UNIT9's Anthony Rubinstein on How Conflict Inspires Creativity

We’ve all heard stories about diva directors throwing tantrums, rinsing budgets on ill-fated ideas or sending producers into a tailspin. Euphemistically it might be stated that they can be very… creative... to cover up behaviour worthy of the naughty step.

I’d very much like to think that’s not me. But I did recently discover that a healthy sprinkling of conflict and disagreement can spawn great ideas and catalyse creativity.

I’ve spent the last two years working on a short film that was borne out of an argument I had with my partner. Cry Like a Guy is a spoken word lecture exploring why we - that’s us guys - cry, and why we shouldn’t be ashamed of it, delivered by a tough guy from HBO’s House of the Dragon, Kieran Bew.

Turns out that, for our own good, we should probably all do more crying.

I’ll confess, I never used to see the value in tears. But, thanks to the healthy debate my partner and I had (and the incredibly well-researched essay Catherine wrote to prove me wrong), I am a truly changed man. I bloody love crying now.

Head to shots to read more from UNIT9's Anthony Rubinstein!