We were joined by an amazing crew of veterans—some just weeks out of uniform, others who served as far back as Vietnam. Together we built a space rooted in learning, honesty, and reclamation.

We dove into hands-on training: lighting setups, Rule of Thirds, camera positioning, and working with actors. Everyone took turns behind the lens, in front of it, and around the conversation.

Michelle Damis, representing Oregon’s chapter of the Screen Actors Guild, gave an invaluable talk on how veterans can break into acting, writing, and production within the state. Her insight and care lit the room.

Jerry Bell, an Air Force veteran turned actor, director, and producer, shared his personal and professional journey. His presence affirmed what’s possible when story is taken seriously—and held with pride.

“When I was deployed, I knew—intellectually—that the Iraqi people were just like me. But war distorts reality. Seeing Sahar here, helping our community and speaking freely, reminded me how much story heals. It’s easy to demonize when you're far away. But here, in this space, we were simply human. That moment alone meant the world to me.”
— Sean Davis, Project Hope Co-Founder

Andy brought in his experience in story telling and media production to inspire veterans to tell their stories via media.

And of course, Sadie stood watch—equal parts guardian, therapist, and emotional grounding force.

All of these photos were taken by our unpaid intern, Jackie Juniper Davis. She is pretty amazing.

Lunch was catered by Sean’s old buddy Gaith, owner of Dar Salaam.

We are looking to train and place 50+ Oregon Veterans throughout the state for job placement in the Oregon Film and Media industry. Do you know a veteran who might be interested? Get in touch with us.