Dear Friend Signs Director Grayson Whitehurst

Director Grayson Whitehurst has officially joined the roster of Dear Friend, formalising his relationship with the maverick production house. His most recent effort with the company was the surrealist ‘Make It With Dairy’ campaign for dairy lobbies BC Dairy and Alberta Milk - a campaign that was featured as an Editor’s Pick in AdAge’s Creativity column. 

Known for his darkly comedic takes and offbeat perspective, Grayson’s work is fearless and populated by unforgettable characters cast in surreal environments. His sensibilities as an artist and storyteller pair dramatic performances with striking visuals in ways that make his spots feel like standalone narrative efforts. Grayson describes the foundation of his genre-agnostic style and penchant for unusual risks in the ad space: 

“There’s often a dark shadow trailing the tone of the work, but it’s not so dark that the work becomes inaccessible…it’s all quite sensitive and playfully unexpected. I also have zero interest in spoon-feeding or patronising audiences, as you can generate more organic engagement and conversion by offering experiences with enough intrigue and mystique. I take a great deal of pleasure in crafting journeys that leave audiences moved, confused, and conflicted.” 

An award-winning filmmaker in his own right, Grayson and his team earned a Silver Clio for the ‘Make It With Dairy’ campaign - he’s also an alumni of the SHOOT Magazine New Directors Showcase, Berlin Commercial Festival, and 1.4 Awards. He’s been featured in publications like AdAge, Shots, Little Black Book, and Directors Notes, among others. Previous clients of his include Skittles, Purple, Mountain Dew, and NBA 2K, and his narrative work has screened at several Oscar-qualifying film festivals around the globe. 

Dear Friend’s Partner and EP, Garth Collins, said: “Grayson is more than just an incredibly talented director; he's become a brother to me and like family to our team. This pipeline - rostering creatives that become friends that ultimately become family - is paramount to our success as a company and how we’re able to cut through the noise. Grayson had many wonderful options to consider for Canadian representation and we're beyond thrilled that he’s chosen to call Dear Friend home for the next chapter of his career.”