The genesis of a good idea often sounds like a bad one. For Cooper Tomlinson, that ethos became a career. Alongside creative partner Curry Barker, he co-founded the sketch comedy duo “That’s a Bad Idea,” a venture born from a simple desire to stop talking and start doing. They channeled the cinematic energy of Key & Peele into a relentless, weekly production schedule. What began as two friends making shorts snowballed into a digital phenomenon, attracting over a million followers who tuned in for their unique blend of humor and horror. The duo’s ambition was never just to chase virality; it was to build worlds, one sharp, surprising sketch at a time.

That foundation in digital storytelling proved to be solid ground for a leap into traditional film. Tomlinson’s background, which includes a stint at the New York Film Academy and an early role in David Fincher’s Mank, revealed a creator playing a longer game. After their short film Milk & Serial exploded online, the industry took notice, leading to representation with United Talent Agency. Now, Tomlinson is stepping further into the spotlight as an actor, appearing in the horror film Treasure Trackers and teaming up with Barker again for the highly anticipated, Blumhouse-produced feature Obsession. It’s the kind of move that proves their riskiest idea was betting on themselves.