Inside Paycom’s Commercial Production

The scene opens with a man – laptop open, paperwork scattered, utterly distracted – at his daughter’s gymnastics competition. In somersaults, Hollywood star Shemar Moore lands dramatically in the stands directly in front of the preoccupied father.

“Was that necessary?” the father asks about the over-the-top entrance. “No,” Shemar answers. “Neither is missing your daughter’s competition to do payroll.” And so, Paycom’s “Unnecessary Action Hero” saves the day, reminding people that with Paycom, employees can do their own payroll.

“These commercials were written to convey our game-changing way of doing things,” said Paycom’s Director of Brand and Creative, Casey Twenter. “It highlights the unnecessary actions that outdated HR practices require, and highlights how Paycom is transforming the industry.”

The team has also released spin-off spots featuring Wayne Knight – best known as Seinfeld’s “Newman” – as “The Nemesis” who seeks to stop the “Unnecessary Action Hero” and keep HR professionals stuck in the outdated processes of the past. 

These spots are humorous, coming across as more of an exciting preview than a typical corporate commercial. “I have a thing I wish I could say I coined,” Casey said. “The best brands show up in unexpected places in unexpected ways. And so it makes sense that we would take this unique approach to our marketing.”

Casey, an Edmond resident, was quick to direct attention toward the talented internal team behind each commercial. “A lot of people influence the final product. It takes everybody being at the top of their game to do something fantastic, and we have a fantastic team.”

Each concept works its way through Paycom’s process, starting with a team of writers, moving to production, and being refined by a detailed editing team. Even listing elements like casting, lighting, makeup, wardrobe, special effects, motion graphics, and location managers still leaves an incredibly high-level look at all that production entails. 

“It takes a tight-knit squad,” Casey said. And it’s an effective one, consistently pulling top-tier talent like Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran, Seinfield’s Wayne Knight, and actor Shemar Moore. 

Casey says they have been blessed with the best in the industry. “We first started with excellent commercial actors and eventually approached Barbara Corcoran. She is a fantastic businessperson. She’s an innovator. And she’s best known for judging innovative ideas, so she was a perfect fit for our brand and wonderful to work with.”

He says that despite the high levels of fame these figures bring, their approachable nature keeps the star-struck reaction to a minimum. “Our team is always amazed by watching these individuals do what they do best. These are pros who want to deliver, and they always do.”

Another benefit of working with this level of talent is the natural motivation it provides the entire team. “It gives us a good pressure to perform.”

To see the product of this “good pressure,” watch for the commercials on TV and streaming services or view them all on the company’s YouTube channel, @Paycom.