awards
Austin International Art Festival
Virgin Spring Cinefest
San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival
Thomas Edison Film Festival
World Film Carnival - Singapore
Accolade Global Film Competition
WRPN Women’s International Film Festival
Hollywood Women’s Film Institute: Hollywood Women’s International Film Festival
Best Shorts Competition
Women Over 50 Film Festival
Best and cinematography at Feedback Female Film Festival
What People Are Saying
“The PRATT in the HAT is a beautiful short film. Dr. Pratt is wise, delightful, informative, and visually delicious. What a rich 15 minutes! Beautifully done.”
— Gloria Bonelli Goshen Arts Council
Bios
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
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: netflix.com/title/81004511