Forgiving the Franklins (2006)

Director:

Jay Floyd

Writer:

Jay Floyd (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

There's more than one way to be born again.

Plot:

A conservative, God fearing Southern family is spiritually changed by an auto accident, but who they become puts them at odds with the highly conservative values around them.

Plot Keywords:

Football | Car Crash | Bible | Lawyer | Bible Belt

Cast

Teresa Willis	...	Betty Franklin
Robertson Dean	...	Frank Franklin
Aviva	...	Caroline Franklin
Vince Pavia	...	Brian Franklin
Mari C. Blackwell	...	Peggy Lester
Pop DaSilva	...	Jesus Christ
Zak Spears	...	Coach Caldwell (as Khris Scaramanga)
Andy Forrest	...	The Pastor
Doug Purdy	...	Junior Law Partner
Bob Savage	...	Senior Law Partner
Terry Leftgoff	...	Bert Lester
Erica Woodson	...	Station Attendant
Kimberly Price	...	Christian Parent's Association Leader
Tracy Berna	...	Christian Women's Group member
Suzanne Brown	...	Christian Parent's Association Woman
Jenica Bergere	...	Christian Parent's Association Woman (as Jenica Jackson)
Dale Johannsen	...	Christian Parent's Association Woman
Jolene Knight	...	Christian Parent's Association Woman
Noreen Coyne	...	Church Member
Elizabeth Anne Swenson	...	Church Member (as Elizabeth Swenson)
Steve Tilly	...	Church Member
Megan Willis	...	Church Member

Directed by
Jay Floyd

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jay Floyd		writer

Produced by
Jay Floyd	....	producer
Rob Houk	....	producer

Original Music by
Cindy O'Connor

Film Editing by
Lawrence Benedict
Elizabeth Schroder

Sound Department
Andy D'Addario	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Fisk	....	sound effects editor
Aaron Levy	....	sound re-recording mixer
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Kacie Haggerty	....	digital film producer

Editorial Department
Paul Bronkar	....	supervising digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Mike Mehesan	....	score mixer
Julie Sessing	....	music clearance

Other crew
Denis Leconte	....	software developer

Thanks
Jonathan Smart	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Grinning Idiot Entertainment

Distributors

• Grinning Idiot Entertainment (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Indie-Pictures (2008) (worldwide) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Roberson Public Relations  DVD release publicity

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content including a scene of aberrant intimacy, graphic nudity, frank dialogue and some language.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Grinning Idiot Entertainment

Trivia:

This film was made without a film crew, as evidenced by the end credits.

Quotes:

[Jesus has been chopping down a cross]
Jesus Christ: These things aren't sacred, it's a piece of wood. It's a marketing tool, really, a very, very annoying marketing tool. Of all the things I tried to do with my life, this is how I'm remembered? This was the worst day of my life, don't get me started!

Movie Connections:

References "The Sopranos" (1999)

An unexpected lurking kindness

It's always a pleasure to see characters in a movie who are wholly good-hearted and well-intentioned, even when they're surrounded by those who are neither. The film's moderately silly premise is that the conservative, religious Franklin family (mother, father, teen boy and girl) are involved in an accident wherein the parents and brother have a near-death experience during which they meet Jesus, a pleasant but somewhat exasperated soul who removes from them the burden of 'original sin.' When they return to their lives, many of their views and attitudes have changed, much to the consternation of the daughter, who didn't share the experience. The religious side is, I think, presented with a good balance, from the good (Jesus) to the starkly awful (those of his 'followers' who are obsessed with the sins of others and utterly oblivious to their own). It's a movie to make you think, give you a few good laughs along the way, and leave you with the pleasant feeling that the world just might be a nicer place than you think it is.