Hidden Challenge: Hiring a Female Crew

Hiring A Female Crew for a Short Film About Domestic Abuse

When I set out to make a short film centered on domestic abuse, I anticipated many challenges—funding, scheduling, navigating the emotional intensity of the subject. What I didn’t fully expect was how difficult it would be to hire a predominantly female crew for a story that directly impacts women’s lives.

On the surface, it seems straightforward. The film industry has countless talented women working as cinematographers, sound recordists, editors, and producers. Many of them care deeply about stories that give voice to women’s experiences. And yet, when the topic of domestic abuse enters the room, something shifts.

Why It’s Harder Than Expected

Domestic abuse is not a neutral subject. For many women, it is personal, either through lived experience, family history, or the experiences of friends. Asking someone to work on a project about abuse means asking them to engage—sometimes intensely—with material that may echo traumas they’ve lived through or are still processing. The set, ideally a safe and collaborative space, can inadvertently become a trigger.

Some women decline to participate outright, not out of disinterest, but out of self-preservation. Others agree but later find the material too difficult. And for those who do participate, there is an emotional labour attached to working on the project that goes beyond the technical work of filmmaking.

Representation vs. Responsibility

As a filmmaker, I want women behind the camera as much as possible—not just in front of it. Representation matters. Having women in key creative and technical roles shapes the way the story is told, the nuances captured, and the atmosphere on set. But pushing for that representation without sensitivity risks burdening the very people the project hopes to uplift.

This creates a dilemma: How do you balance the desire for a female-led crew with the ethical responsibility of not exposing collaborators to unnecessary harm?

What I Learned

1. Transparency from the start matters. Being upfront about the subject matter allowed potential crew members to make informed choices about their involvement.

2. Creating support systems is crucial. On-set counselors or check-ins can make a difference, signaling that emotional wellbeing is valued as much as artistic output.

3. Flexibility helps. Sometimes the right fit for a role isn’t a woman, and that’s okay. Allies of all genders can contribute meaningfully while still keeping the story’s integrity intact.

4. Respect is non-negotiable. No film is more important than someone’s mental health.

Moving Forward

Hiring female crew for a film about domestic abuse isn’t just about ticking a diversity box. It’s about creating a safe, respectful environment where women can bring their expertise without feeling exposed or retraumatized. Sometimes that means fewer women on the crew than initially envisioned—but it also means the women who are there are truly supported.

In the end, the difficulty itself was a reminder of why this story matters. Domestic abuse is a subject that shapes lives, silently and profoundly. Bringing it to screen responsibly requires more than artistic vision—it requires care.