“I’ve had days where I’m stuck staring at my screen with nothing. And then a random idea hits me while I’m in the shower. That’s just how it works sometimes.”
If you’ve ever found yourself waiting for the “perfect” idea to land, filmmaker and VFX creator Ignace Aleya’s creative process is a good reminder that inspiration rarely shows up on schedule.
Ignace has consistently kept ideas flowing for years. His channel is a constant stream of cinematic edits, creative experiments and tutorials, all of which have earned him half a million subscribers.
In this interview with Uppbeat, Ignace shares how he comes up with video ideas that are not only exciting to watch, but exciting to make too. From trusting your instincts to knowing when to keep it simple, these are his go-to methods for deciding what to create next.
YouTuber Ignace Aleya specialises in visual effects tutorials for Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, drawing in over 500,000 subscribers. He co-founded Filmbro.com with Arnaud Melis, sharing courses and assets designed to make the life of video editors easier.
- Make content that excites you
- Follow your gut rather than content plans
- Take your time developing an idea
- Keep your concepts simple enough to create
- Listen to your audience, but keep your own voice
1. Make content that excites you
For Ignace, the best ideas don’t start with analytics or trends, but a gut feeling. “Most of the ideas come from things I want to try or recreate,” he says, “that could be shots from movies and games, or sometimes it’s just a single image in my head that I want to see if I can pull off.”
Instead of chasing what’s trending, Ignace leans into what excites him. That might mean testing out an idea that feels weird or niche, but the end result is more authentic and, usually, more enjoyable to make.
IA: “I get ideas all the time from things I see in daily life, whether that’s scrolling Instagram or watching a film. But then I always think about how I can twist this into something that fits my style.”
That’s not to say Ignace has never experimented with trends (just check out his recreation of a scene from Squid Game!), but his ideas work because they align with his interests.
If you’re looking for something to spark your next idea, Uppbeat’s music, sound effects and motion graphics library is full of creative jumping-off points. Dive in to discover downloadable assets that can help shape your next video.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Start with what makes you curious. It’ll be easier to stay motivated and your audience will feel the difference.
2. Follow your gut rather than rigid plans
While some creators swear by content calendars and idea lists, Ignace finds that the best concepts usually appear out of nowhere.
IA: “I might come up with hundreds of ideas. But the ones I end up making are usually new ones that weren’t even written down. It’s more of a gut thing.”
He’s learned to pay attention to the ideas that stick, the ones that capture his imagination again and again, even if he tries to move on.
Ignace trusts instinct more than a spreadsheet. If the idea feels right and you feel compelled to make it, it usually works.
IA: “If I’m not excited to make it, I know it won’t come out right. That’s usually the filter I use to decide whether an idea is worth making or not.”
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
You don’t need to wait for the perfect idea. If something excites you right now, that’s usually a sign it’s worth making.
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3. Don’t force the timing and wait if you need to
Sometimes, a brilliant idea isn’t possible right now. Whether it’s too big or it simply isn’t the right moment, Ignace is a firm believer in holding off on ideas until they’re ready.
IA: “Some ideas are just too complex to make right now. I’ll park them as ‘passion projects’ until I have the right timing or resources to do them justice.”
Rather than forcing a video and doing it halfway, he sets it aside until he can give it the attention it deserves.
IA: “There are videos I’ve wanted to make for years, but we’d need a bigger team or more time. I keep those on the side until we’re ready.”
Ignace believes it’s better to play the long game than rush something out, especially when the idea has big creative potential.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Not every idea needs to be made today. If the timing’s off, save it and come back when you can do it properly.
4. Keep it simple enough to actually make
One thing that often stops creators from starting a new video is when the idea itself is too complicated. Ignace admits that many of his favorite visual effects tutorials came from ideas that were simple, repeatable, and easy to execute solo.
IA: “Sometimes I have to simplify things so that it’s not just impressive, but also something people can try themselves without needing loads of plugins or tools. I’m a one-man team for most projects, which is why I’ve learned to keep ideas achievable.”
As a solo creator, Ignace’s approach to content creation will be different than for larger businesses or production companies. For him, that means trimming back if a concept starts to feel too complex. Often, what’s left is something cleaner, more intentional, and watchable.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Don’t let complexity kill momentum. Focus on simple, smart ideas that you can realistically bring to life.
5. Listen to your audience but don’t lose your voice
Audience suggestions can be a goldmine for great ideas, but not every comment should become your next video. For Ignace, it’s about the balance of listening to your viewers but believing in your own vision too.
IA: “I take audience suggestions seriously. If someone comments something that I hadn’t thought of, I’ll look into it.”
He loves when viewers ask for behind-the-scenes content or specific breakdowns. But he also asks whether that idea has wider value and still fits his creative direction.
“It’s cool when people ask for a specific breakdown or want to see behind the scenes. That can turn into a whole video. But I also have to ask: is this valuable to a wider audience? Or is it just a cool idea for one person?”
At the end of the day, your ideas still need to fit with what you typically create.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Use audience feedback to inspire you, but let your creative instinct guide the final decision.
Your next great video starts with an idea
No matter what you create, the spark of a strong idea is where everything starts. And as Ignace shows, that idea doesn’t need to be perfect or overthought – it just needs to feel exciting, achievable, and true to you.
Once you lock in that next idea, the question becomes: how do you make sure people care enough to watch? That’s where your intro does the heavy lifting. Ignace has plenty to say about making those first few seconds count and how to hook viewers with your intro.
