Private Project

Payday

Bank manager Nick Frazier is in for a day of hell when he is kidnapped.

  • John Cheney
    Director
    Sirin, A Not-So Quiet Place, Iron Curtain
  • John Cheney
    Writer
  • John Cheney
    Producer
  • Wayne Musgrave
    Producer
  • Kenneth Applegate
    Key Cast
    "Nick Frazier"
  • Ray Case
    Key Cast
    "Grim Reaper"
  • Ala Lindsey
    Key Cast
    "Tina Flores"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Crime, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 10, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - John Cheney

John Cheney is a filmmaker, author, and lecturer. His films have screened at festivals across the world. A consummate storyteller, Cheney is also the author of the novels "City of Spies" and "The Apocalypse Men." Additionally, he has written several short stories and directed short documentaries. He teaches Film at BYU and Film and Humanities at Utah Valley University.

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Director Statement

"Payday" started off with a concept--an unusual method of bank robbery that had the potential for intense drama. To make the film on a low budget, we determined that the robbery had to occur early in the morning, perhaps on a Saturday, before the bank opened. Those restrictions also gave the story possibilities. It became not just a story about a crime, but one of survival.

The story involves a taut race against time, but that was also our experience making the film. We made the film in 2 1/2 days in 7 locations, filming in 100-degree temperatures in the middle of summer. But in the end, our small crew made a film we are proud of, and one I am pleased to say feels unique in my filmography.