AI Creativity Chronicles
Making Marketing Fun Again,
One Week at a Time
Video. Production. Transformed.
Only the truth is funny, so the reality of how AI is transforming video & film production is best underscored by funny video storytelling that’s also a mind-bending demo.
The hilarious parody of video/film production below shows & tells a ton about the revolution that’s happening in the world of AI video (and it’s a lot less scary than last week’s clip 😆.)
It bears repeating that this isn’t stock footage or some kind of soulless deepfake because Google’s Veo 3 generates dazzling cinematic scene composition, dynamic character performance, and authentically emotional voice delivery—all from text prompts. And, as always, the human-in-the-loop creativity makes this clip sing (anyone who has worked in film or video will recognize the production process in this clip).
As you might expect, Veo 3 is only one option for this kind of virtual production. If you’re interested in exploring, another example that’s on my radar, check out Captions’ Mirage Studio which focuses on UGC (user-generated content) videos (not an affiliate link).
No matter how you look at it, the entire world of media production and content creation is morphing faster than anything ever. 🫨 Yes, really. Stay tuned.
That’s only one of the reasons why I’m creating a new course on AI for marketers named “Prompted to Create.” I want to help you ride this wave and not be left in its wake.
Jon Leland
AI Creativity Coach, Creator of the upcoming “Prompted to Create” Course
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/aoiXf9p1nX5BupPpqvdA1U.jpg484844JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-06-13 09:00:392025-06-13 18:42:29🎬 This Wild (and hilarious) Leading Edge AI Video! It’s Honestly a Tease of What’s Coming. 🚀
AI Creativity Chronicles Making Marketing Fun Again, One Week at a Time
Prompted. Performed. Unbelievable.
What if I told you an AI just helped write, direct, and perform an entire short film that includes a global multi-racial cast and the mind-bending nuance of sci-fi TV like Black Mirror or Twilight Zone? (Not to mention the thought-provoking human creativity of YouTuber “Putchuon”.)
That’s what you’ll find in this video made entirely with Google’s next-level AI video & audio generator, Veo 3:
As this video’s YouTube title says, it’s nine straight minutes of Google Veo prompts.
It’ll bend your brain. And it will also show how rapidly content creation is changing.
This isn’t stock footage or some kind of soulless deepfake because Veo generates dazzling cinematic scene composition, dynamic character performance, and authentically emotional voice delivery—all from text prompts.
It’s not just a new tool for video creation. Veo’s power defines a new creative language that will forever change video production. Please check it out and let me know what you think.
The future of video content isn’t just generated or produced. It’s prompted. 🫨
And, it’s only one of the reasons why I’m creating a new course on AI for marketers named “Prompted to Create.” I want to help you ride this wave and not be left in its wake.
Jon Leland AI Creativity Coach, Creator of the upcoming “Prompted to Create” Course
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/prompt-theory-thumbnail.jpeg270480JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-06-07 09:01:062025-06-13 19:00:36🎬🤯 This is an AI video game changer! Watch text prompts in action like you’ve never seen them.
AI Creativity Chronicles
Making Marketing Fun Again,
One Week at a Time
Image conjured with Ideogram.ai. Text rendered in Canva.
Hey there,
You probably didn’t expect finger painting to show up in a conversation about AI.
But tapping into that same spirit of childlike curiosity—hands in the color, no rules, just play—is exactly what helped me experience one of the most breathtaking AI creative breakthroughs I’ve seen: Google’s new Veo video AI.
To help my friend Vince Casalaina and his documentary in development, I experimented with Veo to express the soul of vintage wooden sailboats—not just how they look, but the feeling of something timeless and hand-crafted… and connected to the San Francisco Bay.
Even the sound of the waves against the boat’s hull came from Veo. 🤯
This video clip is one in a series of playful, experimental tests that I created using the same kind of iterative process I’ve been recommending to people who are getting their AI fingers wet with AI image generation.
If you want more details on the Veo video experiment above, here’s my whole “conversation” with Veo video AI and the array of text-to-video clips I created, all in about 30 minutes. The last clip came from a prompt generated by ChatGPT.
Most importantly, this process isn’t just about how to work with AI. For me and many others, it’s about a return of creative curiosity and wonder. And for social and digital pros, it’s a whole new palette with immense storytelling potential.
That’s why I’m building Prompted to Create, a course to help curious creatives like you turn prompting into an expressive, joyful, useful part of your toolkit.
👉 Hop on the waitlist to get updates and early access (no pressure—just first dibs).
Play isn’t optional anymore. It’s how we create what’s next.
Stay creative. Stay curious. Stay human.
Jon Leland
AI Creativity Coach, Creator of the upcoming “Prompted to Create” Course
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MubF3EU2zGFhzQrJhJ8mK.jpg7201280JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-05-30 18:27:472025-06-10 18:46:14🎨 How you can use playful prompts to unlock Google’s cinematic new video AI 🤖
AI Creativity Chronicles Making Marketing Fun Again, One Week at a Time
Creative Curiosity, Meet Professional Validation
Last week, I shared how an AI-generated avatar named Abigail helped me refine messaging, explore personas, and rethink video content.
This week? That experiment is now being featured on the National Institute for Social Media (NISM) blog — a hub for certified social media strategists.
🎯 Same creative journey, but with a deeper, more professional lens:
How AI tools like ChatGPT, ElevenLabs & HeyGen can amplify strategy
Why AI avatars aren’t gimmicks, but useful message-testing tools
What social pros can gain from experimenting intentionally
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2tyx3X1YpDUhK32yr1LauQ.jpg16002400JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-05-23 19:04:352025-06-10 18:48:12🧠 AI Avatars in the Real World: Professional Take Now Live
AI Creativity Chronicles Making Marketing Fun Again, One Week at a Time
AI Avatars: More Than a Trend, A Tool for Marketing Insights
Last week, you met Abigail — my fully AI-generated avatar spokeswoman.
This week, I produced a short video that pulls back the curtain on the AI-enhanced creative process that brought her to life — and what it reveals for marketers and creators.
🎯 Learn how AI avatars can:
Help clarify your message and tone
Bring your ideal audience persona to life
Accelerate creative experimentation
If you’re wondering how to keep up with AI, this 5-minute video is a real-world case study that you might find eye-opening.
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/rjtgT8sS3bvPXzed9FJ4XS.png7201280JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-05-14 17:03:402025-06-10 19:01:41🤖 Don’t Waste Time on AI Gimmicks. Get Marketing Insights from My New AI Avatar Video.
Or just hit reply and tell me what AI tool you’ve been meaning to try or find the most empowering — I’d love to hear about it.
Stay creative. Stay curious. Stay human.
Jon Leland AI Creativity Coach
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/hELTSj1QkjDAxJhKErsz28.jpg7361312JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-05-07 09:34:432025-06-10 19:07:09🤖 Learn from Playful Experiments. Why My AI Spokeswoman is More Than a Pretty Prompt 🎤
Creativity Chronicles Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time
Hey Reader,
The Creative Edge Today: Human + AI in Sync
AI isn’t the enemy — it’s an amplifier. The creative edge comes from being a smarter, more human partner with AI.
That’s not just a theory — it’s what creative leaders are doing right now.
Co-created with Ideogram.ai
In my latest episode of Video Mojo, I talk with my long-time collaborator Vince Casalaina, a passionate documentary filmmaker with a story that matters… and a limited budget. 😁
By using just the right mix of AI tools (and with a little help from me), Vince was able to:
✅ Draft a meaningful story structure for his film ✅ Create visual assets that would have never been possible ✅ Move his film project forward in a way that amplifies the heart of his story
Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist “Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/email.jpg7041408JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-05-02 09:06:022025-06-10 21:08:33🎬 How Did This Doc Filmmaker Use AI for Unusual Creative Firepower? 🔥
Creativity Chronicles
Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time
AI is making everything easier. But that’s not what’s important. What’s important is: What are you doing with that ease?
This week, I’m spotlighting two different kinds of innovators who are using AI not as a crutch, but as a creative amplifier. In the fast-moving world of content and marketing, the pros who stand out lead with the vision, taste, and creative skills—the “human in the loop” abilities necessary to tell AI what to do.
🎛️ Your Intention = The Interface
The more automated things get, the more your intention becomes the differentiator. For example, in video editing software Descript’s next update, creators can describe the video vibe they want, and the AI will assemble the edit. What’s left for us humans is to take creative control.
Watch CEO Andrew Mason’s demo of the upcoming release 👇
Jon Lajoie’s Baby Talk Podcast is powered by AI avatars,but what really lands is the clever, tightly crafted human writing. The polished execution is impressive as well.
What makes this clip a standout is that Lajoie doesn’t lean on the tech to be funny. He shows that no matter the tools, it’s still the brain behind the words that makes the magic. (And, yes, the tech is pretty dang cool too.)
📣 Want to stay competitive? Watch the how, not just the what.
If you’re a digital marketer or content pro, now’s the time to sharpen your edge. Not by chasing every new tool—but by learning from those who use them well.
➡️ FYI, I’m building a new online course—especially designed for marketing professionals—to help you do just that. Stay tuned.
Keep creating,
Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist
“Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/7gxcTVpaoXaQ2wKpT4sWua.jpg9521200JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-04-24 17:39:352025-06-13 18:49:08🧠 Brains Before Bots: Awaken to What Real Creativity Looks Like Now 🎨
Creativity Chronicles Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time
Hey Reader,
Not Playing with AI Yet? That’s a Choice — and It’s Risky.
I know it doesn’t look like me exactly… but I made this image in 60 seconds. Seriously.
I simply uploaded my profile avatar image and gave ChatGPT a one-line prompt:
“Put this image on a mug that’s on a home video studio creator’s desk. Warm, positive colors and lighting.”
Boom. This fun, vibrant, creative image showed up. And, I was impressed (again) by the creative power of AI.
So now I have to ask: Are you playing creatively with AI yet?
If not — why not? 🤔
I ask not to stir up FOMO… but to invite you in. This is the same kind of future of tech moment as when, over the years, I’ve encouraged people to try:
Computers 💻
Then, the Internet 🌐
Then, digital video 🎥
Now? It’s AI — and it’s both wildly fun and shockingly powerful.
The world is shifting fast. 🌍
Please believe me. Creating with AI isn’t just some trendy experiment. It’s how we shape the future — starting now.
So go ahead, dip your toe in. Play. Why choose to live in what’s rapidly becoming the rearview mirror? 🪞
Let’s keep moving forward together — with curiosity, joy, and a little creative courage.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Warmly,
Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist “Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ursE9E7r5eBSGHd6RYCA9c-1.jpg10241024JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-04-17 18:13:522025-06-13 18:54:45🎯 I Conjured This Image in 60 Seconds. Imagine What AI Could Do If You Learned AI. 🚀
Creativity Chronicles Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time
Hey [FIRST NAME GOES HERE],
Image conjured with the impressive new Canva AI.
📄 Don’t Miss My Latest Free PDF: Empowering AI Trends for Social Media Marketers It’s a quick, insight-packed guide—the slide deck from a recent webinar—that outlines the creative shifts reshaping how we digital creatives work to wow audiences.
(If you recently subscribed to this list and already got this download, welcome to Creativity Chronicles!)
When Play Becomes Proof
Just this weekend, I used ChatGPT 4o to re-imagine myself as an action figure; and then, to my delight, I brought this virtual me to “life” with an AI-generated unboxing video that includes synthetic human hands. 🤯 Check it out 👇
Yes, this was creative play, but it’s also a glimpse into how rapidly AI tools evolve. What felt impossible a month ago is now surprisingly easy! This isn’t just “cool.” It’s the future arriving in real time and a clear reminder that:
We’re in a creative revolution.
If you’re in digital or social marketing (for yourself or others), this moment matters. The tools are evolving weekly. The possibilities? Multiplying.
A mindset shift: from “AI tool” to creative thought partner
Four fast-moving trends: customization, automation, apps, and agentic AI
Practical ideas to fuel your next experiment
Next, I’m developing an experiential online course to help you build your AI-enhanced creative skillset—without losing your human touch. More on that soon.
Need help?
Do you have a creative itch that AI might help scratch?
You don’t have to figure it out alone. I offer personal coaching to help you get going.
Jon Leland, AI Creativity & Marketing Strategist “Spanning the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology.”
https://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/eiPCQpnzGqGcvRcD6V9G6m-1.jpg13562400JonLelandhttps://www.combridges.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ComBridges-Logo-300x60-300x60.jpgJonLeland2025-04-10 18:56:502025-04-10 19:09:43🌊 Catch the unstoppable AI creativity wave 📄 Don’t miss this free PDF