A writer's look at the writing industry and the Internet.

Every now and then we come across something that puts us at a loss for words — either because it’s appalling short-sighted or because it’s so incredibly insightful. The following short film by Mexican film-maker Alonso Alvarez Barreda, Historia de un Letrero (Story of a Sign), falls into this latter category.

The film’s YouTube page says that it won the Cannes Film Festival 2008 Short Film category, but I could not find reference to it on the Festival’s 2008 Short Films or Awards pages. However, I did find it as the winner of the Canadian National Film Board’s 2008 Annual Cannes Online Competition, along with articles about the prize by sites such as NowPublic and even Digg.

I’m sure you’ll agree that it is a powerful piece.

I think the film illustrates a good point — both in writing copy and with human nature — that people are more likely to react to something if it engages them directly, rather than merely observed about a third-party.

(Thanks to Kristen from inkthinkerblog for sharing it).