Meet Kevin B Ploth

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin B Ploth. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin B below.

Kevin B , thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

I do persist and keep punching up never down! I am constantly running up hill. Like the song says by Kate Bush “Running up That Hill” ….”oh there is thunder in our hearts…”.
From being told all kinds of things under the sun since starting this “QUIXOTIC” adventure. I stand and stood my ground. still! I don’t have a quitter attitude or in my DNA. I breathe, rail , throat punch and keep on keeping on! Sad this day and age people don’t help and saddest part don’t care about veterans or first responders. All about who you have or how much! Sad and that’s the rest of the world.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

ARTIMIS is a veteran owned run Film, and Television production company.  

ARTIMIS actively creates unique TV shows, Films and live events.

We employ veterans, first responders, their family members creating a unique work environment and by doing so we have innovative productions.

https://www.instagram.com/artimistheatricalproductions?igsh=MWxrc3E3OHoxNWl5dA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

ARTIMIS’s mantra and core belief:

“Help those who have helped serve you.” KBP

Hiring a veteran, first responders is not only right, but the only smart thing to do!
In a world craving authenticity, Kevin B. Ploth—U.S. Army vet, SAG-AFTRA powerhouse, and COO of ARTIMIS Theatrical Productions LLC—is rewriting Hollywood’s script. Born in NYC to Broadway royalty, Ploth traded stage lights for foxholes, emerging with a filmmaker’s fire and a mantra that packs a punch: “Help those who have helped serve you.” At ARTIMIS, a veteran-owned powerhouse, that’s not just talk—it’s the blueprint. They craft bold TV shows, films, and live events, staffing exclusively with vets, first responders, and their families. Why? Because hiring heroes isn’t charity; it’s the smart play. Discipline forged in battle translates to sets buzzing with innovation and unbreakable team spirit.
Spotlight on “This Stitching Will Last,” ARTIMIS’s knockout debut doc. This raw tribute to wrestling legend Michael Braun stitches together grit, glory, and the scars of service—shot by vet DP Larry Gress, edited by David Diaz, and helmed by Ploth’s unfiltered vision. No detached narrators here; the subjects own the mic, delivering truths that hit harder than a suplex. The payoff?
A trophy haul that’s got the indie circuit roaring:

• Best Short Documentary at the Los Angeles Film and Documentary Awards (2025).
• Spotlight nods from Tokyo Short Film Fest, where Ploth dished on ditching “know-it-all” tropes for real stories.
• Buzz from Voyage ATL and CanvasRebel, hailing it as a vet-led triumph.

And the merch? ARTIMIS isn’t stopping at screens. Custom shirts—bold, branded threads celebrating Braun’s legacy and Ploth’s ethos—are dropping soon, perfect for fans flexing their support. (Pro tip: Snag one before they’re pinned down.)
But wait—there’s more muscle in the works. “THE GIANT,” Ploth’s pre-production beast of a project, looms large: a high-stakes drama blending military might, family bonds, and unyielding drive. Backed by tiers of investor perks (from set visits to walk-ons), it’s set to roar onto screens, amplifying ARTIMIS’s mission to spotlight the overlooked.
Ploth’s verdict? “There’s no ‘me’ without the ‘we.’” In an industry of egos, ARTIMIS proves heroes hire heroes—and the results? Award gold, viral vibes, and stories that endure. Follow the charge: @ArtimisLLC on X, or dive into their world at artimis.biz. Your move, Hollywood—time to enlist.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey—from growing up in a Broadway family in NYC, serving in the U.S. Army, to building ARTIMIS Theatrical Productions as a veteran-owned hub for films, TV, and events—three key elements stand out as game-changers. These tie directly into my “WE CULTURE” ethos (no ‘me’ without the ‘we’), my deep-rooted family values as a proud dad of three, and my unshakeable veteran stance that hiring heroes isn’t just right—it’s smart business.

1. Discipline and Resilience: My Army days drilled this in deep. Transitioning from foxholes to film sets, this grit kept me pushing through rejections, long shoots, and building a company from scratch. It’s what turned setbacks—like festival no-shows—into fuel for wins, like our doc “This Stitching Will Last” snagging Best Short Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Awards.
Advice for newbies: Start small but consistent. Commit to daily drills—whether it’s scripting 500 words a day or networking with one vet weekly. Join a bootcamp-style program or mentorship with military precision; it’ll build that unbreakable backbone early. Remember, resilience isn’t born—it’s earned through reps.

2. Creative Adaptability: Coming from entertainment parents, I honed this as a multi-hyphenate: actor, writer, chef, artist, director. It’s let me pivot from SAG-AFTRA gigs to authoring “EAT ME…A Tell All Cook Book” and producing hits like “THE GIANT” TV pilot. In a fickle industry, blending skills keeps you innovative and employable.
Advice for early journeymen: Diversify your toolkit fast. Take classes in unrelated fields—cooking sharpened my timing for editing, art boosted my visual storytelling. Experiment fearlessly; make micro-projects (like 1-minute shorts) to test ideas without big stakes. Embrace failure as feedback—it’s how you evolve from competent to killer.

3. Team-First Mindset (“WE CULTURE”): Family taught me loyalty, the Army reinforced brotherhood, and ARTIMIS embodies it by hiring vets, first responders, and their kin. This collective vibe creates magic—our productions thrive on shared service, turning individual talents into unstoppable crews. It’s why our mantra is “Help those who have helped serve you.”
Advice for starters: Ditch the solo act; build your “we” from day one. Network with purpose—seek out vet groups, family-run collectives, or diverse collaborators. Volunteer on sets or events to learn humility and leadership. Focus on giving value first; it’ll attract the right squad and amplify your impact way beyond going it alone.

Bottom line: My journey’s (and can be yours) about serving the story, the team, and the mission. Stay hungry, hire heroes, and keep stitching it together—one resilient step at a time.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

My passion for John Keegan’s The Mask of Command stems from its profound dissection of leadership through the lens of history, strategy, and human nature—a must-read for anyone, especially leaders and artists, who wants to understand the art of influence and resilience. This book has shaped my life, my approach, to storytelling, team-building, and navigating challenges at ARTIMIS Theatrical Productions, where we craft films, TV shows, and live events with a veteran’s discipline and an artist’s heart.
Keegan’s exploration of four military leaders—Alexander the Great, Wellington, Grant, and Hitler—reveals leadership as a performance, a balance of vision, grit, and adaptability. Here are a few nuggets of wisdom that hit hard and guide my work:
1. Leadership is a Mask, Not a Monolith: Keegan shows how great leaders wear a “mask” tailored to their time and audience—Alexander’s heroic charisma, Wellington’s stoic restraint, or Grant’s unpretentious resolve. For leaders, this means authenticity isn’t about being unchanging but about adapting your presence to inspire trust and action. As a filmmaker, I lean into this by directing teams with clarity and empathy, ensuring every veteran and first responder on our sets feels seen and driven.
2. Courage Underpins Command: Keegan emphasizes that true leaders, like Alexander, don’t just strategize—they share the risks. This resonates deeply in ARTIMIS’s mission to hire veterans and first responders. Their courage, forged in service, fuels our innovative productions. Leaders and artists must take bold risks—whether it’s greenlighting a raw documentary like This Stitching Will Last or pushing boundaries in projects like THE GIANT—because playing it safe breeds mediocrity.
3. Empathy Wins Loyalty: Grant’s understated leadership, as Keegan describes, wasn’t flashy but fiercely effective because he understood his soldiers’ realities. This taught me that whether commanding a film set or inspiring a creative team, listening and valuing your people’s experiences builds unbreakable loyalty. It’s why ARTIMIS prioritizes hiring those who’ve served—they bring a unique perspective that elevates our stories.
For leaders, The Mask of Command is a masterclass in wielding authority with purpose. For artists, it’s a reminder that storytelling, like leadership, is about connecting deeply and moving people to act. Read it to learn how to wear your own mask with conviction, whether you’re rallying a squad or crafting a narrative that lasts.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos courtesy of:
Vanessa Thorpe
Larry Gress
Doug Marcaida
Kevin B Ploth
Sara Touijer
Ed Trucco
Michael Sean McGuiness
RJ Marcaida

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