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

“Visions of Warriors” will be screening online for the City of Commerce Public Library from Monday, 5/18/2020 to Monday, 6/1/2020. A Q&A with director Ming Lai, James Zenner of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and Dr. Christina Robinson, the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator for the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, will be held on Thursday, 6/4/2020, at 6:00 p.m. The Q&A will be recorded and available after the event. This special event is a part of the California Center for the Book’s Community Conversations with Veterans initiative. Originally, this screening and Q&A was supposed to be a live event. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Center for the Book and the City of Commerce Public Library along with other participating libraries have quickly adapted to the challenging situation and moved this program online. 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 based in Los Angeles near the City of Commerce so we’re honored to be able to serve this dynamic city. Thank you to Julianna Robbins, the California Center for the Book, Olivia Audoma, the City of Commerce Public Library, James Zenner, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Dr. Christina Robinson, and the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System for this huge honor.

Screening:
Monday, 5/18/2020 - Monday, 6/1/2020

Q&A with Ming Lai, James Zenner, and Dr. Christina Robinson:
Thursday, 6/4/2020, at 6:00 p.m.
To participate in the Q&A:
Click on, or copy and paste:
https://lnkd.in/gypHvyf
or, call in:
Meeting ID: 885 4067 9362
One tap mobile
+14086380968,,88540679362# US (San Jose)
+16699006833,,88540679362# US (San Jose)

To watch the recorded Q&A:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/3JxNc-zPxlxOSZHCt2LiAfEePbT7aaa813dIrqYNz0vWRkFAFK4LYM-fhK7_lka7
Password: 0N@#9?b#

To learn more about the screening and Q&A:
http://www.cityofcommercepubliclibrary.org/library/?q=content/visions-warriors-film-screening-and-qa

To learn more about the City of Commerce Library:
http://www.cityofcommercepubliclibrary.org/library/

To learn more about “Community Conversations with Veterans”:
https://calbook.org/programs/community-conversations-with-veterans/

To connect with veterans resources:
www.ptsd.va.gov

To find help:
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)