Flora's Death Experience

Flora's Death Experience

Bruce Von Stiers

Very few people have an idea of when they think they are going to die. Most of us want to live as long as possible.

But what would you do if your death came to you as a person? That is the premise of the delightful short comedy film, Death Pays Flora A Visit.

Flora is sitting on a park bench. A man comes and sits down next to her. He introduces himself as Death. And he tells Flora it's her “time.”

At first, Flora thinks this guy is more than a little bit crazy. Then Flora realizes that this is real, or rather, surreal. But Flora doesn't want to die yet. She has too many things she wants to do before she dies.

So, Death makes Flora a deal. She can switch places with any of the next six people he shows her. This leads to some very comical and unintended consequences.

Paris Dylan played a guy who completely mishandled the end of a first date and is trying to fix things. He co-starred in Hollywood Werewolf and starred in the comedy horror short film Footnote.

Carlena Britch played an athletic woman on an exercise machine. Her credits include a recurring role on Another Life and she co-starred in a recent episode of Tracker.

Sylvia Brooks played a woman, with a dog, standing at a mailbox. There is also a little girl eating an ice cream cone. She was played by Summer Kitchens.

Ruth Silvera played Gladys, a character who will have to endure the same fate as Flora. She co-starred in Inland Empire and appeared in A Grandpa For Christmas.

The film is anchored by the veteran actors who played Flora and Death. Flora was played by Mimi Kennedy. From starring in the sit-com, The Two of Us, to co-starring in Mom, and a whole slew of dramatic roles, she is easily recognizable. And she has over a hundred screen credits.

Death was played by Eric Roberts. Like Mimi Kennedy, Eric Roberts is easily recognizable. From supporting to starring roles, Roberts has over eight hundred screen credits. I have reviewed a couple of Roberts most recent films, Insane Like Me? and Sallywood.

Tanna Frederick was the director. Frederick starred in the comedy Ovation and the mystery thriller The Undead. Although she has directed numerous theatrical productions, Death Pays Flora A Visit is Frederick's film directorial debut.

Ray Wongchinda was the director of photography. His previous credits include the documentary America's Burning and the short films Reunited and Cone of Shame.

The screenplay was written by Sy Rosen. He's written for shows such as Taxi, The Wonder Years, Frasier and The First Family.

Postproduction was done by Westwind Media, which has provided postproduction sound services for Grey's Anatomy.

An interesting tidbit I learned about the film was that it was the park scenes were shot in the backyard of Eric Roberts and his wife, Eliza. The production crew did such a good job that I thought it was shot in an actual park.

Comedy films are plentiful. There are terrible comedies and quite a few that are mediocre. Then there are some that good. And there are just a handful of comedy films that are really great. It's my opinion that Death Pays Flora A Visit falls into the really great comedy film category. It takes probably the most dramatic event in a person's life and turns it into something quirky, fun and thoroughly entertaining.

Death Pays Flora A Visit has been featured at several film festivals. It won the Best Short award at the Gig Harbor Film Festival, the Audience Favorite award at the Cambria Film Festival and the Director's Choice and Best Short Comedy at the Sedona International Film Festival.

The film does not have a formal release currently. But it will be featured at the upcoming Atlanta Film Festival.

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