Veterans in Media & Entertainment is a nonprofit that connects former and current members of the military to entertainment industry jobs, internships, mentorship, and fellowship opportunities.
About VME
Founded in 2012 as a grassroots movement and 501(c)3, VME is a professional association of U.S. military veterans working in, or aspiring to work in, media and entertainment. Members represent all facets of the industry, including creatives, studios, streamers, networks, agencies, production companies, trades, and unions/guilds. With over 5,600 members across the nation, our footprint spans film, television, commercials, digital media, theater, music, and gaming. VME is headquartered in Los Angeles with chapters in New York City and Washington, DC.
Our members have been writers, consultants, actors, stunt performers, and tech advisors on television shows and feature films such as: TERMINAL LIST, QUANTUM LEAP, SWAGGER, 9-1-1: LONE STAR, NEW AMSTERDAM, CLEANING LADY, BEL AIR, LONE SURVIVOR, SEAL TEAM, AMERICAN SNIPER, CAPTAIN PHILIPS, THE HUNDRED, THE LAST SHIP, ARMY WIVES, THE TURN, GREY’S ANATOMY, STATION 19, FBI, TENENT, THE NIGHT SHIFT, POWER.
VME members come from many underrepresented communities, including veterans/creatives who identify as women, people of color, LGBTQ+, trans and nonbinary, and artists with disabilities. We are also a multi-generational community where younger veterans can learn from older veterans who have industry experience.
In the entertainment industry it’s a “who you know” business and, according to a recent LinkedIn Survey, up to 85% of jobs and internship positions are filled through personal connections, which puts military veterans at a distinct disadvantage as they transition to a new career due to their length of service (average 8 years).
Our Mission
For veterans entering the industry: We accelerate transition from military service to civilian jobs through our programs and fellowship opportunities. We do this by connecting veterans to career opportunities through jobs, internships, mentorships, and networking events.
For veterans established in their careers: VME offers a platform to lead classes, share experiences, and serve as mentors. It's an opportunity for veterans to "put the uniform back on again," metaphorically speaking, by reconnecting with a community that shares similar experiences, values, and goals.
For the industry: We function as an incubator and talent pipeline providing a valuable resource for companies seeking to engage with and support veterans.
About our members
We are a talented and diverse group, actively building our careers while supporting one another along the journey.
Our members range from being brand new to the industry to seasoned professionals on television and films as members of WGA, DGA, and SAG-AFTRA. Our members are in studios, networks, streamers, and production companies ranging from entry level positions to executives. They serve as production assistants to development executives and others are in legal, business affairs, human resources, marketing, distribution, and cyber security.
Several have been nominated for Academy Awards and Emmy’s while dozens more emerging filmmakers have won accloades in a dozens of film festivals.
VME is a vibrant and inclusive community that brings together individuals from various military branches, backgrounds, and generations. Our members span a wide range of ages and experiences, creating a dynamic and enriching environment for all.
While some of our members are newcomers to the industry, the majority have been out for at least five years, and a significant portion over a decade.
We also have members who are still in service, including those in Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard roles, and we consistently have at least a dozen members deployed in various locations around the world.
Our community is composed of over 5,600 members, predominantly Post 9/11 veterans, but also including veterans who served in conflicts and operations ranging from Kosovo, Bosnia, Desert Storm, Panama, and the Cold War, to earlier conflicts like Vietnam, Korea, and even World War II.
Some other fun facts about our membership:
Our members hails from all fifty states, various U.S. territories, and more than a dozen countries, and collectively speaking over thirty languages.
Our members have served in all branches in a diverse array of roles, including infantry, medics, tankers, pilots, artillery, intelligence analysts, linguists, special operations, combat camera operators, cybersecurity specialists, search and rescue, environmental engineers, logistics experts, nuclear surface officers, doctors, and much more.
Our members have deployed to countries around the world such as UK, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Norway, The Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Djibouti, Egypt, Puerto Rico, Panama, Colombia, South Korea, Japan, Guam, Australia, and even Antarctica.
VME members share two common threads: firstly, their proud commitment to serve the United States of America, and secondly, their desire for their second careers to be in the entertainment industry. (Some say we are one of most dynamic, talented, and good-looking group in the industry.)
This rich tapestry of life experiences allows the entertainment industry to find veteran talent with a breadth of life experiences few groups in the arts can replicate.
We believe in mentorship and embrace a multi-generational membership.
We highly value mentorship, and our commitment to maintaining a multi-generational membership is important to our mission. We believe that having role models is of paramount importance to career growth, especially for veterans just entering the industry. Transitioning from military service to a civilian career can be challenging, and role models who have successfully made this transition can provide invaluable guidance, inspiration, and a roadmap for newcomers. They offer insights into the civilian workplace, share their experiences, and help navigate the unique challenges veterans may face. These role models and mentors serve as living proof that a successful transition is possible, instilling confidence and a sense of belonging in those embarking on this new journey. Moreover, they provide mentorship and support, helping veterans build professional networks and access opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to find. In essence, our senior members empower our younger veterans to thrive in their post-military careers, fostering a sense of community and encouragement along the way while honoring our shared commitment to service in a welcoming and inclusive environment through our many programs.
Our Programs
Job Placement, Internship & PA Programs @ Studios, Networks, Agencies, & Production Companies
VME receives requests every month for placement in jobs, internships,crew calls, mentorships, and community outreach. In the last five years, VME has help place over over several hundred veterans into jobs and internships. If you have a job, internship, fellowship, or mentorship opportunity, please contact us at: info@vmeonnect.org.
Over the last seven years, VME has successfully placed qualified student veterans into meaningful internships and production assistant positions as they pursue degrees in writing, production, business, finance, law, marketing, accounting, and more. We have also placed veterans who have already graduated from college into existtng PA programs in the industry such as: Lionsgate, UTA, HBO, DreamWorks, SONY, CBS, Paramount Pictures, A&E Networks, House of Blues, Live Nation, Ticketmaster, Rock Nation, Insomniac, NBC Universal, 21st Century Fox, National Geographic, 44 Blue, Valhalla Entertainment, Endemol Shine North America, The Ebersol Lanigan Company, Viacom, Facebook and LA Rams..
Casting Opportunities
If you have an(breakdowns that you’d like to offer all or some of our members then you can submit the opportunity to VME and it disseminated sent to VME members accordingly.
Click here to submit an opportunity that you’d like to have veterans apply to: SUBMIT NOTICE
Professional Development: Roundtables, Classes, & Workshops
VME holds educational events featuring experienced industry members. This is an opportunity for veterans to meet and discuss their craft in small to larger groups and at various experience levels.
Jon Turteltaub, director of National Treasure, Phenomenon, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Gavin O’Connor, writer/director of Warrior, Miracle, The Americans
Jim Arnoff, entertainment attorney/former WME packaging agent, adjutant prof at NYU, FIT
Guest Speaker Series (online and in-person)
VME hosts guest speaker events, roundtables, classes, workshops, and panels in Los Angeles and New York with Hollywood executives, directors, producers, and other creatives such as:
• Gale-Anne Hurd (Producer: Walking Dead, Terminator, Alien)
• Stan Lee (Creator): Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers (Stan Lee was also member)
• Bruce Cohen (Producer: American Beauty, Silver Lining Playbook)
• Dara Weintraub (Producer: Superbad, Love, Mad Men)
• Eric Heisserer (Screenwriter, Arrival, Lights Out)
• Jon Huertas (Actor, This is Us, Castle, Generation Kill
• Gary Sinise (Actor, Producer: Apollo 13, Forrest Gump)
• Joe Mantegna (Actor, Producer: Criminal Minds, The Rat Pack)
Premiere & Advanced Screenings
VME has aligned with all the major studios and annually receives special tickets free to VME members. This includs ver 75 screenings and red carpet events primarily in Los Angeles, and some in New York City and Washington, DC. VME members benefit from this as they are able to keep current with the industry’s latest and learn from the best at the Q&A sessions (those that have Q&A). VME wishes to thank Allied Marketing as a key partner in this program.
Screenplay Pitchfest with Grindstone/Lionsgate
Since 2015, VME has partnered with Grindstone Entertainment Group of Lionsgate to create an event where 10 to 12 selected veterans pitch their screenplays before studio executives for immediate feedback and a possible option or collaboration opportunity. Over 50 VME members have been through this program with several having their projects optioned and one produced.
Studio Diversity Programs
Underrepresented populations comprise 41% of the US Military, however, and women are only 16.5%. VME is committed to supporting and raising the profiles of all veteran groups by connecting them to existing industry diversity programs in studios, networks, agencies, guilds, etc.
Key Alliances/Collaborations
VME has many industry partners and non-profits.. These partners provide VME members professional development and educational workshops and events as well as scholarships to classes and conferences.
NALIP (National Alliance of Latino Independent Producers),
VO Cares
HBO Community Impact,
Film Independent
California Film Commission
Southwestern Law School Entertainment & The Arts Legal Clinic
MIX Sound for Film & Television
The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles generously provides an array of ticketed even from previews to opening nights where VME members join the sponsors for a pre-event dinner, as well as post event mixer with cast and crew. VME members also participated in their celebrated Veterans Monologues Workshop which is a 8-week program culminating in an evening where up to a dozen veterans perform before a full house!
Lunch & Learn
VME recently launched this program to share our diverse stories of military service with our civilian friends during their lunch hour. VME curates members who are experienced public speakers with compelling stories of service from basic training to combat missions, and everything in between. Speakers include SEALS, Green Berets, Medics, Pilots, Women Serving on the Frontlines, etc., and those served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam to the more recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other conflict zones.
Fellowship
Most importantly, VME provides a community for veterans who are working in the media and entertainment industries to come together and share resources and support one another through their careers.
The Moth
“The Moth” is an hour long weekly show on NPR that is compilation of a number of these smaller five-minute stories. It is so popular that The Moth spun-off as an NGO to teach storytelling and now poetry/spoken word slams.
Veterans in Media & Entertainment partners with The Moth to create a tailored workshop for our members where veterans can learn to tell their stories for an entertainment audience.
Annual Veterans in Entertainment Summit (“VIES”)
VME collaborates with key studio executives to host the Annual Veterans in Entertainment Summit — an annual online summit that brings over 30 speakers across the industry to share their insider tips on how to help veterans break in. Produced in collaboration with Paramount Veterans Network and with executives at CBS, Paramount Pictures, STARZ, Amazon Studio, Activision Blizzard/Call of Duty Endowment, NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, AMC Networks, Deloitte, SONY, Lionsgate, and Bad Robot.
Each Summit takes six months of planning and dozen veteran volunteers to create and produce this event. Special thanks to Paramount Veterans Network for their leadership in making this possible over the last few years.
VME Connect
VME Connect is a closed online platform connecting verified veterans to jobs, internships, mentors, events, and classes, as well as to other veterans worldwide.
VME Connect is a closed, secure online platform that connects verified veterans to job boards, groups, resources, mentorship opportunities, and classes, all focused on helping veterans reach that next career goal. With 85% of all job landed through networking, and with over 75% of of executives say mentoring played a key role in their career development, VME Connect is critical to a veterans success in the civilian sector after active duty as it lets you meet a curated veteran group.
By using VME Connect you can search for veterans who work, or are aspiring to work, in all areas of film & television and contact them directly through their personal VME profile. Before any member is allowed to create a profile their service in the U.S. military has been verified so you know you are searching actual veterans. Veterans who are producers, writers, camera operators, technical consultants, gaffers, grips, students, and also lawyers, development execs, etc. are all in the VME directory. Click here to begin: Veterans Directory
PLEASE HELP: WE WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT
We need your help! Please consider donating to support our job, internship, and educational programs. We are currently supported by grants and individual donations from Paramount Veterans Network, CBS, Paramount Pictures, STARZ, Amazon Studio, Activision Blizzard/Call of Duty Endowment, NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, AMC Networks, Deloitte, SONY, Lionsgate, and Bad Robot. We also receive an important grant from Facebook/Meta for our Producation Assistant development and placement program. And we are grateful to DELTA Airlines for their donation and support of VME through their in-flight program.
For more info on how to help, please conctact us at:: info@vmeconnect.org or visit www.vmeconnect.org
NOTE: If you are seeking official support from the U.S. military please utilize the contacts on the "resources" page. Click here for official U.S. Military support: RESOURCES
