Synchrony's Film 'Pay Day' Is Like a Mini HBO Episode in Its Storytelling

If you’re a fan of HBO’s Insecure and A Black Lady Sketch Show, and/or Netflix’s Dear White People, you’ll enjoy this new short film from Synchrony Bank.

Talent from all of those shows teamed up for the six-minute film, created by Giant Spoon and produced by ColorCreative, Issa Rae’s content company that focuses exclusively on diverse and emerging writers. 

Titled “Pay Day,” the Synchrony film was written by and stars Gabrielle Dennis (who plays Candace on Insecure, and is also a cast member on A Black Lady Sketch Show) in the lead role of Nyssa, a woman who spends her whole paycheck every time she gets it—and only learns the value of saving over time. 

The film also stars Wade Allain Marcus (Derek on Insecure), Courtney Sauls and Nia Jervier (Brooke and Kelsey on Dear White People), and Jessie Kahnweiler (from the web series The Skinny). Morgan Cooper, whose mock trailer Bel-Air recast The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a drama, directed the film. 

“Pay Day” is engrossing and really feels like a real-life portrait of financial decision-making and how small changes can result in a more promising future. 

“The character is all of us,” Ian Grody, group creative director at Giant Spoon, says of Nyssa. “It’s Pay Day. We splurge. It’s Pay Day. We splurge again. Until we decide to make a change and break the time loop. The truth of that experience and its relatability—they told us exactly what form this story should take.” 

“The ‘Pay Day’ campaign is very relatable to many consumers who struggle to save and need that extra push to get started. It’s a unique way to tell a story that resonates with today’s audiences and demonstrates the importance of saving as a critical first step on the path to financial success,” said Samantha Melting, Synchrony’s head of consumer banking. “We know how important it is to save. We’re here to help make it easier for [our customers] to achieve their goals.”

The film is supported by a social campaign across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, and a website with an interactive calculator to help users reach their savings goals.