IC News

Dozens of students got an inside look at how classroom theory is put into real-world practice and had the opportunity to network and connect with professionals, many of whom are IC alumni, during the annual New York Film and Television Student Alliance (NYFTSA) Summit, hosted by the Roy H. Park School of Communications this past December.

NYFTSA, founded at Ithaca College in 2014 through a collaboration with the New York State Governor's Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, is a student-led organization with chapters at colleges and universities across the state. The group’s mission is to provide experiential learning and networking opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in film and television, allowing them to make valuable connections and gain insight into the field.

The NYFTSA Summit, the organization’s marquee event, welcomes members of all chapters to convene for a day of workshops and sessions.

Grant Johnson ’24, president of the Ithaca College NYFTSA chapter, called the 2023 summit a “homecoming,” noting that this was the first time that it had been held in person since 2015.

“As the founding chapter, I wanted to make sure that we did this correctly, so there's already that bit of added pressure. Not one of us [executive board members] had been to a NYFTSA Summit before, so I was just doing research and giving it my best shot,” Johnson said of the planning for the event. “It was a super cool experience, because I wasn't sure what this was supposed to look like, but I was so pleased with how the summit turned out.”

Park School dean Amy Falkner also addressed the crowd, speaking to the importance of a media education rooted in the liberal arts tradition, which is one of the hallmarks of the Ithaca College educational experience.

“Breaking Bad doesn’t exist without a love of organic chemistry. Game of Thrones doesn't happen without appreciation of medieval history,” she said. “Think about things you can study and classes you can take that can complement what you're doing, because you need to be able to tell stories, and to do so, you need to learn things beyond your discipline.”

Attendees then had nearly a dozen sessions to choose from, with interactive workshops and panel discussions ranging from “Producing and Freelancing in Reality TV” to “Becoming the Go-To Gaffer on Set.”

“I attended the NYFTSA Summit because of the impressive schedule,” said Caleb Cackowski ’26, a writing for film, TV, and emerging media student. “The panels and keynote speaker were really intriguing to me. I left a session on AI feeling like I knew more about the subject and less nervous about its place in my future.”

Ithaca College alumni and faculty were invited to take part in the day’s programming.

Hailing from Buffalo television station WKBW, Aaron Mason ’02, senior director of news; and Kristen Mirand ’20, multimedia journalist, led a session on “Bucking the TV News Trend in Buffalo” that gave aspiring multimedia journalists and broadcasters tips to succeed in a rapidly paced industry.

“It was incredible to be back at IC for this event. We have a responsibility as former ‘Parkies' to give back to students. It was a privilege for me to share my experiences as a news director,” said Mason. “Journalists are needed now more than ever. If I can inspire even one student to stay committed to being a voice for their community and find the stories that need to be told, I have had a successful day.”

Later in the day, Eden Strachan ’21, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Black Girls Don’t Get Love, hosted a discussion titled “Beyond the Classroom: How to Build Your Short Film Into a Viable Commercial Brand.” Growing from a book published in 2022, Black Girls Don’t Get Love has evolved into a multimedia coming-of-age brand, and Strachan shared her story.