The Birth Of "REAL PRAYERS ARE SAID IN GERMAN"

A Note From Ann Hagemann

In the fall of 2015 when all Cubs fans thought "this would be the year," I wrote a Facebook post about my Father and how his love of baseball, the Cubs, music, and his strong German roots got him and his sisters through some very tough times during WWII after their father took ill...

SARAH DREW (ATTACHED)

Marsella Baumann

Filmography:
Grey’s Anatomy, Mistletoe Murders (Lead & EP), Jimmy (2026), multiple Hallmark & Lifetime movies

Marsella is the daughter of German immigrants, she is a hard-working mother, a traditional homemaker, but often works in the fields when her beloved Joseph needs help. When Joseph is diagnosed with TB and taken to a sanitarium, depression takes over and she withdraws from her children. Her mother, Pop'em, helps her see that even in the darkest of times we can choose to be happy.

THE BAUMANN FAMILY

Ruth - Age 13, Ruth is the eldest of the Baumann Children. She shares a common bond of Music with her Father Joseph and wins a spot to sing on a local radio program. When he becomes ill, she takes on the responsibilities of a 2nd Mother to her younger siblings and prays for the day when her family can once again be whole. While our story is told from all 3 Children’s point of view, it is Ruth and Billy who lead the way. 

Margie - Age 6, Margie loves playing with their farm dog Shep, collecting chicken feathers, and spending time with her Opa Hook. Feeling lost when her Daddy becomes ill, Margie’s Grandmother, Pop’em, arranges for her to take Accordion lessons and all soon realize they have a prodigy in their midst.

Billy - Age 10, the middle child and lover of baseball, the Chicago Cubs, and enemy of spiders. Billy uses baseball to cope with his Father’s illness, the Anti-German Sentiment they are victim to, and the poverty of wartime farming life.

Joseph - Joseph, mid to late 30s, is the son of German Immigrants, and like his Father, a farmer. With a family first attitude, he adores his wife and children. As a huge Chicago Cubs Fan, he’s often found playing baseball with his children in the fields and teaching them German Folk Songs. Even though Joseph and his family are victims of Anti-German sentiment, he encourages his children to be proud of their Heritage and to face adversity with courage and dignity. When Joseph is diagnosed with TB and taken to a sanitarium, his mission is to be reunited with his family.

Ann Hagemann

Pop’em

Filmography:
Love’s Second Act, Seniors, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Hannah Free

German Immigrant, maternal grandmother to our children and nicknamed so as she was always "popping" German pies and cakes in the oven. She is the call to action character of our story. While she can sometimes be a "bull in a china shop", she does so to help and protect her family.

ANN HAGEMANN

Story By / Producer / Actor

Acting Reel

Ann is a Producer/Actor/Writer and proud member of SAG-AFTRA/AEA, Women in Film and IFA Chicago (Fiscal Sponsor of Say It in German).

• Attached as Pop’em in “Say It in German.”

• Strong supporting role as Jodie Sweetin’s (Full House, Fuller House, Hallmark) Mom in “Love’s Second Act,” currently playing on Amazon Prime & the Great American Family app.

• “Seniors,” feature film, supporting role alongside stars John Rhys-Davies & Paris Brosnan, currently playing in theaters nationwide.

• “Trapped in the Cabin,” a Lifetime thriller, playing Tiffany Smith’s (Harry & Meghan, Guardians of the Galaxy) Mom. Streaming on the Lifetime app.

• “Wardcliffe,” a dark feature film, playing Joel McKinnon Miller’s (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Big Love) wife. Soon to be on Netflix.

• Co-Star on “Chicago Med” & “Chicago Fire.”

• Producer/Actor in the rom-com “Less Than 30” on Amazon Prime.

• Produced and starred opposite Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl) in the short “Farewell, Charlie.”

• Starred opposite Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) in the feature film “Hannah Free,” which won Best Overall Feature at the Frameline Film Festival and many others.

• Creator and writer of the short stories “Real Prayers Are Said in German,” the basis for this project. These stories are based on true events from Ann’s dad’s childhood in Central Illinois during WWII.

STEPHEN RUMINSKI

Line Producer / UPM

Stephen Ruminski is a Chicago-based filmmaker. Originally born in Indiana, Stephen has been interested in filmmaking and storytelling since the age of 12.

• Stephen is a member of the Directors Guild of America and has worked on episodic TV & film as Line Producer, Unit Production Manager, Co-Producer and Location Coordinator.

• Location Coordinator for the series “Paper Girls,” available on Prime Video.

• UPM/Line Producer on the 2024 SXSW feature film selection “We Strangers,” directed by Anu Valia.

• Location Coordinator for the series “Fargo,” available on Hulu.

• UPM for “The Unseen” on Netflix, Prime Video & Disney+.

• Worked on the award-winning films “The Good Catholic” & “Ms. White Light,” both directed by Paul Shoulberg. “The Good Catholic” is playing on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

• Line Producer for “Christmas at the Zoo,” streaming on Tubi starting Nov. 10, 2026.

• Line Producer for “Exes of Christmas Past,” available on Prime Video, Pluto & Apple TV+.

• Co-Producer & Line Producer for “Christmas on the Ranch,” available on Hulu.

• Worked on the studio films “Candyman,” produced by Jordan Peele, and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” directed by Aaron Sorkin.

• Writer/Director of the documentary “The Belle Gunness Mystery” and the narrative short “Belle,” both based on true events in the life of serial killer Belle Gunness.

• Stephen attended Flashpoint Academy in Chicago, IL.

Maggie Mahrt

Director

Demo Reel

Maggie is a natural born director, one with a deep passion for storytelling and world building.

• Maggie is a graduate of John Paul the Great Catholic University with a degree in film.

• Directed the feature film “O, Brawling Love,” now streaming on Amazon Prime.

• Directed the pilot “The Carpenter” for a new biblical series currently being developed & shopped.

• Partnering with Bank of America and Changing Lives GH, Maggie traveled to Accra, Ghana, to direct a commercial about the real impact being made for underprivileged kids there. Broadcasting soon.

• Was one of 10 directors selected for the Netflix ABQ Directors Workshop with Mo McRae.

• Maggie is in pre-production on a feature-length documentary, directing all its historical reenactments. Production begins Jan. 2027 in Madrid, Spain.

• Writing her feature film “Martha and the Dragon,” a project a decade in the making that is now finding its moment to reach the screen.

• Writer/Director of “Unbound,” which was selected for numerous Academy Award qualifying festivals and won Best Director, Sci-Fi/Fantasy & audience choice awards at HollyShorts. (Enjoy a cutting from this in Maggie’s Demo Reel above.)

Represented by Samuel Curphey Law Office.

Angela Morris

Screenwriter

• B.S. in Theatre Performance with an Associated Study in Literature from the University of Edwardsville, IL.

• Writer of the shorts “My Best Girl” and “Real Prayers Are Said in German,” both of which have also been produced.

• Writer of the original feature screenplay “Less Than 30,” in which she also stars (available on Prime Video).

• Writer of the feature screenplay “Say It in German,” with story by Ann Hagemann, based on the “Real Prayers Are Said in German” short stories.

• Supporting actor in the feature “A Social Contract,” starring Sean Astin, releasing soon.

• Supporting actor in the feature “Never Not Yours,” available on Tubi and Prime Video.

• Guest & Co-Star on “Chicago P.D.” & “Chicago Med.”

• Voice actor for the video games “Perception” & “Romancelvania.”

• Recurring role as Charlotte Dawson in the podcast “Death by Dying.”

• Stage roles at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre & the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

• SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Board Member, Convention Delegate & Co-Chair of the NextGen Performers Chicago Committee.