A coaching group for actor-creators to continue building momentum for independent projects.

It takes a village. Your short, feature, play, or webisode is your baby. As a creator, you need a family—the “village”—that you can go to when you need to be reminded of where your North Star—your purpose—lies. The Creators Circle is that village. Creators Circle is now available as an add-on to Acting Collective membership.

Class size: Drop-in access
Prerequisites: Open to all members of Acting Collective + Creators Circle
Location: Online
$447/quarterly

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Who is this class good for?

The Creators Circle is a coaching group for independent filmmakers with a special focus on actor-creators. It is now available as part of the Acting Collective.

 

WHAT IS A MASTERMIND GROUP, EXACTLY?

 

The Creators Circle is a mastermind group. Have you heard this term before? It’s pretty awesome.

“The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony … No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind [the master mind].”

 Napoleon Hill

The concept of mastermind groups has actually been around for ages—Benjamin Franklin was a part of one called Junto. Even the masters need to be surrounded by masters to get sh*t done!

What you get

There are two types of Creators Circle meetups you can attend on a drop-in basis:

  • Creators Circle Mastermind Group with Johnny Sanchez
  • Pages Hour in Creators Circle with Resident Writing Coach

 

✔  Creators Circle Mastermind Group

Get mentorship through the phases of producing, including development of story, forming a creative team, and logistical steps to move your project into and through production. Huddle up for small group coaching and accountability sessions so that you can keep yourself on track and make informed, cost-efficient decisions with more confidence.

Coach: Actor-writer-producer Johnny Sánchez is a seasoned champion for artists to blossom and share their voices. He has guided over 100 alumni in creating their own work via coaching, creators workshops, and private Creators Circles.

Schedule: Twice-monthly, alternating between Tuesdays 7:00-8:00pm ET and Fridays 11:00am-12:00pm ET.

Sessions will be safe, confidential spaces to share openly (not recorded).

 

✔  Pages Hour with Resident Writing Coach

Bring in pages from your script for immediate feedback from a professional screenwriter! Resident writing coaches will lead the group in reading/listening to new work in a moderated setting and using writing exercises to stay activated and intentional. Discuss structure, screenwriting mechanisms, how to find your authentic voice, processes for crafting material, and more. Emerge from this mentorship with a sturdier, more polished script that’s production-ready and budget-friendly.

Coach: PAGES Matam (Nov-Jan). Resident Writing Coaches will rotate and bring a diverse range of perspectives!

Schedule: Twice-monthly, alternating weeks with Mastermind Group. Currently Tues 8:00-9:00pm ET.

About Johnny

Johnny Sánchez

Johnny Sánchez is an actor/writer/producer.  His acting career spans 36 films and 14 TV episodes.  Acting highlights include OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE (Bette Midler), THE HARD WAY (Michael J. Fox), ER (George Clooney), THE LIMEY (Steven Soderbergh), BOWFINGER (Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy), TRANSFORMERS (Michael Bay), SIDE EFFECTS (Soderbergh), SAINT X (Dee Rees), THE EQUALIZER (Queen Latifah), Showtime’s RAY DONOVAN, HBO’s AND JUST LIKE THAT… (Michael Patrick King) and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (director Daniel Palladino).  Directors have included Frank Oz, John Badham, Sidney Lumet, Steven Soderbergh, Dee Rees and Michael Bay.

As a producer, he co-produced FIND ME GUILTY, directed by Sydney Lumet, starring Vin Diesel and Peter Dinklage. He also co-produced EVEN MONEY, starring Academy Award winners Kim Basinger and Forest Whitaker. Johnny also produced SPICMUSCLE, and A THROUGH M — all directed by Heidi Miami Marshall.  Johnny also produced the short NOISE.

As a writer, Johnny wrote A Through M – winner of Best Short Script at Intl. Horror & Sci-Fi Film Fest.  Johnny also wrote the short SPIC.  During SPIC’s development process, the script won Semifinalist at ScreenCraft Film Fund Script Competition 2017, Second Rounder at Austin Film Festival Script Competition 2018, Finalist at Blue Cat Screenplay Competition 2019, Third Place at Vail Film Festival Screenplay Contest 2020, First Place at Diverse Voices, We Screenplay Competition 2020, and Quarter-Finalist at PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Competition 2021.

SPIC was completed in 2022 and is currently making its rounds in film festivals. So far SPIC garnered the LOLA AWARD NOMINATION at Philadelphia Latino Film Festival and BEST FILMMAKER WINNER at Bare Bones International Film Festival 2023, with Entertainment Oxygen.

Johnny’s feature screenplay (AMERICAN BUBBLE) received many evaluations of the highly coveted “8” on the prestigious Black List.  The script was also semi-finalist at Austin Film Festival and Vail Film Festival.

www.JohnnySanchez.com

Conversations with Johnny

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME

 

For people to see our projects and our work, first we have to build it. And because building takes time, it takes persistent motion to build something. And when there’s a challenge, your persistence can overcome resistance. Results come from persistent motions.

However, when we feel alone and like no one is helping us—and especially when all we hear is rejection—it’s hard to feel inspired and to stay in motion.

The Creators Circle is a coaching group for independent filmmakers, with a special focus on actor-creators. It’s a community where any and all questions are raised and worked through in collaboration with other filmmakers like you.

 

PERSISTENCE IS CRUCIAL

 

In this group, we will discuss challenges, look for solutions, and brainstorm potential next steps. The Creators Circle is moderated and led by me, an actor-creator just like you who’s been in the creative trenches for the past two decades. I’ve been through the ups and downs, have felt both inspired and frustrated, and have learned that persistence is the most crucial element to being a creator.

 

THE POWER OF INTERDEPENDENCE

 

My coaching provides individual attention to cater to your specific needs for whichever phase your dream project is in: development, producing, post-production, festivals, etc.

I’ve also been in the thick of it with my projects over the years, and I can confidently guide you towards empowering yourself with confidence and knowledge. You’ll also become crucial contributors to one another’s process. Independent filmmakers need each other—in truth, we are interdependent. The Creators Circle embraces the interdependent filmmaker within us.

We’re not playin’ around—we want to get results!

Watch Interview

Reviews

Victor Albaum

Website

For someone who has never written their own series before, the Creator’s Circle was super helpful.  I’ve LOVED that you gave us deadlines, and that you always pushed against taking on more than you can chew. I felt like I learned something from every single person in our circle.  I often found that the challenges that they were facing were similar to the ones I was facing. You give ample time to each creator to hash out their project and figure out what will work best to get to the next level with our projects.

Christina Catechis 

Website

Without a doubt, I gained the confidence to call myself a creator. The Creators Circle began to be something I looked forward, to share my progress, my failures, and be in solidarity with my fellow creators as we stumbled and grew. Most importantly, I have a project in motion as opposed to a concept dormant in my mind.

Kayhan Irani

Website

It was such a good decision for me, and a great investment in my creative work to be part of the circle.  While everyone uses words like “amazing” and “OMFG” these days, I have to say being part of this process has been a subtle but profound shift in me truly owning my creative vision and in affirming that I can build my own dreams. Thank you, Johnny.
Cody Schreger

Website

Opening up and sharing my story, and really my self and experience, would have stayed stuck in the land of unrealized ideas without the Creators Circle. I was so afraid and paralyzed by perfection. But your encouragement, and the support of the group, were paramount in allowing me to start exploring… the things you were able to see in what I was doing/dreaming about allowed me the confidence to keep going!!

Esco Jouléy

Website

Creators Circle has given me more confidence in my own work, community, foundation(and whenever I feel lost I can always go back to it). It was a great place to have my ideas get out of my own head. It also helped me to stay on schedule and not let it get lost.

Drew Valins

Website

Johnny, you’ve been really helping me keep the ball in the air, pushing myself forward. You got my back, man.  I so appreciate the time you take to think about [my project] and join me in the world of the film.

Bobbie Esposito

Website

Thank you so much for your help and support. It really means the world to me and helps me keep going when I’m feeling discouraged.

Studio guarantee

Full disclosure — please note that we do not guarantee that actors in these classes or workshops will be hired for any project that we might direct, produce, or cast. We teach and coach because we enjoy supporting and nurturing actors as you develop your personal process for auditioning, working and creating your own work.