Big news for your faithful Reenactress director!
/For the indefinite future, I’m officially a full-time independent filmmaker, and my main job is to get this movie done.
This is the second time in my life that losing my job has made the news. The first time I experienced a layoff was during the COVID-19 pandemic. I learned from Indiewire that a calendar invite I would receive shortly after reading this article entitled “Sundance Layoffs” meant the meeting with HR and my supervisor wasn’t going to go the way I’d hoped. On the plus side, my most recent experience has been a lot better than the previous one, though being told, “Today is your last day,” is never really fun.
One week ago, the job I’ve held for just short of five years as Associate Producer at PBS Utah was reduced in force. This time, not due to a disease that killed a million people across the U.S., but due to the Federal Government deciding to cut ALL funding for radio and television dedicated to serving the public good. This news was published by KUER Radio, The Salt Lake Tribune, and Public Media’s Current.
ARTICLE FROM THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ABOUT LAYOFFS AT PBS UTAH AND KUER RADIO
Along with my (former) PBS Utah colleagues, we took home seven Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmys (I received three awards myself) in 2025, so I know this layoff isn’t due to a lack of excellence. I’m now a five-time Emmy Award recipient.
J.R. Hardman wth THREE Regional Emmy Awards (November 2025)
But if the money isn’t there, it isn’t there.
I’m not the only one who has lost work that I love because of the current state of affairs in our nation. According to NPR, last year, over 300,000 Federal workers lost jobs. If they’re like me, they might have lost a job they considered a dream – one they thought they might have for decades – serving their community with the skills and passion they developed over the course of their careers.
But I want to be completely honest with you. When I saw this article about the Pentagon beginning a review of the “effectiveness” of women in ground combat positions, I thought to myself, there will not be another time that’s better to finish Reenactress. Our movie will directly refute the idea that women are ineffective by showing the history of women’s service. Our movie may help some of our female service members keep their jobs. So when I learned that someone needed to be laid off, I was also excited about the opportunity to be a full-time independent filmmaker and to finally finish this film.
Military Times Article about Pentagon’s review of women in combat positions
The Pentagon’s review is expected to last six months, and if what we’ve seen from our Federal Government so far is any indication of the decision that might be made, it’s more crucial now than ever that this film be completed and its message shared across a wide audience.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me and this project so far. My work at PBS Utah and my gut feeling about this story’s relevance have prepared me for this moment. Now it’s time to meet it!
