An architect responsible for drawing up plans for a new home in the Pacific Palisades visited the existing home scheduled to be demolished. Something about this old house touched her soul. That’s when she called screenwriter and director, Dominique Schilling to come see the home before it was destroyed. Schilling felt something special about the old home as well.
After spending some time at the home Schilling was inspired to write the film “A Reason.” Feeling compelled by her experience at the home, and the large old shade tree that stood in the backyard, the story of the cancer stricken elderly childless Aunt Irene who lives here emerged. Producer Caroline Risberg who happens to be a friend of Schilling’s fell in love with the script.
“I was so taken by the story and this is a project that I feel very passionate about.” Says Risberg.
From that point things seemed to fall right into place, starting with permission to film on location at the very home that inspired it all. Actor Marion Raross, well-known for her starring role as Mrs. Cunningham in the hit TV show “Happy Days,” immediately agreed to play the lead role of Aunt Irene after reading the script.
“I am so blessed to be able to do the types of things that I really want to do these days.” Ms. Ross said and then with a smile, “And once I say ‘Yes’ I immediately begin to think to myself, ‘What did I get myself into this time? Thank God I’m always more than happy with the decision.”
In the soon to be released film, Aunt Irene invites who is left of her somewhat estranged family for a last weekend at her home so that she may go over what’s left of her reasonably large estate. Having no children of her own Aunt Irene became very attached to her niece Serena, played by actress Magda Apanowicz, after the death of Serena’s mother who was Aunt Irene’s sister.
There is tension since Aunt Irene had high aspirations for Serena, who has ideas of her own that do not coincide. Now faced with death Aunt Irene invites Serena along with the remaining members of her extended family to announce how her estate will be divided among them.
Gathering her family around her for this one last time sets off unexpected events that force her to rethink the concepts of family, love, and forgiveness.
The cast of this heartfelt family drama includes, Nick Eversman, as nephew Nathan, as well as Roxanne Hart, Ron Melendez and Madeleine Falkskog as the other members of the Hilgrim family.
