Lil Dicky “Pillow Talking ft. Brain”

Tony Yacenda

Tony is that rare director with the clear stamp of a fresh and unmistakable voice across all of his work.  He can pivot between the deadpan and the absurd, the subtle to the outrageous, always injecting his singular sensibility. He’s a filmmaker steeped in craft and devoted to observation.  Tony’s work is a case study in nuance and obsession to the unseen details.

Tony co-created and directed Peabody winning and Emmy nominated Netflix Original Series American Vandal, a Christopher Guest-esque take on the true crime genre. The series based on a ridiculous premise is a comedic feat of satire and storytelling without a false beat. In his subsequent series Player’s for Paramount+, Tony gives the League of Legends the Last Dance treatment, securing spots on numerous critics’ “Best Of” lists.

He is also known for his work with Lil’ Dicky and found breakout success with the music video “Pillow Talking” which earned him a spot in Saatchi & Saatchi’s New Director Showcase. More recently, the duo collaborated on the breakout show Dave on FX with Tony helming multiple episodes of seasons one through three, including the critically acclaimed season one finale “Jail”. He also received a Webby for his music video “Save Dat Money.”

In addition to award-winning television shows and music videos, Yacenda has emerged as a go-to commercial director for the world’s top creative agencies. Known for his singular brand of humor, he’s collaborated with best-in-class teams at Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny and most recently Anomaly, among others.  His latest spot for Buffalo Wild Wings, introduced the brand’s new mascot “Hank the Buffalo,” voiced by SNL alum Beck Bennett’s.  The campaign is a masterclass in nuanced writing, direction and embracing of a particular brand voice.