Community Connections
Creating Opportunity Through Collaboration
At The Academy at American High, community is at the center of everything we do. From local nonprofits and educational organizations to acting studios, workforce initiatives, and youth arts programs, our partnerships help expand access to hands-on learning, creative opportunity, and real pathways into the entertainment industry throughout Central New York.
As the Syracuse film community continues to grow, we remain proud to call Liverpool home and are committed to building a collaborative creative ecosystem that empowers the next generation of filmmakers, artists, performers, and storytellers. Together, we are proving that world-class creative work can thrive right here in Central New York.
Syracuse Actors Studio
The Syracuse Actors Studio (SAS) is a free actor collective founded by Joe Cunningham and Laura Stisser to create opportunities for actors through education, networking, collaboration, and performance. Since launching in 2024, SAS has rapidly grown into one of Central New York’s most active acting communities.
American High and SAS have partnered on actor workshops, studio tours, panel discussions, networking events, and casting opportunities across projects including Never Change and Minimum Wage. SAS events hosted at American High have welcomed hundreds of local actors into our facility while also helping raise funds for The Academy at American High.
The partnership has continued to expand through independent productions as well, including Joe Cunningham’s feature film The Sentinel, which filmed pivotal scenes at American High utilizing dozens of local actors and creatives.
“American High has been so incredibly generous with their facility and their time. They are such an extremely busy production company yet when we asked them to use their space they didn’t hesitate and have been so accommodating. They have also been such an incredible revenue generator for CNY due to the amount of movies they produce which has helped the economy immensely. I have been fortunate to be part of three American High productions and every time it has been nothing but a fantastic experience. SAS looks forward to keeping this wonderful relationship with American High!”
— Laura Stisser, SAS Co-founder & Vice President
Spatchcock Funk
Part cooking show, part creative collective, and part community-driven chaos, Spatchcock Funk has become one of Central New York’s most unique and energetic creative brands, blending food, storytelling, comedy, and community into unforgettable experiences.
The Academy at American High collaborated with Spatchcock Funk during the Pizza Movie premiere celebration, where they helped transform the afterparty into a full-on nostalgic film community event complete with a custom Pizza Movie cake, retro video games, music, pizza-fueled chaos, and plenty of fun. The event brought together filmmakers, cast, crew, artists, and local creatives to celebrate Central New York’s growing entertainment community in a way that felt uniquely Syracuse.
As both organizations continue building creative experiences rooted in collaboration and community, we’re excited to continue finding ways to work together in the future.
WCNY Entertainment Academy
The WCNY Entertainment Academy is helping train the next generation of film and television crew members in Central New York through free workforce development programming focused on technical entertainment trades.
Through hands-on training and partnerships with I.A.T.S.E. Local 52, students gain real-world experience in departments such as grip, electric, sound, set dressing, shopcraft, and production support while building pathways toward union careers in the growing Upstate New York film industry.
American High has proudly hosted WCNY Entertainment Academy workshops and hands-on training opportunities within our studio spaces while also employing graduates from the program across productions and departments.
Make-A-Wish CNY
Through a partnership between Make-A-Wish Central New York, American High, Syracuse Studios, and The Academy at American High, 9-year-old Marshall Sepello’s dream of becoming a superhero became a reality through the creation of Marshall Man.
What began as a wish evolved into a powerful educational and filmmaking experience, allowing Marshall to write, direct, and star in his own superhero film while collaborating with real industry professionals and local creatives. With donated spaces and a volunteer crew made up of American High friends and family, we brought the impossible to life in just a matter of days, making Marshall’s dream a reality.
The project has since earned national recognition, including an official selection at SXSW EDU, showcasing the impact of community collaboration and the transformative power of storytelling.
“Thank you seems very small for the largest wish reveal we have ever done.”
— Moe Harrington, Make-A-Wish CNY
CNY Arts
CNY Arts has been a major supporter of Central New York’s growing film and arts community, helping provide opportunities, funding resources, and visibility for local creatives and organizations.
Through programs such as PRIMED (Production Rebate Incentives for Movies and Entertainment Development), CNY Arts continues to support film production throughout the region while helping organizations like American High expand educational access and hands-on opportunities for students and interns.
Their continued investment in the arts helps strengthen the region’s creative economy while championing equity, access, and opportunity for artists throughout Central New York. We are incredibly grateful for CNY Arts’ support as it allows us to continually provide our students and interns with hands-on production experience right here in Syracuse, NY.
Visit Syracuse
Visit Syracuse and the Syracuse Film Office continue to play a vital role in promoting Central New York as a destination for film, television, and commercial production.
By supporting productions, community screenings, local premieres, tourism initiatives, and regional marketing efforts, they help showcase Syracuse’s unique locations, workforce, and growing creative infrastructure to audiences nationwide.
Through partnerships surrounding productions, premieres, and local events, Visit Syracuse continues helping elevate Central New York’s reputation as a thriving and film-friendly creative hub.
Encore Youth Productions
From 2023–2026, Syracuse Studios proudly hosted Encore Youth Productions within our auditorium spaces, supporting their mission of providing accessible performing arts education for children throughout Central New York.
Encore Youth Productions is a nonprofit children’s theatre organization dedicated to creating fun, affordable, and high-quality music, dance, and theatre instruction for students of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Through this partnership, our shared spaces became home to creativity, performance, collaboration, and artistic growth for hundreds of local students and families, advancing our overlapping missions.