Stockade Works
Stockade Works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2016 that provides film and television production workforce training for underserved Hudson Valley residents, including veterans, women, BIPOC individuals, and youth, connecting graduates to paid crew positions on regional productions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersKingston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Stockade Works does
Stockade Works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2016 by actress, producer, and director Mary Stuart Masterson, headquartered in Kingston, New York. The organization provides workforce development training for film and television production careers targeted at underserved Hudson Valley residents — specifically women, people of color, military veterans, and underemployed individuals — with a secondary youth pipeline for high school students. Its core training platform includes the multi-department Crew Boot Camp (camera, sound, grip, electric, art, costume, hair/makeup, script supervision, production), specialized workshops (Sound for Film & TV, Scenic & Set Dressing, Visual FX), the SWAY youth program, the Vets on Set program for military veterans, and ongoing mentorship. Trainees are placed into paid positions via a Professional Crew Database and Crew Referral Services that match graduates with productions shooting in the Hudson Valley.
The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding stack. Direct revenue from training fees ($499-$1,200 per workshop) is structurally minimal because 95%+ of trainees receive full or partial scholarships and no one is turned away for inability to pay. The organization is funded primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundation and government grants (New York State Council on the Arts awarded $49,500 in 2023; a 2017 NYS Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council grant of $242,500 supported a media/arts/technology center), corporate sponsorships from HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, MRC Entertainment, Key Bank Foundation, Novo Foundation, and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, and individual contributions. Pricing is published but subsidized; the scholarship fund is a core operating commitment. The customer base is bifurcated: beneficiaries (trainees from underserved populations) on the supply side, and production companies (HBO, MRC, Warner Bros. Discovery, IATSE-affiliated productions) on the demand side for trained crew. Distribution is community-led and event-driven through school partnerships (Ellenville High School), community organizations (HVNCVR, Reel Works, The Spark of Hudson), and direct on-site training collaborations with major productions such as HBO's The Gilded Age and MRC's Poker Face Season 2.
As of 2025, Stockade Works reports a cumulative 448 trained local crew since inception, 9,941 job referrals in 2025 alone across 74 production jobs and 52 productions, 37 Hudson Valley adults trained in 2025, and 127 high school students served via SWAY. Graduate demographics skew heavily toward the organization's mission: 41% BIPOC, 63% women or non-binary, and 74% unemployed or low-income at time of application. The organization operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees under Executive Director Susie Sofranko (appointed 2022), with Founder Mary Stuart Masterson serving as Board President. Operating geographies are the Hudson Valley and broader Upstate New York, with the organization well-positioned to capture tailwinds from New York State's 40% film production tax incentive.
Stockade Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stockade Works
- Legal name
- Stockade Works
- Website
- https://stockadeworks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stockade Works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2016 that provides film and television production workforce training for underserved Hudson Valley residents, including veterans, women, BIPOC individuals, and youth, connecting graduates to paid crew positions on regional productions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stockade Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Industry Workforce Development and Training Services
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Onboarding & New-Hire Training Programs (BPACANAF), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Industry Credential, Certification & Badge Prep (Non-Degree) (EDAMAKAH), Crew & Labor Services (Production Staff, Unions, Payroll) (MPADAFAA)
Keywords
Where Stockade Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Stockade Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Training Program Fees: Revenue from registration fees for various crew training bootcamps and workshops including Crew Boot Camp ($699-$850), Scenic & Set Dressing ($699), Sound Workshop ($499), and Vets on Set ($1,200). Most participants receive full or partial scholarships.
- Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, and government entities including New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and corporate sponsors.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Funding from companies to support scholarships, fellowships, and apprenticeship programs for low-income Hudson Valley residents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Crew Boot Camp - Full program training |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Scenic & Set Dressing Workshop |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Sound for Film & TV Workshop |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Vets on Set Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Stockade Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stockade Works provides hands-on workforce training programs for careers in film and television production in the Hudson Valley, including multi-department Crew Boot Camps, youth programs (SWAY), veteran-focused training (Vets on Set), specialized department workshops, and ongoing mentorship. The organization also runs a Professional Crew Database and Crew Referral Services that connect trained graduates with paid positions on local productions. Programs serve underserved populations including women, people of color, veterans, and underemployed residents, with over 95% of trainees receiving full or partial scholarships.
Product overview
Stockade Works is a women-founded 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a comprehensive workforce development ecosystem for film and television production careers in the Hudson Valley. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected programs including: the flagship Crew Boot Camp providing multi-department foundational training; SWAY (Stockade Works Access Youth) for high school and teen career exploration; Vets on Set for military veterans; and specialized department workshops (Sound, Scenic, Grip, Electric, Costume, Camera, Visual FX). These core training programs are supported by mentorship services, a Professional Crew Database for referrals, and Crew Referral Services connecting graduates with production jobs. The organization also offers Career Awareness programs for community outreach and On-the-Job Internships for hands-on experience. All programs emphasize access and inclusion for women, people of color, veterans, and those historically excluded from the film industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SWAY (Stockade Works Access Youth): A film crew training program for high schools and colleges that prepares youth and young adults to work in the film crew industry and gain access to professional opportunities in the Hudson Valley.
Products and services
- Crew Boot Camp A comprehensive multi-day intensive training program (3.5 days) preparing participants for entry-level positions in film and television production through hands-on instruction across multiple departments including camera, sound, grip, electric, art, costume, hair/makeup, script supervision, and production. Registration $699-$850; scholarships widely available.
- SWAY (Stockade Works Access Youth) An in-school and youth-focused film crew training program for high schools and colleges that prepares youth and young adults to work in the film crew industry through career awareness, hands-on training, real-world experiences, and job preparation.
- Vets on Set
Quantifiable outcome
- 448 total graduates trained since inception through 2025
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Stockade Works
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Stockade Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Stockade Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mary Stuart MastersoncoreFounded Stockade Works in 2016. Actress, producer, director and Hudson Valley resident who serves as Founder and Board President. Also founded Upriver Studios and Quality Pictures.
- HBOcoreTraining program partnerships including crew boot camp collaborations. HBO productions shooting in Hudson Valley including 'I Know This Much is True' have utilized Stockade Works graduates.
- Warner Bros. DiscoverycorePartnership for costume department training program for HBO's 'The Gilded Age' in collaboration with IATSE Local 829 and supported by Empire State Development's Entertainment Workforce Diversity Grant Program.
- MRC EntertainmentcorePartnership for MRC Behind the Camera Initiative - paid fellowship program for young adults to work on Poker Face Season 2. Recruited through Reel Works partnership.
- IATSE Local 829coreUnion partnership for Assistant Costume Designer Training program, providing pathway to union membership for program graduates.
- IATSE Local 52minorUnion representing studio mechanics and grip/electric departments. Instructors are often IATSE Local 52 members.
- Reel WorkscorePartnership for recruitment and career services, particularly for MRC Behind the Camera Initiative fellowship program.
- The Spark of HudsonminorCommunity space in Hudson, NY used as training venue for SWAY programs and Sound Workshop.
- Ellenville High SchoolcoreEducational partner for SWAY program - in-school film crew training serving high school students since 2023.
- Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration (HVNCVR)corePartner for Vets on Set program - specialized crew training designed for military veterans.
- Lake Placid Film FestivalminorStockade Works was guest of honor at 2024 festival for contributions to workforce and economic development in New York State.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Stockade Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Georgia Film Academy: State-funded film and television workforce development initiative providing crew training and credentialing in Georgia, which competes with NY for productions driven by tax incentives. The closest functional analogue to Stockade Works — combining short-form training, production referrals, and university partnerships.
- Reel Works: Brooklyn-based nonprofit providing filmmaking training and mentorship to youth and young adults. Already a formal recruitment partner of Stockade Works for the MRC Behind the Camera Initiative, making it the most operationally comparable peer.
- Ghetto Film School: New York-based nonprofit (with LA and London outposts) providing film education and career pathways for under-resourced youth. Targets a similar mission — film industry access for underserved populations — and competes for the same foundation funding pool.
- Educational Video Center: NYC-based nonprofit using media production to teach youth storytelling and workforce skills. Operates a similar model of combining media training with youth development outcomes and is a logical peer for foundation funders evaluating film/media training nonprofits.
- Tribeca Film Institute: Nonprofit arm of the Tribeca Festival providing film education, fellowships, and career development for emerging filmmakers. Comparable mission around inclusion in the film industry, with longer-running brand recognition and a deeper fellowship portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- IATSE Training Trust: Joint labor-management training organization providing skills development across IATSE's craft unions. Stockade Works partners with IATSE Local 829, making the Training Trust the closest institutional complement and a structural industry peer.
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce training to underserved adults, with corporate hiring partnerships. Comparable nonprofit workforce-development model targeting similar demographics, though in IT rather than film.
- Year Up: Large national workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from underserved communities with training and corporate placement. Operates a similar training-plus-jobs-placement model and competes for the same foundation and corporate funding streams.
Regional players
- Brooklyn Community Services: New York-based nonprofit providing workforce development, education, and youth services across Brooklyn. Comparable in mission around economic mobility for underserved populations, but operating in a different geography and broader service mix.
- Maine Film Center: Regional film education and exhibition organization providing training programs for emerging filmmakers in Maine. Comparable as a smaller-scale regional film education nonprofit, though less focused on crew training and production referrals than Stockade Works.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stockade Works social profiles
Digital presenceStockade Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stockade Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Stockade Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stockade Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stockade Works
What does Stockade Works do?
Stockade Works provides hands-on workforce training programs for careers in film and television production in the Hudson Valley, including multi-department Crew Boot Camps, youth programs (SWAY), veteran-focused training (Vets on Set), specialized department workshops, and ongoing mentorship. The organization also runs a Professional Crew Database and Crew Referral Services that connect trained graduates with paid positions on local productions. Programs serve underserved populations including women, people of color, veterans, and underemployed residents, with over 95% of trainees receiving full or partial scholarships.
Is Stockade Works a public or private company?
Stockade Works is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Stockade Works founded?
Stockade Works was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Stockade Works based?
Stockade Works is headquartered in Kingston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stockade Works make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Training Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Stockade Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Georgia Film Academy, Reel Works, Ghetto Film School, Educational Video Center and Tribeca Film Institute. Broad incumbents are IATSE Training Trust, Per Scholas and Year Up. Regional players are Brooklyn Community Services and Maine Film Center.
Does Stockade Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stockade Works.
What industry is Stockade Works in?
Stockade Works's product category is Film Industry Workforce Development and Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAG, Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit), with a secondary code of BPACANAF, Onboarding & New-Hire Training Programs. Its NAICS code is 61151 and its SIC code is 8200.