Welcome to Season 6 of Creators Grab Coffee! To kick off 2026, we’re joined by one of our OG guests—Chris Stasiuk from Signature Video Group. Chris is celebrating 16 years in business, and in this episode, we go deep into what it actually takes to survive and thrive for nearly two decades in the creative industry.

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Six Years of Podcasting

02:58 Reflecting on Business Growth and Goals

06:07 Maintaining Momentum in Business

09:02 The Importance of Marketing and Content Creation

11:59 Navigating Business Challenges and Scaling

15:10 The Role of Freelancers and Partnerships

17:53 The Impact of Goal Setting and Manifestation

33:32 Trusting the Process

36:56 Navigating Client Loss and Diversification

39:27 Maintaining Client Relationships

42:36 Maximizing Content Value

43:39 The Impact of Generative AI on Content Creation

49:35 AI as a Tool for Creatives

52:11 The Future of AI in Creative Industries

🎙️ About Our Guest

Chris Stasiuk

Founder & Creative Director — Signature Video Group

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices

In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, Jon Corbin — Founder of Corbin Visual — returns for his third appearance on the show, making him the official CGC Champ.  Jon dives into the new era of creative entrepreneurship: How vertical dramas are transforming storytelling online, why client value beats trend-chasing, and what it takes to stay profitable during hard economic times in the video industry.

Timestamps

00:00 — Intro

02:18 — Jon returns: The Hat-Trick Episode 

07:25 — From trend-chasing to client-value

11:33 — Understanding real business challenges

18:32 — Outbound vs. inbound sales realities

27:47 — The new bar for “good enough” in marketing

33:59 — Adapting in tough economic times

41:07 — The isolation of being a creative business owner

52:16 — Enter: Vertical dramas

55:10 — Hiring the right team + not doing it all yourself

1:04:27 — Staying ahead of industry shifts

1:25:17 — What’s next for Jon & the future of CV 

1:26:40 — Sign-off

🎙️ About Our Guest

Jon Corbin

Founder & Creative Director — Corbin Visual

Toronto-based creative agency specializing in video strategy, branded content & next-gen storytelling formats.

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices

In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, Dario Nouri and Kyrill Lazarov speak with Amr Khani, founder and creative director of AK Films, a Dubai-based production company operating at the intersection of high-end corporate and creative work.

Amr shares how he built a successful production house in one of the world’s most competitive creative markets, what it’s like running shoots in the UAE, and how Dubai’s film landscape has shifted from cinema to corporate over the past decade. He also dives into the realities of pricing, international collaboration, and why strong systems matter as much as creative talent.

Topics Covered:

00:00 – Intro & background of AK Films

05:00 – How Dubai’s film scene evolved over the last decade

10:00 – The decline of film festivals & rise of corporate media

15:00 – Industry diversity in the UAE

17:00 – The reality of competition and pricing in Dubai

25:00 – Why most clients are international

31:00 – How AK Films structures its in-house and freelance teams

36:00 – Scaling to a 7-person production company

41:00 – Finding the right time to hire permanent staff

47:00 – Client education and self-sabotage in production

49:00 – Inbound vs outbound lead generation

52:00 – Long-term goals and returning to filmmaking

Key Takeaways:

• Dubai’s production market is booming — but competition is relentless.
• The corporate sector has overtaken cinema as the main driver of production work.
• Strong business systems and communication protect creative integrity.
• Local partnerships are essential for foreign productions due to legal structure.
• Balancing creative ambition with sustainable operations is the key to long-term success.

🎥 Guest:

Amr Khani – Founder & Creative Director, AK Films

📍 Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

#CreativesGrabCoffee #videographyhacks #videography #videographer #videoproduction #businesspodcast #videoproductionpodcast #lapseproductions #videomarketing #videoproductioncompany #videoproductionservices