Actors Tank #6 | Teens
The Art of Guerrilla Filmmaking 101 is a two day intensive for teenagers that also kicks off the YELLOW VESTS micro anthology
Join Us: Only 10 spots for Actors Tank #6
Portland, OR – Tuesday & Wednesday, July 12–13 | Ages 13–19
Actors Tank #6 is a high-energy, two-day crash course in making a short film from scratch—fast, collaborative, and no permission needed. This hands-on workshop is open to both experienced and first-time actors, ages 13–19, who want to step into the world of guerrilla filmmaking. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your on-camera skills or simply want to create something real with others, this is your chance to get in the game and walk away with a finished film.
To reserve your spot for July 12th & 13th, a $50 deposit is requested. If you need to postpone—you’ll receive a voucher for a future workshop this year.
7 Core Skills Young Actors Learn in Actors Tank
1. Tapping Into Your Talent: Memorization & Delivery
Through improv exercises, you’ll uncover your natural type and tap into your hidden talent. We build characters together and explore the circumstances that shape them. Along the way, you’ll learn how to memorize lines and deliver them with emotional clarity and intention.
2. Blocking, Movement & Pacing
Learn how to move with purpose, hit your marks, and keep your performance grounded while adapting to the rhythm of a scene.
3. Subtext & Character Choices
Go beyond the script. Discover how to read between the lines and make strong, layered choices that bring real depth to your performance.
4. Working for the Camera
From close-ups to wide shots, you’ll learn to be more aware of how to instinctually work the lens—adjusting your performance, gestures, and eyelines to fit the frame.
5. Cinema as a Language
Get an crash course on how film works: the three-act structure, a character’s arc, and how scripts translate into shots, edits, and story.
6. Collaboration & Ensemble Building
Film is a team sport. You’ll build trust, chemistry, and communication with your scene partners, learning how to work together to tell a visually engaging story.
7. Feedback & Growth Through Critique
It’s not about the end result—it’s about the process. After we screen the shorts, we’ll hold a group discussion to share insights, feedback, and constructive criticism. The art of critique is where we grow—and where better films begin.
Led by filmmaker Sasha Santiago—a father of three, shaped by multiple cultures, and backed by 20+ years of award-winning work—Actors Tank is designed to push creative boundaries and help young actors grow by doing. Sasha currently runs a boutique video and events studio in Portland and brings a deeply collaborative approach to each project.
The Run Down
We start with improv to unlock character dynamics and tension, then shape a 3–5 page script built around the group. Over 2 days, we move from concept to rehearsal to full production—working fast, staying focused, and trusting our instincts. No past experience needed. Just curiosity, courage, and a sense of play.
ACTORS TANK PRESENTS YELLOW VESTS
Yellow Vests is a character-driven anthology about a rotating crew of teens serving community service—some because they have to, others because they want to. Wearing high-vis vests and work gloves, they’re tasked with cleaning up parks, alleys, and abandoned places around town. Watching over them is Burl, a quiet former park ranger with a complicated past, a calm stare, and a travel-sized chess board always ready to go.
Each story zeroes in on what happens between the trash bags and paint rollers: secrets surface, friendships form (or fall apart), and moments that seem small end up changing everything. One episode might center on a weird discovery buried beneath a pile of junk. Another might focus on two teens who can’t stand each other—until they realize they’re not so different. These aren’t just cleanup shifts. They’re snapshots of who these teens are becoming.
More than a series, Yellow Vests is a launchpad. The characters introduced here might go on to appear in other stories, new genres, even new films. It all starts in Actors Tank #6, where each role is more than a part—it’s the first page of a bigger story.
Actors Tank #6 – High-Level Weekend Schedule
Day 1 – Saturday, July 12
9:30–10:00 AM – Arrival + Meet & Greet
10:05 AM – Kickoff + Partner Exercises
11:00 AM – Crash Course: Guerrilla Filmmaking 101
11:15 AM – Improv: Discovering Character & Circumstances
1:00 PM – Building Character-Driven Scenes
3:00 PM – Wrap for the Day
Day 2 – Sunday, July 13
9:30–10:00 AM – Arrival + Q&A
10:05 AM – Rehearsal, Blocking, Line Work
11:30 AM – Shooting Begins: Three Installments
4:00 PM – Final Wrap
Enrollment Details
A short 15-minute virtual audition is encouraged for all applicants—just to make sure everyone’s a good fit and ready to dive in. A signed participation waiver from a parent or guardian is required.
Only 10 spots for this July 12th & 13th weekend session. To reserve your spot, a non-refundable $50 deposit is requested. If you need to postpone, no problem—you’ll receive a voucher for a future Actors Tank workshop later this year.
The full program fee is $250, due before July 12, and includes over 10 hours of guided instruction across two immersive days. About a week after the workshop, each participant will receive a professionally edited short film they helped create—something they’re free to post, share, and be proud of.
Questions? Ready to apply?
Email SuperDreamIndie@gmail.com to schedule a virtual meeting with Sasha Santiago and take the first step toward joining the Tank.
