Strike Anywhere Grows Roster with Director Matt Sklar

Sklar was born in Austin, Texas then went on to graduate from Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts. He moved to LA and worked as an assistant to a producer while making short documentaries, sketches, and spec spots in his free time. As these projects began to win contests, Sklar transitioned to become a professional commercial editor. This broad filmmaking education allowed him to wear both hats simultaneously as his directing career picked up steam, helming broadcast spots for Discover, Infiniti, Quicken Loans, and Under Armour; and editing and directing ads for brands including Johnson & Johnson, Allstate, Facebook, and Instagram.

Matt is known as a heartfelt creator who has a knack for capturing the essence of people with a relentlessly authentic approach. While his sensibilities are eclectic – spanning comedy, drama, documentary and narrative – all of his work is driven by the pursuit of universal truth through natural moments. Visually, the work is fluid and kinetic, or as Matt describes it, “emotion drives how I move the camera.”

He often encourages his actors to improvise, more to find the impromptu moments than for laughs. This natural style is on display in the Discover Student Loans spot he directed for The Martin Agency, featuring an assortment of actors and real families. Blending crafted scenes and “stolen moments,” Sklar elevates the commercial with a cinema vérité atmosphere and well-captured performances. Oprah’s OWN network recognized this talent in their “Soulful Story” series by featuring “Shan Sings,” a short documentary Sklar directed. The film follows a restaurant owner who sings to his customers and staff to create a beautifully unique dining experience.

Matt is excited to start working with the Strike Anywhere team, saying, “We’ve all been friends for some time and our sensibilities have always aligned. I can’t wait to start this journey with them and make beautiful films together.”

When asked what kind of work he wants to pursue with the Strike Anywhere crew, Sklar points in the direction of comedy. “As much as I want to continue with documentary work and brand stories, I would also love to keep on exploring my comedic side. Working on humor-driven projects for Arlo and Pringles was such a blast, and I’d love to bring some more docu-spirit into scripted comedy. Branded or not, I just want to keep pushing towards what intrigues and enlightens me personally.” 

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