A feature documentary, filming in 2027

Our economy has a gap. Help us film it.

The trades are losing workers faster than we can replace them. The Trade Gap tells that story on screen, and we're inviting companies in the trades to be featured in it.

Become a featured partner Watch the trailer

“Your gritty, practical guide to reclaiming purpose through real, hands-on skills.”

Michael Easter, New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis, on the book by Zachary Craig Hanson

What featured partners get

Partners fund the production and, in return, become part of the story. Every partnership is shaped around your company, your people and what you want the film to show.

Your crews on screen

We film on your job sites and in your shops, and tell the stories of your craftspeople, apprentices and leaders in their own words.

An audience you're trying to reach

Students, parents, educators and workers ready to retrain: the people who will watch a film long before they read a report about workforce shortages.

A story you can keep using

Recognition as a partner in the film, plus footage and moments you can put to work in recruiting, training and community outreach.

Who we're looking for

Companies and organizations that build, maintain and power the country, and want to show young people what a career in the trades can look like.

Start the conversation

General and specialty contractors
Electrical
Plumbing and HVAC
Welding and fabrication
Critical environments and data centers
Infrastructure and utilities
Manufacturing
Unions and apprenticeship programs
Trade schools and workforce programs
Equipment and tool makers

Where the film stands

The book laid the foundation. The film builds on it. Partners who join now are part of the production from the start.

2025

The book

The Trade Gap is published and becomes a bestseller.

2026

The pilot

The trailer is filmed with Fascination Film Studio.

Partners joining now Today

Pre-production

We're selecting the companies, people and job sites the film will feature.

2027

Production

Filming of the full-length documentary begins.

Cover of The Trade Gap by Zachary Craig Hanson: a tradesman holding a wrench over his shoulder — The book behind the film. Buy The Trade Gap

Why this film, why now

“Go to college, get a good job, and you’ll have an easy life.” What if that was the wrong goal?

I got my job in the information economy, then watched as hundreds, then thousands, and now tens of thousands of people were laid off.

Meanwhile, people are retiring out of the trades faster than we’re replacing them. There’s a boom in demand we can’t meet, because there aren’t enough skilled workers.

A nation of too many thinkers and not enough doers leaves all of us vulnerable: to layoffs, to crowded job markets, and to breakdowns in our homes and our infrastructure. The people who understand that gap are the ones who will build successful lives as the economy shifts.

That’s why I wrote The Trade Gap. Books are great, but we live on our screens. To reach students, parents and a workforce ready to retrain, we need to tell this story as a film, and we need partners in the trades to help tell it.

Zachary HansonAuthor, The Trade Gap

The people making it

An authentic film needs people who know the work. Our team pairs documentary filmmakers with advisors from the trades and critical environments.

Fascination Film Studio

Production studio

Zachary Hanson

Author of The Trade Gap

BUILD My Future

Partner

Scott Shotts

Co-producer and trade industry advisor

Jay Kallsen

Co-producer and critical environments advisor

Acorns & Oaks Publishing

Put your company in the film.

Tell us a little about your company and the work you do. We’ll follow up to talk through what a partnership could look like.

Email us about partnering Call (253) 906-0420

Partnerships, media and speakinginfo@fascinationfilms.com