"Family Plots" (2004) TV series

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

19 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Reality-TV

Plot:

An intimate look at the inner-workings of the family-run Poway-Bernardo Mortuary in Poway, California.

Plot Keywords:

Mortuary | Non Fiction

Cast

Shonna Wissmiller-Smith	...	Herself - Senior Funeral Director (36 episodes, 2004-2005)
Chuck Wissmiller	...	Himself - Funeral Assistant (34 episodes, 2004-2005)
Rick Sadler	...	Himself - Mortuary Manager (32 episodes, 2004-2005)
Emily Vigney	...	Herself - Office Manager (28 episodes, 2004-2005)
John Greeney	...	Himself - Funeral Director (22 episodes, 2004-2005)
David Moravee	...	Himself - Funeral Director (19 episodes, 2004-2005)
Melissa Wissmiller	...	Herself - Assistant Funeral Director (18 episodes, 2004-2005)

Series Directed by
Daniel Elias		(38 episodes, 2004-2005)
Andrew Dunn		(22 episodes, 2005)
Po Kutchins		(22 episodes, 2005)
Catherine L. McCarthy		(22 episodes, 2005)

Series Produced by
Daniel Elias	....	executive producer (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
David Houts	....	executive producer (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
Courtney Reilly	....	coordinating producer / associate producer (33 episodes, 2004-2005)
Darcy Dennett	....	field producer / producer / ... (24 episodes, 2005)
Toby Oppenheimer	....	field producer / series producer (24 episodes, 2005)
Catherine L. McCarthy	....	series producer / producer (18 episodes, 2005)
Po Kutchins	....	series producer / producer (16 episodes, 2004-2005)
Andrew Dunn	....	field producer (16 episodes, 2004)
Anne Sundberg	....	series producer / producer (16 episodes, 2004)
Stacia Thompson	....	series producer (16 episodes, 2004)
Kendall E. Canner	....	coordinating producer (8 episodes, 2005)
Laurissa James	....	coordinating producer (8 episodes, 2005)
Robert Palumbo	....	producer (8 episodes, 2005)
Adriana Pacheco	....	producer (5 episodes, 2005)
Jayson Haedrich	....	field producer / series producer (4 episodes, 2005)
Paige Lauman	....	producer (2 episodes)
Allan Title	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Joel Goodman		(42 episodes, 2004-2005)
Dan Stein		(42 episodes, 2004-2005)
David Bramfitt		(39 episodes, 2004-2005)

Series Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn		(24 episodes, 2005)

Series Film Editing by
Paige Lauman		(6 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jennifer Polk		(6 episodes, 2004-2005)
Adriana Pacheco		(5 episodes, 2004-2005)
Sinead Kinnane		(4 episodes, 2004-2005)
Mark Augustine		(4 episodes, 2004)
Sara Keller		(4 episodes, 2005)
Simeon Hutner		(3 episodes, 2004-2005)
Patricia Sunshine		(3 episodes, 2005)
Tia Schellstede		(3 episodes)
Allan Title		(2 episodes, 2004)
Neil Gegna		(2 episodes)
Jordan Montminy		(2 episodes)
Beth Segal		(2 episodes)
Stacia Thompson		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Laura Madden	....	production manager (21 episodes, 2005)
Kendall E. Canner	....	production manager (16 episodes, 2004)

Series Art Department
Heidi Strykiewicz	....	art director: opening segment (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Roy Marasigan	....	sound recordist (20 episodes, 2005)
David Wilson	....	sound post-production mixer (20 episodes, 2005)
Daniel Elias	....	audio (16 episodes, 2004)
Jayson Haedrich	....	audio (16 episodes, 2004)
David Houts	....	audio (16 episodes, 2004)
Benny Mouthon	....	sound re-recording mixer (12 episodes, 2004)
David Wilson	....	sound post-production mixer / audio post-production (9 episodes, 2004)
Lou Teti	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Darcy Dennett	....	camera operator (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jayson Haedrich	....	camera operator (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
Toby Oppenheimer	....	camera operator (25 episodes, 2005)
Andrew Dunn	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 2004)
Daniel Elias	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2004)

Series Editorial Department
Björn Bellenbaum	....	video post-production (23 episodes, 2005)
Lee Meyer	....	post-production assistant (21 episodes, 2005)
Tia Schellstede	....	assistant editor / additional editor (19 episodes, 2004-2005)
Mark Hervey	....	supervising assistant editor (18 episodes, 2005)
Josh Braslow	....	supervising assistant editor / assistant editor (17 episodes, 2005)
Fabien Jupile	....	additional editor (15 episodes, 2004)
Jennifer Polk	....	additional editor (14 episodes, 2004)
James Monohan	....	post-production coordinator (10 episodes, 2004)
Kristy Huffman	....	assistant editor / post-production coordinator (10 episodes, 2005)
Neil Gegna	....	additional editor / assistant editor (5 episodes, 2005)
Keith Sicat	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 2004)
Mike Alfin	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 2005)
Robert Fiorille	....	assistant editor (4 episodes)
Timothy Lozada	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2004)
Emmanuel Donio	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Music Department
Didier Rachou	....	composer: additional music (15 episodes, 2004)
Tom Maxwell	....	composer: main theme (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Amy Albright	....	production assistant (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
Deborah Kreisman	....	production coordinator / production assistant (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
Danielle P. Lazar	....	production coordinator / production assistant (41 episodes, 2004-2005)
Sorayya Kassamali	....	sequencing / senior production assistant (40 episodes, 2004-2005)
Diana Kaluza	....	production assistant / production intern (30 episodes, 2004-2005)
Chad Coates	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Sara Eckerson	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Jacob Kedzierski	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Lisa Levey	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Ali Malik	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Giovanni Massa	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Kevin Moore	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Danielle Neufeld	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Rori Pitts	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Nina Sang	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Aaron Warren	....	sequencing (25 episodes, 2005)
Daniel Zier	....	production assistant (25 episodes, 2005)
Hanna Park	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 2005)
Elana Breshgold	....	production assistant (23 episodes, 2005)
Mei Chun Lin	....	sequencing (22 episodes, 2005)
Lee Meyer	....	production assistant (17 episodes, 2005)
Elizabeth Rich	....	production assistant (17 episodes, 2005)
Shareen Anderson	....	researcher (16 episodes, 2004)
Susan Araujo	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Marisa Bergquist	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Josh Braslow	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Richard Butts	....	production intern (16 episodes, 2004)
Elena Casanova	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Timothy Cavaretta	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Jodi Gibson	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Andrew Hanna	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Mark Hervey	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Phoebe Krueger	....	production intern (16 episodes, 2004)
Diana Milani	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Adrienne Silverman	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Rikky Walsh	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 2004)
Lauren Brandstein	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 2005)
Elizabeth Rich	....	production assistant (8 episodes)
Neil Gegna	....	additional series editor (3 episodes)
Oscar Garcia	....	production intern (2 episodes, 2004)

Production Companies

• A&E Television Networks

Distributors

• A&E Television Networks (USA)
• Arts & Entertainment Video (2004) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Poway, California, USA

Company:

A&E Television Networks

This is an actually a very realistic family reality-TV show.

I have to admit that I find this program entertaining and down to earth. I enjoy watching cast and the story plot.

There is not enough mention on the television about the burial ritual. How we are honored and mourned when we leave this world, which we all will have to face. Therefore, the aspect I get is very refreshing and even a novelty. This might sound ghoulish but actually the way they show it is done very tastefully and not macabre.

I do not find this program boring at all. As a matter a fact, I wish it were an hour long instead of half an hour. The cast of characters are very real and I can sometimes relate with some of the family issues and the difficulties they face when it come down to the wire when meeting deadlines at the funeral home. I have plenty of deadlines to meet and it can get very crazy to say the least.

Two thumbs up. Thank you, A & E for your excellent programming!!