United States Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Careers Website

The Faces of VA
Today's VA
VA PSA
Top edge of three photographs showing scenes from The Faces of VA

A behind the scenes look at: The making of 'Today's VA'
To fulfill its mission, it is essential for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to recruit and retain skilled, dedicated, high-performing employees, as well as to develop a talented succession pipeline. VHA must continue to build a diverse, results-driven, multi-generational workforce, especially as the current workforce at VHA consists of an increasing percentage of employees who are eligible for retirement. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in conjunction with VHA, introduced its first national television recruitment advertising campaign. Launched on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, the commercial series, entitled "Today's VA", encourages medical professionals to consider a career with the VA. A secondary, but equally important goal was to dispel the myth of "your father's VA" by promoting the superior quality of care, advanced technology, its system of interconnected facilities and overall benefits of working for the VA. Email
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  • VA, production and agency leadership wrap up a week of intense filming.
  • Technical staff prepare for green screen filming.
  • The pharmacist/actor acts on an imagined stage, to be placed into the commercial in an edit booth over a thousand miles away.
  • Exacting specifications govern setup to ensure a seamless transition between perception and reality..
  • The magic of a green screen begins to come to life.
  • Technical staff set up for the first shot of the Doctor positioned in front of a nurse's station.
  • VA employee extras prepare for their on-screen debut.
  • VA leadership is interviewed for a behind-the-scenes documentary to air on the Pentagon Channel.
  • A dolly-mounted camera is positioned to capture the Director's vision.
  • The Creative Director and Director debate camera angle and actor placement.
  • Technical staff set up rehabilitation shot.
  • The Director and technical advisors assess first take.
  • The Director directs VA employee talent.
  • Director, creative director, producer and VA project leads finalize OR shot layout.
  • Gaffers check lighting and camera position to ensure the VA is portrayed in the best light.
  • Producers, grips, directors, cameramen, gaffers and VA staff and volunteers gather for lunch on day one.