For Vanessa McNeal, ISU alumna, producing films is a life-changing experience, her passion and what she lives for.

The 15-minute-film “We are Survivors” aired to students, faculty and staff at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

McNeal worked with filmmakers Michael Phipps and Quinton Wayne to produce the film, which featured eight survivors and their stories.

Before the film, since the topic can be triggering to many survivors, the audience was made aware of resources and advocates available in the room.

Introducing McNeal, Amy Popillion, human sexuality professor, spoke out about her own experience with sexual violence and emphasized the importance of education on sexual assault awareness.

McNeal then thanked everyone for coming to the showing, saying, “Your presence means more [to me] than you’ll ever know.”

McNeal said she questioned “why me?” many times before her first documentary, “I Am,” which chronicled her story of sexual abuse.

However, after the release of the film, survivors began telling their own stories to her, which generated her idea for her second film, “We are Survivors.”

“We are learning that even though we are in pain sometimes, that those experiences don’t determine who we are,” McNeal said.

She said the film is for all survivors who have not found their voice or who have not been heard.

The film began with the eight survivors talking about how they felt, mainly stating they were nervous, but OK.

They then spoke about who they are, who their perpetrators were, where they were when it happened, what a survivor is to them, along with what they would say to their perpetrator.

One of the survivors described themselves as “broken,” another “strong” and another said she was gaining back her confidence.

When asked what a survivor is, one survivor said, “Being able to find strength in something that has torn you apart.” Another person said, “Someone who can go a traumatic experience in life and come out more stronger and powerful than they were before.”

“I’m still here. I’m still fighting,” one survivor said on what they would tell their  perpetrators.

“I forgive you, but not for you, but because I need to to be OK and I pray that you don’t do this to anyone else. I pray that you have happiness but you realize what you’ve done to me,” another survivor said.

After the film, the audience gave a standing ovation to the eight survivors and McNeal. A panel discussion with three of the survivors and McNeal took place and answered questions from the audience.

Questions included, Did you seek therapy?, What can I do as a man to help you? and What are your triggers and how do you handle them?

The event concluded with how to be proactive in the community by asking the audience to continue to educate themselves, talk to friends and family about what they learned, attend awareness events on campus, volunteer at local sexual violence agencies and to post a message of encouragement and empowerment.

The film was co-sponsored by ACCESS, College of Human Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Community Committee, Human Development and Family Studies, the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, SART – Sexual Assault Response Team, YWCA Ames-ISU and the Committee on Lectures.