Coffee & Content: Embracing What Scares Us to Grow as Creatives

Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

Let’s start with this brilliant video essay from FilmStack: When An Actor Was More Than Just Funny- Ben Stiller

In the 2000s, Ben Stiller was everywhere. That was the golden age of the studio comedy, when the Frat Pack; Stiller, Luke & Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, and more- ruled the box office. His name alone could open a movie. Zoolander, Dodgeball, Meet the Parents, Tropic Thunder, all of them iconic, endlessly quotable, and wildly successful. But then everything shifted.

Streaming disrupted the business. DVD sales collapsed. Mid-budget comedies disappeared. And one high-profile flop made Stiller question whether he even knew what was funny anymore. But here’s what makes Stiller stand out: he evolved. He stepped behind the camera. He leaned into television. He took creative risks. And he helped bring us Severance, one of the best series of the streaming era.

This video essay isn’t just a retrospective. It’s a case study in creative reinvention. It’s a reminder that lasting success in this industry requires flexibility, self-awareness, and the courage to shift lanes when the road changes. Ben Stiller understood the assignment. He didn’t abandon comedy; he outgrew the limitations of being just a comedy star.

During my recent Stage 32 Ask Me Anything, a member asked me a question that we’ve all heard more and more lately: “How is AI going to affect the film industry?”

I’ve spoken about this topic in great detail, especially during our expert panel at Cannes 2025, which you can watch in full here: The Great AI Debate: How AI Is Impacting Our Industry

But here’s the short version of what I believe, and what I’ve tested for myself:

• For screenwriters, AI is a research and brainstorming tool. Period. If you’re asking it to write scripts or dialogue, the results are terrible. I’ve tested it extensively, and the dialogue is flat, the structure is shaky, and it becomes a loop of regurgitated patterns. Do not rely on AI to do your writing for you.
• For brainstorming, it’s actually useful. Think of it like a hyperactive search engine. It can generate lists, spark ideas, and help you explore concepts you may not have thought of yet. It’s not a writer, it’s a tool.
• For coverage, forget it. AI lacks the human nuance to assess storytelling needs or marketplace awareness. It won’t effectively instruct you how to elevate your structure, fix your character arcs, or hit emotional beats in a meaningful way. What it does is mimic surface-level feedback with no real context. It will waste your time and likely make your material worse.
• For post-production, this is where things get real. AI is already helping reduce costs in areas like VFX, color correction, editing automation, and beyond. This is the space where it’s likely to evolve fastest, but it still needs oversight from talented humans.

The key takeaway? AI is not going to replace creators. It’s going to amplify creators who know how to use it smartly and ethically. There will be copyright regulations. Legal protections. Industry guardrails. And many of them are already in development by brilliant minds advocating for creatives like you right now.

The future isn’t about fighting the tech, it’s about learning where it helps and where it hurts. And that’s a conversation we’ll keep having here on Stage 32.

So let’s keep the conversation going- How do you feel about the use of AI in creative work? Are you using it to brainstorm, organize your projects, or research, or are you staying away entirely? Are you open to how it can help you as a creative and how you can evolve with the changing industry?

Let me know in the comments. I always read them, and I want to hear from you.

As always, we love sharing inspiration, tools, and insights that help fuel your creative fire. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. And don’t forget to tag us (@Stage32) if you do. You can keep up with everything we’re doing on the Stage 32 YouTube and by following me on Instagram and X: @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

FilmStack | When An Actor Was More Than Just Funny- Ben Stiller

RBWalksIntoABar | How is AI going to affect the film industry?

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