MERV’s award-winning Pete Henderson has directed “The Darryls”, a new campaign for Synchrony Bank via Wunderman Thompson.
Skillfully witty and off-kilter, this comedic spot makes viewers wonder what their future self would be proudest of, through the many versions of Darryl.
Says Henderson: “For every set-up, the actor, Brian had to recalibrate the nuances of each character. The joys of watching a performer wrangle with the schizophrenia of the day was a director’s delight.
“What defined this campaign was the sweetness of choices, the existential implication of some, at the time, innocuous decisions. This lets the viewer know that easy decisions now can right the ship for the future; it’s never too late. I loved the forgiveness these heroes give themselves, knowing they’re gonna make a change.”
Henderson’s unique style is defined as “quiet comedy”, where cinematic and beautifully observed performances get struck with left-field curve balls to deliver hilarious punchlines. Henderson rocks normality with the unexpected and he has gained notoriety for campaigns such as Coca Cola, McDonald’s and Panasonic. In his first year directing, he won Saatchi & Saatchi’s Best New Director and was featured in the New Director Showcase at Cannes.
Says Henderson: “My style of work is perfectly suited for this campaign in that it presents the seemingly unremarkable context and tilts it on its side. The idea of meeting versions of yourself has a real snake-eating-its-tail comedy that leaves you thinking just a little bit. Quiet performances, cinematic imagery and a dynamic editing style let me flex the nuances of portrayals of one character…four times.”
To see more of Henderson’s work click here.
For all inquiries contact Tim Berriman – tim@mervmakes.com
Agency: Wunderman Thompson @wunthompson
EVP, Head of Creative: Amber Justis @thejustisdepartment
Copywriter/ACD: Kyle Carpenter @carpentastic
Art Director/ACD: José Rivas
Producer: Jennifer Cotton
Discussion about this post