Short Video by Local Veteran Wins Award – and Hearts
The Veteran Creative Arts Festival inspired Ameena Brown to tell a story of Hope for Veterans.
Local Army Veteran, Ameena Brown, was inspired last summer to create a special video to display in the September 2024 Veterans Creative Arts Festival at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (LSCVAMC). Brown heard about the competition, wrote a script, then recruited actors and helpers to bring her vision to life—all within a few weeks.
The story in her short form video, “The Mission”, draws its impetus from her own experiences with the VA’s Mission in northeast Ohio – to help Veterans get all the benefits they have earned. Other strong themes Brown weaves through her video include the importance of Veterans believing in the quality of care offered by the VA and the need to actively recognize and reach out to fellow Veterans with a helping hand in time of need.
Brown and her life partner and videographer/editor, Nicole ‘NicNak’ Smith, recently met to discuss the creation of the video with Ami Chevali, an art therapist who helped to coordinate the September 2024 Veterans Creative Arts Festival showcase and competition.
“I did not believe in the VA until December of 2023,” said Brown. “That’s when I reached the bottom with my own mental health and started taking the medicine I’d been prescribed for years.” She reflected, “I was like, OK! Those doctors knew what they were talking about!” Brown continued, “I think I’ll try therapy now—In fact, I’m going to check into the VA Domiciliary and get better!”
It was soon after she had moved in that she saw the notice about the Creative Arts Festival and decided to take part. “I knew exactly the story I wanted to tell right away—because it was kind of my story, too.”
Brown’s full 7.5-minute video, entirely shot and edited by her partner on a mobile phone, introduces viewers to a chance meeting between Veterans, Todd and Eric, who have just stepped off a plane together. Eric encourages Todd to “remember the VA” as they say their goodbyes.
In the next scene, viewers see Todd a month later, living on the street and clearly struggling and homeless, panhandling for money with a cardboard sign. Eric recognizes him on the street and approaches Todd to reconnect and check on him. Todd insists he’s doing okay, but it’s clear he needs more than a place to sleep, yet he refuses Eric’s help.
When Eric comes across Todd again, sleeping in a park, he is determined he will bring Todd to the VA to get help. The video does not show Todd getting assistance directly, but the impact is clearly visible. In a final scene, a much healthier Todd encounters another Veteran in need and viewers observe him deliberately reach out to help her, completing the cycle of care.
“It’s not uncommon to have Veterans want to be self-sufficient and initially refuse help,” says Ami Chevali, Art Therapist for the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. “It’s not rare to hear these kinds of stories, and Ameena’s video shows clearly just how much of an impact lending a hand can make in a Veteran’s life.”
Over 50 Veterans participated in the Creative Arts Festival this past autumn, with entries ranging from paintings and drawings to poetry, songs and video productions. Having taken a first place in the Military Drama Division in the local competition, Ameena’s video, “The Mission”, will now be exhibited in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival later this year in Indianapolis.
“Of course, it’s often intensely personal experiences that compel Veterans to apply their creative skills to create these varied works we saw at the Festival,” said Chevali. “There can be healing not only in the creative process, but certainly seeing these artistic efforts can change the viewer as well. Ameena’s video has been particularly emotional for many who have seen it.”
“[Viewers] often come to tears,” said Brown. “So many of the Veterans I’ve showed the video can identify with the initial VA skepticism shown in the video.” The struggling character at the center of the story, Todd, was portrayed by fellow Veteran Patrick Frank. “His acting came from a real place of authenticity—he understood the role deeply, and it showed.” Brown’s winning video can be viewed online.