Meet The Team
Morals.
Manners.
Music.
The team behind the documentary is a dedicated group of passionate individuals who poured their hearts and souls into every aspect of the production. This devoted team came together with a common purpose — to honor and preserve a powerful legacy. Made even more impactful by its cast, which includes some of the original Melody Maids, the film is the result of collective care, collaboration, and deep respect for the legacy of the Melody Maids.
Kai Jai Conner
Executive Producer | Director | Narrator
Kai Jai Conner, a direct descendant of Glenda Walters Brown, a Melody Maids member, assumes her debut as Executive Producer for The Melody Maids Movie. Her mother, Glenda Brown, was a Melody Maid from 1951 to 1958. After Ms. Brown’s passing in 2021, Ms. Conner began her journey to honor her mother and The Melody Maids by producing this passion project.
Ms. Conner has assembled an award-winning creative team. Her extensive business background and project management skills, combined with her commitment to uncover volumes of Melody Maids' archival content, are the driving force ensuring the success of The Melody Maids Movie project.
Doug Forrest
Director | Producer | Writer
Doug Forrest is a multi-talented actor, recording artist, writer, producer, and studio artist with over forty years of experience in the entertainment industry. His diverse career has spanned television, music, and live performance, showcasing his versatility and creative depth across a wide range of projects.
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Among his notable works is Planet Camp (2007), a children’s TV pilot developed in collaboration with Jim Henson Muppeteers and Disney creatives. Doug has also made his mark in Broadway and musical productions with appearances on MTV, Grand Hotel, and Tall Texan. His enduring presence in the industry reflects a lifelong dedication to storytelling and performance.
Michael Cain
Co-Executive Producer
Media and Festival Consulting
Michael is the President and Executive Producer of M3 Films. He is a creative visionary and savvy business leader, dedicated to changing the world for the better based on the belief that film, more than anything, can change people’s hearts and minds to bring about positive solutions. Michael received a Master of Arts in Producing from the American Film Institute where he was the Commencement Speaker.
As President of M3 Films, Michael has gained recognition for award-winning documentaries with socially relevant content. He directed and produced TV Junkie, purchased by the HBO Addiction series, winning the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize. Additionally, Michael has produced more than twenty feature films for HBO & SHOWTIME and partnered with The New York Times on a drug prevention film and educational program, “Faces of Addiction,” that won an AVA Award. Other notable accomplishments include launching multiple successful film festivals: the Deep Ellum Film Festival, the Santa Monica International Film Festival, the Dallas International Film Festival, and EarthxFilm Festival. Filmmaker Magazine named Michael as one of the Top 10 Film Festival Programmers. Michael’s proudest role, though, is being a husband to Melina and father to Athena and Delphine.
Lisa Cottle
Assistant to Executive Producer
Lisa Cottle brings a multifaceted background to media production, with experience spanning broadcast television, education, and state-level leadership. Her early career included various roles at KHOU-TV in Houston and culminated with her serving as a Director for the Texas Education Agency, where she oversaw the production of statewide legal and instructional materials. A graduate of UT Austin with a degree in Radio-Television-Film, Lisa has also earned additional degrees and certifications in education, counseling, and management and supervision.
Throughout her career, Lisa has worked as a video production artist, writer, educator, counselor, editor, and events coordinator. Her interdisciplinary expertise reflects a lifelong commitment to communication, creativity, and service. She considers it a joyous honor to support her friend, Ms. Conner, in the creation of The Melody Maids Movie.
