Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that can lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships.

If you haven’t made your introduction yet, you still have time. Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge before the weekend wraps. Be bold. Introduce yourself. Your next great opportunity could be just one connection away. Now, let’s grab that coffee and dive in…

This week’s featured video comes from Just an Observation: Why Robin Williams Was The King of Improv.

What struck me most watching this video wasn’t just how funny Robin Williams was. We all know that part. It was how fearless and collaborative he was as a performer. Robin didn’t just deliver lines. He expanded scenes. He brought energy, warmth, and spontaneity into stories in a way that made them feel alive. Directors and writers would build the framework, and Robin would step inside it and find moments nobody else could have predicted.

In Good Morning, Vietnam, director Barry Levinson trusted Robin enough to let him improvise long stretches of the radio broadcasts. What could have been simple exposition became electric, unpredictable, and unforgettable because Robin’s creativity made audiences genuinely feel the character’s charisma.

In Aladdin, Robin reportedly improvised so much material that animators created entirely new visual gags around his ideas. Tiny throwaway jokes became fully realized moments because his imagination kept opening new doors for the filmmakers around him.

And then there’s Good Will Hunting, where you see the emotional side of Robin’s genius. The now iconic story about his wife farting in her sleep was improvised, but what makes the scene work isn’t just the laugh. It’s the authenticity. You can feel Matt Damon genuinely breaking in the moment, which suddenly makes the relationship between those characters feel incredibly real.

That’s what great improvisation does. It doesn’t distract from the story. It deepens it. I think there’s an important lesson in that for all creatives. Structure matters. Preparation matters. Craft matters. But creativity also needs room to breathe. Some of the best moments in storytelling happen when talented people are trusted enough to fully bring themselves into the process.

Robin Williams was a once-in-a-generation talent, but the reason his performances still resonate isn’t just because he was funny. It’s because he made audiences feel something deeply human underneath all the chaos, energy, and comedy.

Now, speaking of creativity and ownership, I also want to touch on a question I get asked all the time: “If I sell my script, can I keep the rights to my characters?” The honest answer is: probably not.

And I know that’s not the most exciting answer, but it’s important to understand how the business side of the industry actually works.

A lot of writers point to George Lucas and Star Wars as the dream scenario. Lucas famously retained certain merchandising and character rights that eventually changed Hollywood forever. But what’s important to remember is that the industry didn’t fully understand the long-term value of intellectual property back then the way it does now. Today, studios absolutely understand the value of characters, franchises, merchandising, spin-offs, and expanded universes.

That means if you’re a newer writer selling a project into the system, it’s going to be extremely difficult to retain ownership of your characters outright. That doesn’t mean negotiation is impossible. Depending on your leverage and the specific deal, there may be opportunities to negotiate things like profit participation, backend points, sequel involvement, consulting roles, or other creative protections. But those conversations require experienced representation and a very strong entertainment attorney who understands how these deals are structured.

And honestly, that’s why understanding the business side of this industry matters so much. Creativity opens the door, but knowledge helps protect your future once the opportunity arrives. At the end of the day, this business is always a balance between art and commerce. The strongest creatives learn how to navigate both.

What’s a Robin Williams performance or moment that has stayed with you over the years, and why do you think it connected with you so deeply?

As always, here at Stage 32, we love sharing stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. You can keep up with all of our videos by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube Channel. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

Just an Observation | Why Robin Williams Was the King of Improv

RBWalksIntoABar | If I Sell My Script, Can I Keep the Rights to My Characters?

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .