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What began as an ambitious partnership aimed at transforming Amarillo into a regional hub for film and media education has now unraveled into a public dispute marked by legal threats, finger-pointing, and a $8 million question hanging in the air.
At the center of the conflict is a lease agreement between Amarillo College and Sharpened Iron Studios, a production company brought in to renovate aging campus buildings and help establish a film school in collaboration with the college. The goal? To spark economic growth, train local talent, and give students real-world access to the film industry right in their backyard.
But that dream has stalled—and both sides have different explanations as to why.
Amarillo College’s Position: Deadlines Missed, Promises Broken
Jay Barrett, representing Amarillo College, says the lease agreement—specifically an amendment made in 2023—was clear. The studio, he said, was expected to invest $8 million in renovations by May 31, 2025. And according to the college, that simply hasn’t happened.
"Back in 23, I think that was our second amendment to the original lease agreement and it's clearly stated in there that they would have produced what we have wanted, that they would have spent 8 million dollars by May 31st 2025 and they simply have not done that."
Barrett noted that external challenges—like the COVID-19 pandemic and labor strikes in Hollywood—had already been factored into the revised timeline. To him, there's no room for ambiguity: the studio had time and opportunity to deliver but failed to meet expectations.
And while the decision to terminate the lease may appear sudden, Barrett says it was anything but. “There is no scapegoat here,” he insisted. “There is simply the end of a tenant lease agreement and that relationship.”
Barrett also addressed concerns about student impact, explaining that continuing the partnership would create a false promise for students.
"We don't want to provide a fantasy for students that's just not here, and the vision was very broad and very detailed, and what we were to expect from Sharpened Iron and that just simply reality hasn't kept up with the vision they painted," Barrett said.
The college has now moved to evict Sharpened Iron from the premises.
Sharpened Iron’s Response: Delays, Disagreements, and Unfinished Business
Sharpened Iron Studios, led by CEO Sean Doherty, strongly disagrees with the college’s interpretation of the agreement—and says the blame is being unfairly shifted.
Doherty contends that there was no strict timeline to complete the $8 million in improvements. He pointed to Section 4.01 sub 7 of the lease, which he says stipulates a 24-month deadline only after demolition is complete, permits are issued by the City of Amarillo, and renovation plans are fully approved by the college. According to Doherty, those conditions weren’t met, so the clock hasn’t even officially started.
He claims the studio has already invested $3.5 million into the project and was actively working toward completing the rest—until the college abruptly terminated the lease.
But that’s not the only issue he raised. Doherty accuses Amarillo College of failing to meet its own obligations under the agreement, including the establishment of a film school and addressing known asbestos issues in the buildings.
"I think they knew they had problems," Doherty said. "The asbestos issue is a big issue, the film school agreement is a big issue, and the lease violations are a big issue. I think they felt how to get out of that was to go on the attack, violate the lease again by terminating it, and going to the press."
A Legal Battle on the Horizon?
While Amarillo College has signaled a desire to avoid litigation, Sharpened Iron Studios appears to be gearing up for it. Doherty has vowed to fight the termination in court and claims to have legal counsel ready to go public.
"We're gonna fight," Doherty said. "We have legal counsel, and who it is will be announced shortly. When it's all said and done, the truth will come out, and the people of Amarillo will know we have been working at this honestly, transparently, and a heart fully into it."
Whether the case will go before a judge or be resolved behind closed doors remains to be seen, but both parties appear deeply entrenched.
What This Means for Amarillo
The dispute leaves students, faculty, and the local community in limbo. What once was a symbol of innovation and creative partnership has now become a cautionary tale about the importance of clear contracts, realistic timelines, and mutual accountability.
For Amarillo College, the stakes involve public trust and educational integrity. For Sharpened Iron Studios, it’s a fight to preserve their reputation and investment.
And for the people of Amarillo, this is more than just a lease dispute—it’s a test of whether big ideas can survive in the real world, or whether they collapse under the weight of miscommunication, bureaucratic delays, and shifting priorities.
No matter which side you believe, one thing is certain: when the curtain finally falls on this act, it will leave a lasting impression on how public-private partnerships are formed—and how easily they can fall apart.
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