Cast and Crew
MOTHER'S DAY MEMORIES was created by a renowned cast and crew - a few shown here. And some trivia:
CAST
JODY JARESS (MOTHER)
Jody has garnered awards as an actor, jazz/blues singer, and director/writer. Her favorite spot, is sitting atop a mountain in a thunderstorm in Sedona, Arizona.
KAT KRAMER (MICHELLE)
Kat, daughter of legendary director Stanley Kramer. Named for her godmother Katharine Hepburn. Founded her "Films that Change the World" cinema series.
CONRAD BACHMANN (FATHER)
Conrad is a veteran of hundreds of TV episodes, films and commercials. In his 30's and 40's he was a hobo, hopping trains across the country.
BILL HOVERSTEN (JOHN)
Bill's diverse background ranges from acting to writing to news reporting to standup comedy. This marks his first writing-producing role.
CREW
MATTHEW MICHAEL ROSS (DIRECTOR)
Matthew's short film FOOD FOR THOUGHT was nominated for a Palme d'Or at Cannes. He recently track-tested his first NASCAR race car.
KEITH JEFFERIES (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Keith, a U.K. native, shot numerous BBC productions before moving to the U.S.
DOROTHY AMOS (COSTUME DESIGNER)
Dorothy has worked on many films and shows including GHOST WHISPERER and THE CLIENT LIST.
KAT FERNANDEZ (HAIR & MAKEUP)
Kat grew up in Hollywood as a neighbor of Jayne Mansfield.
NIKKI FLEMING (PRODUCTION DESIGNER)
Nikki, an actor with a fine arts background, is now branching out into production design and producing.
ALISON DAVIS (PRODUCTION COORDINATOR)
Alison contributed greatly to various aspects of the production. She was the glue holding the production together
CAST
JODY JARESS (MOTHER)
KAT KRAMER (MICHELLE)
KAT KRAMER (MICHELLE)
Jody studied acting, directing and stagecraft at WillO-Way Apprentice Theatre in Michigan, where during two years in summer stock she performed with George C. Scott, and had a Command Performance requested by Sir Basil Rathbone for her role as Kate in “Taming of the Shrew.”
She is a veteran of stage, film and TV. “Variety” reviewer Robert Koehler wrote, “Jody Jaress – excellent,” of her strong supporting role in the gritty feature ”Chain Link.” Jody also garnered honors in other films: a wife with Alzheimer’s in both “Fragile Storm” with Lance Henriksen and “Mother’s Day Memories;” feisty and strong in “So This Is Love” with Jack Donner; and dying mother in “Duke” with Spice Williams-Crosby. She won many awards as a first-time director/ screenwriter for her psychological drama, “Traces of Memory.”
Character roles: creepy midwife in “2 Bedroom 1 Bath” with Dee Wallace; protective maid in “Hollywoodland” with Adrian Brody; evil grandmother in “Frenemy” with Matthew Modine and Zach Galifinakis; and bible-toting Christian in “Chinaman’s Chance: America’s Other Slaves” with Ernest Borgnine and Timothy Bottoms.
Television guest star roles: "Days of Our Lives" and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” and series regulars on Anime and Manga projects. On stage she won Best Actress/Supporting Actress Awards for her roles in “Veronica’s Room,” “Equus,” and “The Gingerbread Lady.”
Jody was awarded the USO pin for years of dedication performing at military bases and US Navy ships. And for her years as an inspiring vocalist she was honored as a “Jazz and Blues Living Legend" and inducted into the Living Legend Foundation by the Duke Ellington Society of L.A., NAACP Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and the City of Los Angeles.
KAT KRAMER (MICHELLE)
KAT KRAMER (MICHELLE)
KAT KRAMER (MICHELLE)
Katharine "Kat" Kramer is a multifaceted entertainer, celebrity host and presenter.
She founded "Kat Kramer's Films That Change The World" to raise awareness of important social issues. Her father was iconic producer/director Stanley Kramer, known for movies on controversial topics: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “High Noon,” “Inherit the Wind," "Judgment at Nuremberg," and "On the Beach."
She has won stage acting awards as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker” and Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank."
Her one- woman shows include "The Colors Of Myself" "Kriss Krossing," "Katharine and the Kats," and "My Duet with Mick."
She is known for film roles in “Turnover” and “Little Fockers,” and the web series "Child of the 70's." Kat has performed musical salutes for Lily Tomlin and recorded an album of Rolling Stones covers, “Gemstones.”
As celebrity host, judge, presenter, entertainer, ambassador, board member, or honoree, Kat has graced numerous entertainment and media events and organizations: L.A. Comedy Awards, L.A. Music Awards, WIN Awards, The Toscars, Braveheart Women, Atomic Age Cinema Fest, Gypsy Awards, Diversity Awards, Miss Golden Globe, Hollywood Media Professionals, Palm Springs International Comedy Festival, L.A. Press Club, L.A. Women’s Theatre Festival, and Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters.
Fittingly, she is the West Coast Representative of the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center – since Kat is herself the namesake and goddaughter of screen legend Katherine Hepburn.
CONRAD BACHMANN (FATHER)
CONRAD BACHMANN (FATHER)
CONRAD BACHMANN (FATHER)
Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Conrad "Connie" Bachmann early on vowed to be a tap dancer, and was a cheerleader and entertainer at his school. He enlisted in the Air Force, and served in their “Special Services Entertainment” branch – touring the world performing shows for service members.
He was cast for his first series over 60 years ago in "Dobie Gillis."
Conrad has done numerous episodic TV shows, films, and stage musicals. He was Dr. Jim in "Tremors," worked with Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson in "Rules of Engagement," and co-starred with Rod Steiger and Jack Palance in "Portrait of a Killer."
He was Bing Crosby's double and stunt player in the remake of "Stage Coach." On television Conrad has had three series, "Tales of a Gold Monkey," "Love and Honor," and recurred on "Hunter" as Commander Stone. He also recurred on "West Wing" as Secretary of the Treasury, and on General Hospital in the role of Judge Lawrence.
Though living in California since 1957, Conrad's heart never left his hometown. Conrad co-founded Louisville Film Arts Institute (LFAI), which produces "Louisville's International Festival of Film,” now celebrating its 13th year in 2021. Conrad was honored with the naming of Conrad Bachmann Auditorium at his Valley High School.
In Hollywood he was honored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as the Co-Founder of the Stunt Peer Group, and was elected Governor of the Performers Peer Group for 12 years.
August 20, 2004 was proclaimed Conrad Bachmann Day in Louisville, and he received the Philanthropist Award from Easter Seals of Louisville.
BILL HOVERSTEN (JOHN)
CONRAD BACHMANN (FATHER)
CONRAD BACHMANN (FATHER)
Bill is an actor, writer, SAG signatory producer, stand up comedian and podcast host. "Mother's Day Memories" was inspired by his own mother's experience of having Alzheimer's.
He created and hosts the "But You're Not Funny!" podcast on YouTube and all audio platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, and Amazon/Audible.
Bill has done standup at legendary comedy clubs like The Comedy Store and the Ice House, and red carpet announcing from the Shrine and Pasadena Civic.
His radio work includes eight years of news broadcasting and a lead role in a scripted drama series, "Boylston Street," produced by WGBH and directed by the BBC's Vanessa Whitburn.
Working from LAPD headquarters, he was a police beat reporter for regional wire service City News. He has written feature stories for the LA Times, Huffington Post, LA Business Journal, and other publications.
His feature screenplay "The Secret War" has been a finalist in screenplay competitions including the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival and the Beverly Hills Film Festival. Bill was also a co-finalist with Oscar@ nominee Jose Rivera in the Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance contest, co-judged by Oscar@-winner Steven Zaillian.
CREW
MATTHEW MICHAEL ROSS (DIRECTOR)
KEITH JEFFERIES (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
KEITH JEFFERIES (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
After attending Purchase School of the Arts in NY, where he studied filmmaking and writing. he wrote and directed the independent feature, “Desperation Highway,” a psychological thriller, distributed by First Miracle Pictures. AON Films was created.
He wrote and directed award-winning films, including “Food for Thought,” nominated for a Palme D’or at the 52nd annual Cannes Film Festival, and winner at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, Santa Clarita Film Festival, and Thunderbird Film Festival
He also wrote and directed “A Package for Me,” starring Wendie Jo Sperber and David Leisure. The film won best short film at the Beverly Hills Film Festival and was invited to Palm Springs and other international festivals. He then directed “Fellowship of the Dice,” a feature mockumentary starring Aimee Graham.
Matthew became a WGA member by selling “The Wrong Target,” a Denzel Washington feature film pitch, to “Courage Under Fire” producer Joe Singer – as featured in the 12/14/02 issue of “Variety.”
He also sold two reality TV pitches to Merv Griffin Entertainment.
Besides writing and directing, Matthew worked for SONY Pictures as a staff EPK Editor/Producer.
Matthew has spoken on entertainment panels including Puchon Fantastic Film Festival (Puchon, Korea), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Film Festival (Savannah, GA) and Fast Forward Entertainment Panel (Los Angeles, CA)
Today he is writing and developing features, TV series, and producing his latest web series S.K.C., which premiered in 2017 and now has over 130k views, with 4 episodes released, and two episodes remaining.
KEITH JEFFERIES (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
KEITH JEFFERIES (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
KEITH JEFFERIES (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Keith is a U.K. native, where he attended the University of Manchester. He has shot award-winning films, directed on the BBC’s flagship international channel BBC World, and founded a successful regional TV station for cable company NTL.
Keith has produced hundreds of hours of ground-breaking television and film, and as a passionate director, his experience includes outside the box scripted drama, strong journalism-based documentary, entertaining music productions and highly effective promotional work.
In the United States, Keith has been DP on the episodic sci-fi show "In Zer0" and the dark comedy series “Felix Graves,” which he also co-directed.
Keith has worked on many films, including features "Monsters: The Dark Continent", "Grain" and “Hospice,” and as director of photography on "Naked Angel", "In Zer0: Fragile Wings" and "The Owner" — a global production that made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Keith is an artistic, creative and problem-solving director, director of photography and camera operator. Proud member of the International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600.