Friends & Family, the production company launched in 2022 by advertising veteran, Scott Kaplan, has added the engaging humour and strong visual sense of longtime collaborator, director Matt Dilmore, to its roster for US commercial representation.
Dilmore has directed Super Bowl spots for KFC and Avocados from Mexico, an Emmy-nominated short for Old Navy, and countless campaigns for brands such as Little Caesars, Cheerios, Gatorade, Frank’s RedHo. Most memorably, his parody of The Shining’s Overlook Hotel aired as part of the 90th Oscars broadcast.
“Any time I’ve needed help or a favour throughout my career, I’ve used Scott’s valuable time as a sounding board and mentor. He’s even produced some of my projects before launching Friends & Family,” Dilmore stated. “Because of our long-standing dynamic, we have a shorthand from working together in amazing ways over the years. I’m excited for people to know I’m here, because we already have a lather worked up.”
“I wish he didn’t use the word ‘lather’,” Kaplan added, “but it’s true. He’s an extraordinary, attentive and creative talent who understands Friends & Family’s role as scalable creative problem-solvers for brands and agencies. After so many years as friends and colleagues, it’s a formative moment to finally bring the band back together.”
Dilmore took on the challenge of LA in 2005 as Scott was enjoying success as an in-demand line producer. The pair hit it off through long production days (and nights) as Dilmore learned the ropes of the advertising and production as a creative assistant to director, Tom Kuntz. Dilmore has also developed a cult following for his secret (whoops) publishing project, ALL STONES, an ongoing series of bi-annual art books produced since 2024. The latest Winter 2026 release, called Curtis Joseph: Enigmatic California Woodcarver, chronicles the life’s work of a mysterious and ribald self-taught woodcarver from South Central LA.
Dilmore added, “Though I have pursuits outside of advertising, filmmaking is my love and true passion. Scott, his team, and I share a lot of common creative interests, and at Friends & Family, I finally feel like I’m home.”
Beyond advertising, Dilmore helmed the documentary short, The Great Imposter, that aired in ESPN’s Emmy-winning 30 for 30 series and tells the story of Detroit salesman, Barry Bremen, who gained notoriety in the 1980s for successfully posing as an athlete at over twenty major professional sporting events. He also enjoys a unique creative partnership with 83-year-old soul legend, Swamp Dogg, directing the music video for Stardust and shooting the album cover for I Need a Job…So I Can Buy More Autotune.
Cover image by Madeline Ziecker
