As Seen on TV

By Grace Collins '22, January 19, 2024

Film and television summit offers insights and connections.

Students who attended the New York Film and Television Student Alliance (NYFTSA) Summit got the opportunity to connect with alumni in the industry such as Kristen Mirand ’20.

(Photo courtesy of the NYFTSA)

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.

“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.”

Amy Falkner, Dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications

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.”

In addition to networking opportunities, the day was filled with panels and presentations, including one by Eden Strachan '21. (Photo courtesy of the NYFTSA)

With over 100 attendees, including students from NYFTSA chapters at SUNY Fredonia, Buffalo State University, and Long Island University Brooklyn, the Park School auditorium was full and balloons and banners filled the halls as programming began on Saturday morning.

La Jerne Terry Cornish, president of Ithaca College, welcomed the audience to IC and shared her perspective on what it takes to succeed in media.

“The media landscape is constantly changing,” said Cornish. “The one tool you will have to rely on no matter where life, technology, or the internet takes you is your mind. If you are well rounded, if you have an understanding of what it means to think critically, if you have keen empathy, and a sense of fairness and justice, you will thrive no matter what.”

“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.”

Kristen Mirand '20

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.”

Students also got a chance to take the stage at the summit. (Photo courtesy of the NYFTSA)

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.

Students from several schools across the state came to IC for the event. (Photo courtesy of the NYFTSA)

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to still be connected to the Park School,” she said. “The Park School gave me so much in terms of resources and connections I needed to do the work that I always had in me but wasn’t prepared for yet. It means a lot to give that back to current students.”

For the students in attendance, they found the connections they made to be just as valuable as the advice that was shared.

“Having these kinds of opportunities is so important to me, and I think it's a great way for students to get involved in the real-world industry earlier on. Especially with this event, all you had to do was show up and you had the opportunity to hear from and meet tons of industry professionals. They covered so many areas of the film, media, and television world,” said Katherine Kummerer ’26, a member of the NYFTSA executive board.

“I hope that everybody that went to the summit was able to take advantage of the people that were there. That's what it is. It's us all coming together, learning from each other, and then connecting after,” said Johnson. “That will last longer than any event.”