LOGLINE: In “Visions of Warriors,” four veterans from the Vietnam War era to the Iraq War participate in the groundbreaking Veteran Photo Recovery Project at the VA Menlo Park and use innovative photography therapy to treat their mental illness. SYNOPSIS: “Visions of Warriors” enters the minds of four veterans from the Vietnam War era to the Iraq War who are battling against mental illness—Mark Pinto, Homerina “Merina” Bond, Ari Sonnenberg, and Priscila “Peni” Bethel. They participate in the groundbreaking Veteran Photo Recovery Project at the VA Menlo Park and use innovative photography therapy to treat their moral injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and other mental illnesses. The documentary also profiles the Veteran Photo Recovery Project team—founder and nurse practitioner Susan Quaglietti, art therapist Jeff Stadler, clinical social worker Ryan Gardner, and clinical psychologist Kristen McDonald. With a non-linear narrative structure to mirror the veterans’ shattered lives, the documentary alternates between the veterans and the mental health providers. It also introduces other dynamic veterans who participated in the program. The overall narrative arc of the film extends from the veterans’ diverse backgrounds to their challenging military service to their debilitating mental illness to their intensive treatment. Because the veterans use photography therapy to treat their mental illness, the cinematography is inspired by iconic photo essays in Life Magazine and National Geographic that intimately capture people’s lives. Ultimately, “Visions of Warriors” is a universal story about the strength of the human spirit. OFFICIAL SITES: http://www.visionsofwarriors.com https://www.facebook.com/visionsofwarriors/ https://twitter.com/humanistfilms

Originally, the California Center for the Book, San Jose Public Library/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, and San Jose State University (SJSU) were planning to host a live screening of “Visions of Warriors” and Q&A with filmmaker Ming Lai and veteran Mark Pinto. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this live event will be postponed. However, to comply with the state’s “stay at home” order and practice “social distancing,” they will be holding a virtual screening instead, offered free to library patrons and university students and faculty from Monday, 4/20/2020 to Monday, 5/4/2020. On Thursday, 4/23/2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., there will be a Q&A with Ming and Mark, moderated by Jemerson Diaz, a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) veteran, former SJSU Communications Department adjunct faculty member, SJSU Mental Health Ambassador, Veterans Embracing Transition (VET) Connect peer leader, Warriors at Home teaching assistant, and National Alliance on Mental Illness leader. Mark is a USMC veteran, SJSU alumnus, VET Connect alumnus, and artist. This event is part of the Community Conversations with Veterans initiative. Community Conversations with Veterans is a partnership between California Center for the Book and Veterans Connect @ the Library. The initiative offers California libraries the opportunity to connect more closely with veterans and their families, while also helping veterans and their families connect to the community and resources. California Center for the Book is a program of the California Library Association, supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. We’re deeply honored to participate in this special event. Thank you to Julianna Robbins, California Center for the Book, Rosemary Van Lare, Deborah Estreicher, Laurie Willis, San Jose Public Library/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Elena Klaw, San Jose State University, Veterans Embracing Transition (VET) Connect, Jemerson Diaz, Mark Pinto, and many more for this great honor. We hope that we can assist veterans and their families as well as caregivers and healthcare professionals during this critical time.

Screening:
Monday, 4/20/2020 - Monday, 5/4/2020
Extended to Wednesday, 5/20/2020

Q&A with Jemerson Diaz, Mark Pinto, and Ming Lai:
Thursday, 4/23/2020, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

To watch the recorded Q&A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq-AjorA38E

To learn more about the Screening and Q&A:
https://www.sjpl.org/blog/visions-warriors

To learn more about the San Jose Public Library/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library:
https://www.sjpl.org/king

To learn more about San Jose State University:
https://www.sjsu.edu/

To learn more about California Center for the Book and “Community Conversations with Veterans”:
https://calbook.org/programs/community-conversations-with-veterans/