Book Reviews

Review of A Simple Ad

This blog is primarily about Leonbergers and Leonberger books but sometimes I review other items. In this post I will review a short film that brings attention to the fight against cancer. The name of the movie is “A Simple Ad”. The screen writing was done by an on-line friend of mine Alex Diaz-Granados.

My mother passed away from cancer at the age of 56. This was devastating. She left us too early. However, every parent’s worst nightmare is losing a child. I believe that losing a child to cancer is a loss too enormous to imagine. This short film brings attention to the pain and the enormity of this loss, and it brings attention to the need to fight cancer.

I can add that fighting cancer the easy way, via the kind of donations that we all can make, or by bringing attention to it, is not futile. In the end this supports cancer research and treatment, and it has been successful. For example, today, it is very unlikely that I would die from the cancer that killed my mother.

At the beginning of the movie, we see a bookcase with family pictures including a baby, a little boy, a wedding, among others. Next, we see a couple working in the same room. The man is working on a skateboard and the woman on an ad. From their discussion the tragedy becomes apparent. The couple love each other, they carry on, but it is clear that an immense sense of loss resides in their lives.

This short film features beautiful music, a children’s choir. It is poignant and has a sad atmosphere, but it is not overly dark. To me it felt like a call to action. You can watch the movie here.

Title: A Simple Ad (2019)

Directed by

Juan Carlos Hernández

Writing Credits

Alex Diaz-Granados

Cast

Adria K. Hernandez…Sara

Juan Carlos Hernández…John

Finally, I would like to promote my book about Bronco and Leonbergers. It has a lot of color photos, amusing Leonberger stories, and Leonberger information that has been verified and is also based on personal information.

This is an image of the front cover of the book "The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle". Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com location for the book. — This is the front cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com location for the book.

This is an image of the back cover of the book "The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle". Click on the image to go to the Amazon.se location for the book — This is the back cover of the book “The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle”. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.se location for the book.

This is an image showing the endorsements for the book. Click on the image to got to the Barnes and Noble location for the book — These are the endorsements for the book. Click on the image to got to the Barnes and Noble location for the book

Below is a list of where you can find the book. Click on the links to go to the respective store. However, if your favorite bookstore is not listed below you can search for it using the ISBN or ASIN numbers.

ISBN number for printed edition: 978-0998084954

ASIN number for the e-book edition: B0B5NN32SR

Tags A simple ad, Cancer, Leonberger, Leonberger book, Loss of a child, YouTube

By thomasstigwikman

My name is Thomas Wikman. I am a software/robotics engineer with a background in physics, but I am currently retired. I took early retirement. I am a dog lover, and especially a Leonberger lover, a home brewer, craft beer enthusiast, an amateur astronomer, I’m learning French, and I am an avid reader. I live in Dallas, Texas, but I am originally from Sweden. I am married to Claudia, and we have three children Jacob, David and Rachel. My blog feature the crazy adventures of our Leonberger e Bronco von der Löwenhöhle as well as information on Leonbergers

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9 replies on “Review of A Simple Ad”

Reblogged this on A Certain Point of View, Too and commented:
“A Simple Ad” gets another review!

Here, Leonberger Life’s creator, Thomas Wikman, shares his views on Juan Carlos Hernandez’s 2019 short film “A Simple Ad,” as well as some personal insights about the movie’s themes and message. Check it out, and while you’re at it, read his other posts about his wonderful dog Bronco, a smart, loyal, and friendly Leonberger!

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It sounds like a wonderful film. The trailer is good, too.

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The video is the complete film.

Juan’s original idea was for me to write a two-minute short film for a contest he wanted to enter.

On the surface, this seems easy: the usual formula for script length vis a vis running time of a finished film is one page of screenplay = one minute of running time.

So, if things had gone according to plan, I would have produced a two-page script that told a complete story. A short one, to be sure, but one that the viewer understood without having to be spoon-fed the information.

A better writer with actual film school training can do that. Asleep, even.

I am not film-school trained. I self-taught myself how to write in screenplay format. I still must refer to how-to books every time I start a new script.

So…no two-minute film, but a three-minute and 41 seconds one.

I did, of course, write a longer script later, but it was for another film…a comedy of sorts.

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Ohhh, I get it now. (Silly me.)

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I caused the confusion by not explaining.

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This moved me to tears as I thought about how my own daughter survived cancer and how lucky we were not to lose her. I hope your friend, Alex Diaz-Granados, continues to make films because this was absolutely beautifully done.

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Why, thank you, Kymber. I’m glad that you liked the short film. I’m even happier that your daughter beat the big “C.”

As for other films: Since we made “A Simple Ad” in 2019, I have written or co-written three other films, including 2020’s “Ronnie and the Pursuit of the Elusive Bliss,” which is also viewable on YouTube.

Again, thank you for the kind words, Kymber.

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