Nikola Todorovic is the Co-Founder & CEO of Autodesk Flow Studio (Formerly Wonder Dynamics/Studio) which is one of the most groundbreaking AI companies transforming the future of filmmaking.

In this episode, Nikola opens up about building an AI startup from scratch, surviving the early chaos of generative AI, and why he believes the future belongs to creators. We go deep on AI, tech, creativity, entrepreneurship, mental resilience, and the future of storytelling; including how Nikola and Ty Sheridan built a product people thought was “impossible,” what really happened behind the scenes of their viral launch, and why democratizing filmmaking matters more today than ever.

If you're a filmmaker, 3D artist, startup founder, or AI-curious entrepreneur, this is one of the most important conversations of 2025.

Episode 75 Chapter:

00:00:00 – Introduction

00:03:50 – Early days of Wonder Dynamics & scaling challenges

00:05:45 – The power of “Permissionless Storytelling”

00:07:10 – Nikola’s childhood, war, and escaping through film

00:11:45 – The origins of Wonder Studio

00:13:25 – Pivoting from VR to AI filmmaking

00:15:10 – Funding, team size & early startup struggles

00:20:20 – The emotional rollercoaster of building something new

00:22:40 – Why creators forget their darkest moments

00:24:45 – Fear, discomfort & pushing through self-doubt

00:28:10 – Perspective: comparing yourself to your past, not others

00:30:10 – What truly brings happiness (scarcity & meaning)

00:32:30 – Why hiring curious people beats hiring experts

00:35:15 – The “say yes and figure it out” philosophy

00:37:00 – How uncertainty becomes a competitive advantage

00:38:45 – Nature vs nurture

00:41:20 – What top creatives really struggle with

00:49:35 – The problem with modern AI launches

00:51:10 – Generative AI editability

00:53:00 – Multimodal future of filmmaking

00:56:20 – AI’s irony: the first jobs it replaced were creative

00:58:00 – Why AI won’t kill filmmaking

01:02:40 – Democratization of filmmaking in 2025

01:05:50 – Why now is the best time ever to be a creator

01:07:10 – Final thoughts on storytelling, creativity & the future

Learn Unreal Engine in 14 Days - $300 OFF https://join.baddecisions.studio/c/podcast?discounts=PODCAST

If this podcast is helping you, please take 2 minutes to rate our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, It will help the Podcast reach and help more people!

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Find out more about Brandon:

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Join our discord server where we connect and share assets:

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#vfx #virtualproduction #unrealengine #3dartist #podcast #badxstudio #BadDecisionsStudio #BadDecisionsPodcast

Cory Williams is a creator, storyteller, and OG Youtuber. He is the mind behind Silly Crocodile , a kids show on Youtube with millions of views.

In this episode, Cory sits down with us to talk about turning down a $5 million offer for his series, the lessons behind that decision, and how Unreal Engine and real-time animation are changing the future for independent creators. We also dive into the pressures of the creator economy, the rise of AI, and how happiness and purpose are the ultimate measures of success.

Episode 73 Chapter:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:08:13 Understanding the Why Behind Creativity

00:14:47 Dealing with Mental Health

00:20:06 How AI will change Content Creation

00:27:13 The impact of AI on Children

00:28:41 The Power of NOW

00:32:30 The Path to Happiness

00:35:16 Embracing Failure

00:39:34 The Fear of Starting

00:54:45 Learning Unreal Engine

01:01:20 Simplifying the Learning Process

01:04:53 Overcoming Pessimism

01:07:43 Finding Happiness

01:10:34 The Importance of Self-Reflection

01:16:33 The Future of Individual Creators

01:23:53 Balancing Work and Personal Life

Learn Unreal Engine in 14 Days - $300 OFF https://join.baddecisions.studio/c/podcast?discounts=PODCAST

If this podcast is helping you, please take 2 minutes to rate our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, It will help the Podcast reach and help more people!

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/12jUe4lIJgxE4yst7rrfmW?si=ab98994cf57541cf

Apple Podcasts (Scroll down to review)- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-decisions-podcast/id1677462934

Find out more about Cory and Silly Crocodile:

https://www.youtube.com/@UCEzq1frx-b3Rrd8xMvfGiFw

https://www.linkedin.com/in/creator-cory-williams/

Here's the 10 Minute Self Love meditation Cory was talking about:

https://youtu.be/vj0JDwQLof4?si=JVoOarqUjZCxagM8

Join our discord server where we connect and share assets:

https://discord.gg/zwycgqezfD

Bad Decisions Audio Podcast 🎙️:

Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcast

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/badxstudio

If you wanna see us to do cool things follow us here too:

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#vfx #virtualproduction #unrealengine #3dartist #podcast #badxstudio #BadDecisionsStudio #BadDecisionsPodcast

Brandon Lerry is a 3D Artist and Filmmaker who went from creating spec ads in his bedroom to working with big brands like BMW. Known online as Lunchbox, Brandon blends cinematic storytelling with Unreal Engine to craft visually stunning automotive commercials that blur the line between real and digital.

In this episode, Brandon sits down with us to share:

• How a posting on social media changed his entire career

• How to get clients using spec ads

• How artists can overcome fear, rejection, and imposter syndrome

• What big brands actually look for when hiring creators

• Why social media is the greatest opportunity creatives have today

Episode 74 Chapter:

00:00:00 – Trailer

00:01:27 – The Fake Rolls Royce Ad That Changed Everything

00:07:30 – How He Learned 3D During Lockdown

00:09:42 – The Moment BMW Discovered His Work

00:13:30 – The Fear That Almost Stopped Him From Posting Online

00:21:29 – Why Spec Work Can Be the Shortcut to Your Dream Client

00:27:10 – How to Negotiate & Protect Yourself as a 3D Artist

00:35:42 – Why Unreal Engine Beat Cinema 4D for Him

00:46:10 – The Hardest Lesson Every Artist Learns Working With Clients

00:53:04 – The One Thing He Looks For When Hiring Artists

Learn Unreal Engine in 14 Days - $300 OFF https://join.baddecisions.studio/c/podcast?discounts=PODCAST

If this podcast is helping you, please take 2 minutes to rate our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, It will help the Podcast reach and help more people!

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/12jUe4lIJgxE4yst7rrfmW?si=ab98994cf57541cf

Apple Podcasts (Scroll down to review)- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-decisions-podcast/id1677462934

Find out more about Cory and Silly Crocodile:

https://www.youtube.com/@UCEzq1frx-b3Rrd8xMvfGiFw

https://www.linkedin.com/in/creator-cory-williams/

Here's the 10 Minute Self Love meditation Cory was talking about:

https://youtu.be/vj0JDwQLof4?si=JVoOarqUjZCxagM8

Join our discord server where we connect and share assets:

https://discord.gg/zwycgqezfD

Bad Decisions Audio Podcast 🎙️:

Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcast

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/badxstudio

If you wanna see us to do cool things follow us here too:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/badxstudio/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/badxstudio

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@badxstudio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badxstudio

Our personal handles: (if you wanna stalk us)

https://www.instagram.com/farhad_baddecisions/

https://www.instagram.com/faraz_baddecisions/

https://www.instagram.com/farhad_sh/

https://www.instagram.com/farazshababs/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadshababi/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/farazshababi/

#vfx #virtualproduction #unrealengine #3dartist #podcast #badxstudio #BadDecisionsStudio #BadDecisionsPodcast