New Showmax ad captures how we all share a love of stories

Star Films’ Jonathan Parkinson directed the heart-warming new Showmax ad about a grandfather trying to connect with his granddaughter, written by Showmax’s creative team. 

The ad has charmed South Africa’s normally cynical Twittersphere: when media personality Anele Mdoda tweeted that it was “so cute,” her followers responded with their own stories of how the ad had them in tears.

“I always enjoy working on stories that are real and authentic, so I was really drawn to this script,” says Jonathan. “It’s a story that every family will understand.”

https://youtu.be/2zcLO1LAAWo

There’s A Show For That, Showmax’s launch commercials, won Bronze at this year’s Loerie Awards, but Love of Stories marks the first campaign created by Showmax’s in-house creative team. Jonathan was full of praise for creative director and writer Philippa Heal and the team: “Everyone on the Showmax team was willing to explore, and they appreciated the strong push towards the emotional, rather than the practical, going for ‘feel’ rather than overloading with too much information.”

“Why did we make such an emotional ad?” says Nicola van Ast, head of acquisition for Showmax. “Because SVOD is jargon; internet TV can be damn scary. We needed to bring our brand into people’s homes and hearts. Then, just maybe then, they’ll be open to being educated on how to use our product.”

With Showmax as a client, it was important that the commercial felt as cinematic as the thousands of shows available on ‘Everyone’s Anywhere TV.’ Award-winning DOP Rory O’Grady more than delivered, shooting with anamorphic lenses with that alluring 1:2.39 format. The cold that seeps through the initial frames wasn’t just a trick of Nic Apostoli’s grade though; Newtown played its part perfectly, gifting them a ‘coldest day’ to fit the script.

For Jonathan, the real stars of the show were Ernest Ndlovu as the lonely but resilient 75-year-old grandfather and Unathi March as his easily distracted five-year-old granddaughter, who together kept the balance between realism and emotion. “I love working with children, as they are the real magic in life,” says Jonathan, who also made the popular Oreo Princess ad a few years ago. “I had seen Unathi in another casting and realized that she would be ideal for this role. It’s very rare to come across a five-year-old who can be so relaxed delivering dialogue in front of the camera and a crowd of people. She reminded me so much of the little girl on the Oreo commercial and she was amazing; what a little friend to make, with such a great sense of humour.”

Ashley Kadish and Maggie Post produced the spot, which was edited by Graham Smith at Orchestra Blue, to a Michael Kiwanuka cover.