It absolutely helped - to write the father in both 'Juicy' and 'Beasts,' I had to see the whole story from his point of view. All of a sudden I understood more of what my own father must be going through - the fear, the frustration, the anger... the hope that he'll leave a legacy.
In a real dark night of the soul, it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day.
This idea of trying to repeat a success doesn't interest me. It's only really done to make money.