The Work That Made Me: Matt Sklar
Matt Sklar is a Texas-born, Florida-raised, current Angeleno whose eclectic upbringing has shaped him into a human Swiss-army knife. From docu-style work with a blend of heart and nuanced performance, to dead-pan comedic zingers, Matt celebrates his versatility and eclecticness and is not insecure about it AT ALL.
His recent short film 'Toast 2: After the Burn', received the distinct honour of a Vimeo staff pick. In 2023 Matt was selected amongst 50 international filmmakers to participate in PlayLab’s film workshop in the Yucatán jungle under the mentorship of Palm D’or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Matt> The Spike Jonze 'Praise You' video for Fatboy Slim is always lingering in my subconscious, and I like to break into some of those moves when I need a pick-me-up in the privacy of my home. The Torrance Community Dance Group was far ahead of its time, and they made an everlasting cultural impact.
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Matt> I love all the early ‘This is Sportscenter’ spots. They made me realise that advertising is more than selling a thing. Most importantly, they made my dad laugh, which is pretty much my goal in everything I do. He especially loved the Steve Irwin/Florida Gator spot.
LBB> The creative work that I keep revisiting…
Matt> I often pop on Les Blank's documentaries, like 'Gap Toothed Women'; they are medicinal to me. I like to just have them on in the background. He can draw out the warmth of every person he interviews and every setting he visits. That’s intoxicating to me.
LBB> My first professional project…
Matt> It was a B2B spot for a big tech company that’s not publicly viewable, but it was my first job with clients on set. It was a pretty wild one for my first. There were like a dozen locations and a lot of background. I think it was good for me to dive into the deep end. There was a professional sign spinner involved. We had to audition sign spinners through a sign-spinner agency. I didn't even know there was such a thing.
LBB> The piece of work that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like *that*…
Matt> I’m gonna have to go with that Kendall Jenner Pepsi spot.
LBB> The piece of work that still makes me jealous…
Matt> Harmony Korine’s 7-11 campaign…. One day, I’ll be that cool.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career…
Matt> I was greatly honoured to be selected by legendary creative director/toastmaker Andy Corbett to help bring his vision for 'Toast 2' to life. Once the world saw 'Toast 2', my career skyrocketed to incredible heights. This film was truly the peak intersection of my documentary and comedy work. 'Toast 3' is currently under development, and by that, I mean I’m waiting for Andy to call me back.
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of…
Matt> Last year, I participated in a film lab with Palm D’or-winning filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasatukul where you got 10 days to make a film in the jungle and remote villages of the Yucatan. It was the first project I truly put my “self” into, and I prioritised the experience of making the film over the end result. It really changed the way I think of myself as an artist and gave me a North Star for the feelings I want to evoke within myself as a human as well as a filmmaker. The film can be seen here.
LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe…
Matt> Too many to list; I had a lot of early jobs that were pretty cringe-worthy… Some jobs are for the reel, and some are for the meal.
LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most…
Matt> I’m putting the finishing touches on my first feature documentary, and I can’t wait for you to see it. It’s about dads, brothers, death, divorce, love, heartbreak, and the Miami Dolphins. It began as a photo project in 2021 and has become the most addicting and emotionally consuming project I’ve made. Here is a clip from the film.
