I’m Scottish/Irish on one side and German/English on the other and so today I embrace my Celtic roots and I’ll be taking the afternoon off to drink some green beer and talk shop with some of my amigos. Cornbeef and cabbage is cooking so I can shift down this evening to coffee and some eats. It is a wonderful day here and yesterday I even started some lawn clean up. I can’t wait for more grill and chill time this spring/summer/fall.

I have much to be thankful for and recently we have been gathering extra materials and doing retrospective interviews and commentary for the upcoming releases of FIGURE IN THE FOREST (Aug 10th) and HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS (Aug 27th). The masters have been delivered and we are gathering artwork and also paperwork but digging it all up took us back to some good times.

Also deals are underway on 3 other movies for release for the years end. Once signed I will make some announcements. Also many development talks are underway and we are seeing some great movement on a few of our projects. I think we might have found our lead for WILD MICHIGAN and the soundtrack is also shaping up. The idea is that the soundtrack will be called BACK TO THE ROOTS and feature popular R&B artists doing old negro spirituals and also some other famous artists doing folk songs of the same time period. We did get interest from Fantasia to do a song and more will be announced.

I’m trying to finalize a few other acting deals. RENOVATION is hard in post and folks got a 1st peek at www.renovationthemovie.com and I pulled an all night shoot last weekend which because of the time change messed me up. I also feel bad because at the nights end I meant to send an email to a producer friend and it went out as a text message and long short I woke him up at 4:00am…sorry! I was sending it before I went to bed in the morning so I can get an answer to some business that happened Sat. night… Phones, technologies…ahhh! Hard to keep up on it all sometimes.

We won our indoor soccer league last session only losing one game by one goal. We will see how that translates to outdoor this season. I’m taking the last indoor session off because of acting commits. I love the game but work comes first and I may be out of state for a week here soon.

Well I’m going to make this a short update because I have guests coming soon but I hope everyone is enjoying the approaching Spring.

“You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind” – Irish Saying

I think about this because the biggest pain in my butt project (YES “Wild Michigan”) is in the hands of an actress who could really change the flow. I was recently complimented by an agent/manager that I had a wonderful visual writing style and they predicted that my writing career would soon launch to the A list. If it does great but I write because I love it. I was told that is what shows on the page and inspires actors to bring it to the screen.

I will give a few great updates.

1st NEW LEADING LADY on the www.djperryfanclub.com site ran by the wonderful Pepper. I send her wishes and hope she feels better.

http://www.djperryfanclub.com/Shawn.html

The beautiful Shawn is another one of my co-stars from “RENOVATION” and I’m happy to spotlight her.

Also the website is launched www.renovationthemovie.com and will go active with trailer tomorrow.

Also things are heating up around the board. I’m giving an advance announcement to my blog followers that two of our dramas “Figure in the Forest” and “Heaven’s Neighbors” will get their wide DVD release in August 2010 here. There will be a full campaign with new trailers, DVD’s with commentary and interviews. Here are the facebook pages so please join and show your support and be plugged into all the updates.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Figure-in-the-Forest/312181314099?ref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heavens-Neighbors/342762080271?ref=ts

Also “Figure in the Forest” will play on TBN next week. It is playing late on the east coast here so you might have to record it.

TBN (Comcast channel 392) has FITF on their broadcast schedule for March 16th from 2 to 3:30 a.m. – Set your alarm – Grab a hanky and enjoy a fine Michigan-made movie.

There are more deals in the works that will take CDI films to other parts of the world. CDI also now has an official 1st look deal with Triumphant Entertainment International for domestic release. We are looking forward to a fine working relationship with them. Exciting new developments soon.

Also anyone wanting to see DJ Perry’s 1st time in a film ONE OF US actually is now on DVD via amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Jennifer-Jill-White/dp/B003A02O3S/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1267891618&sr=1-8

I was very inexperienced but gave it everything I had. It is worth a look to see me playing a Frat Boy:)

Well that is enough on the updates for now I have to gather my stuff to travel to the film set in about 2 hours. I hope everyone is having a wonderful morning and enjoy the day. SPRING is near!

DJ

We are seeing changes with the Earth and maybe we have not pin pointed the scientific cause, global warming, sun flares, core temps but we do know that this planet is alive. When she shakes SH#@^ HAPPENS! So I send out my sincere wishes to the people trying to recover yesterday and today from these acts. Now to my other friends on major fault lines…be alert. Even Michigan has some fault lines and over the decades we have felt a few vibrations but we don’t have walls of water rushing at us in the wake of it all.

I’ll get on with the movie updates now. The deals are signed on FIGURE IN THE FOREST and HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and in August they will release. We are actually gathering EXTRA materials for the DVD’s. We may have many more announcements of other countries and other films finding their way to you.

We are filming this weekend on LOCKED IN A ROOM this weekend and I believe Tony Hornus and Curtis Hall are in action. Last week we had “Ghost Town’s” Robert Bradley in action and man was it cool! I think that project is really shaping up to be a great projects and we are proud of how the set was ran by our AT RISK ENTERTAINMENT partners.

Over to Yuma, AZ where in dark rooms the editing is underway. The new website is launched but not fully functional. It will be adding more almost daily so bookmark it and keep tabs.

www.Renovationthemovie.com

The trailer will officially launch on March 7th, 2010 and so get ready to check it out.

More updates soon.

DJ

We had a great showing of “The Book of Ruth, Journey of Faith” on TBN, a special presentation with no commercial. I had several people  email me or reach out on facebook and that was nice. I encourage viewers to put their thoughts, reviews up on IMDB.com under the film. Of course the trolls and folks with an ax to grind will also come out but like I said before if you don’t take something positive from the film you have issues. WHY? We all face hardships and we all will face death. Friends, love and faith to one another is a lesson that should be taken to heart. It is not perfect and few films are. My own brothers comment was “you looked cold in that 1st scene on the mountain top.” He and his girlfriend watched and they noticed my nipples looked cold. Funny stuff. YES! We froze our butts off. I remember how cold Dan Haggerty, Carman, Salvatore and I were. Robes and sandals as the sun is rising on the windy mountain top was ah…COLD:) It looks great though. Artists do suffer for their art. Anyway, it was nice to see the film on TV and it is for sale on DVD. See amazon or ask your rental/retailers.

Here is a nice review of the film from a NYC source. Thank you Nana.

http://nightlycandywithnanaadwoa.com/2010/02/13/book-of-ruth-journey-of-faith-is-a-must-see/

Following all this I’m very happy to announce that two message filled dramas directed by our own Jeff Kennedy will get a wide DVD releases of “Figure in the Forest” and “Heaven’s Neighbors” in the US via Triumphant Entertainment International and their E1 output. They released “Blood Ties” and “An Ordinary Killer” in Oct. 09. “FIGURE” has started to find an audience after being licensed to TBN last year and “HEAVENS” has been a favorite of fans who have found the quirky comedy/drama that I starred in with Aaron Jackson. This will be the 1st wide DVD release for the two films. “FIGURE” stars Dean Teaster and MaryJo Cuppone and I play a nice support role with BELLE the dog:) Look for new websites, trailers and a July release for the two films.

* I think that with hard times effecting many (myself included) that uplifting stories have gained a new respect but are still a hard sell at times.

On a production note, I think that the two dramas above are deeper more meaningful films than the 1st two CDI films of “Knight Chills” and “From Venus” but filmmakers starting out will have more luck with horror, thriller, action. I think with the other films our “names” as actors have finally saturated into the market place enough that we can push these dramas successfully. Dramas are a steeper hill to climb but the material is very satisfying as Dean’s run in last week with a fan using the “FIGURE” movie to cope with a lost child. POWERFUL. So congrats to all the artists associated with those two films. Big congrats to Jeff Kennedy who directed them both and is slated to direct “Wild Michigan” this year.

Ah…I hear the grunts from here:) Damn “Wild MIchigan”…you watch that film is going to be a BIG hit. I’m going to call it here and now. It has been the biggest pain in the ass. I have a few other films looking for silver and bronze but the GOLD goes to WM. We have torn down the old and have been rebuilding the new. We have some amazing talent looking at the film now and I fully expect to make some announcements soon. We are on a verbal runway and paperwork is starting to be passed around. After all the other issues I will call the troops to war only after we have full coffers.

We are back in shooting on “Locked in a Room” a great little thriller. I will give a few drops here and now. My buddy Carlucci Weyant who starred with me in “Karma, Crime, Passion, Reincarnation” in India is coming to the Michigan to be in the film and also legendary actor Robert Miano. I had a great conversation with them both yesterday and this is happening. I’ve got friends who know Robert but we have not met as of yet so this will be fun.

I’m actively working to bring “KARMA” here to the US this year. It is a very unique movie and I really want to introduce it here. The music reminds me of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”… That film is one of my favorite HORROR films. Yes. I said horror.

Deals could be looming on two or three other films and we have our fingers crossed with a few TV networks. I think we are at that cool fan crossover point. Western fans are finding our dramas, Crime/thriller fans finding our horror films… Explore:)

“RENOVATION” has been quietly in post but I’ve seen the rough trailer and the color correct tests and I’m being promised any day now…new website coming as well! It will be worth the wait.

Tony Hornus who had a Bday yesterday has been working hard on doing some voice over work for our doc film “Outside the Wire” and I can’t wait to see the film with his track placed. We also have a few things moving with “A State of Hate” that will be Tony’s next CDI film.

Tonight it is off to dinner with some great friends in town for filming. Robert Bradley from “Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town” is in the Michigan and will be going on camera again Sat. Dan Haggerty/Terry Bomar and some of our other great friends are in town for another event and will be joining us for dinner tonight.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. As the ice melts I hope that any interferences to your own dreams and goals also melts away. Work hard and make some time for your loved ones.

DJ

Dean Teaster whom many folks know from his own work starred in his 1st film FIGURE IN THE FOREST several years ago. We licensed to TBN network last year and are in talks to do a wide DVD release. For those who don’t know it is a Jeff Kennedy directed piece, intimate and about a couple being torn apart after the death of their son. Really nice twist later in the film which I will not give away. Dean had gone to a government office to file some paperwork and the woman at the desk immediately recognized him from the film. She owes the film and watches it a few times a month to help herself deal with the loss of her own child. WOW!

I ask this, as a filmmaker. As an actor, composer, PA can you be any more blessed than to have created a piece of work that truly heals? Probably not. So I’m proud to have been part of that film and everyone else associated should too. We sometimes forget the power of our medium. It was a nice eye opener and I promise that the CDI tribe will continue to put good product out.

Tomorrow is BOOK OF RUTH playing TBN at 10:00 pm EST and if you like what you see drop the network a line. Just google TBN it’s there. I would love to get JUDGES on that network. Same director (Stephen Walker) but it will appeal to male audiences. Like I said, if they don’t redirect some of the programming towards men they (TBN) will also be passed over for ESPN:) Just some honesty.

http://nightlycandywithnanaadwoa.com/2010/02/13/book-of-ruth-journey-of-faith-is-a-must-see/

Great review from a viewer who keeps a wonderful blog.  I’m curious to see what others think. It does have some emotional punch.

Yesterday filming started on the new CDI co-production “Locked in a Room”…

http://www.28dayslateranalysis.com/2010/02/locked-in-room-better-than-being-locked.html

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19056

http://www.widgetbox.com/network/movies/post/lockedinaroom/3452949

http://horrorblips.dailyradar.com/story/at-risk-and-collective-prep-locked-in-a-room/

Looking forward to going on camera for a few days.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

“All we need is love”…(Okay now I feel very hippie like)

DJ

On the RENOVATION front I’m hearing exciting things about the new trailer and a website that is almost ready. I wanted to pass that along but it must not be quite ready. They were doing some color correction as of Thursday. I’m excited to give folks a first look. CDI is happy to be partnered up with the fine folks from Yuma!

Talking about partnering, the big update is that the ink is dry and CDI www.cdiproductions.com is now in association with At Risk Entertainment. They are another company from Michigan and will are excited to be working with them. Next weekend will see cameras rolling on the thriller “Locked in a Room” with Larry Simmons directing. Larry was a 250 finalist in the “Project Green Light” TV show. We have about completed casting and most of the talent is from Michigan including some of your favorites from the CDI troupe.  The film is a thriller/horror film will some great twists and turns.  (See poster)

We are in heavy post production on “Outside the Wire” with Tony Hornus and Dennis Therrian really working hard to tweak the picture. I think we are going to have an incredibly moving doc film!

The CDI slate is packaging up nicely with some surprisingly big names starting to look at projects. CDI is slowly moving the “Sherwood Horror” into packaging. This is a project that director John Regan (The Flock) approached me with and I optioned the property to produce. John will be another director that will join the CDI tribe and we welcome him. Right now we are looking at location and finance.

I’m in hopes of having some exciting WILD MICHIGAN news soon but I will remain hush, hush on that project until we get further down the line. That project became the hardest to launch after a major set back in funding. The issue is a legal one being dealt with in CA and I’m happy to say that we have made sure that this won’t happen to others. Unfortunately it had happened to some others and we are aligned with a group of filmmakers who also had their projects disrupted by lies.

Karma balances…speaking of, I’m working to try and bring “Karma: Crime, Passion, Reincarnation” here to the USA. A few of our movies are being evaluated by STARZ network and across the board we are working hard to make these movie open to audiences around the world.

So soon we will see some new first looks from RENOVATION. RUTH on TV. If you have not watched AN ORDINARY KILLER or BLOOD TIES that came out in Oct please do.

http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Killer-Terence-Knox/dp/B002FG9N8M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1265470826&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Ties-Jason-Carter/dp/B002FG9N8W/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1265470884&sr=1-6

Enjoy your weekend and have a safe Sunday as you watch the SUPERBOWL.

DJ

In current news “Book of Ruth, Journey of Faith” has been bouncing between #3 to #5 on amazon’s Top selling Faith films in the US. It also is scheduled to play on Valentines Day on TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) at 7:00 or 7:30…pm

I’m also doing a great interview for POPEATER on “Book of Ruth” so I’ll give a heads up on that. So far the feedback has been very positive. You’ll never get all positive but some people seem really moved. I’ve seen people laugh and cry while watching the film and as a filmmaker/actor can you ask for anything more?

I’m working on adding a few new Leading Ladies on Pepper’s fan site. We have a few RENOVATION actresses up now and a few more coming soon. I’m also told we are VERY close to having the trailer and website.

Several projects in various stages of development and some are getting just wonderful attention. In speaking of development I completed my 1st draft of FACE THE THUNDER which has been locked in my head for many years. A STATE OF HATE, HOLLY, JINGLES and CLYDE, SHERWOOD HORROR, TIMBERWOLF all pulling together. WILD MICHIGAN will rise from the ashes as recently the story itself has really touched some readers. 2010 is really shaping up to be a year of moving forward.

I have several films being looked at for television and foreign sales. So it is my sincere wish to get our films out there to even wider audiences. I will type more when my head isn’t sporting a dull pain.

DJ

I will start with giving an update on a few CDI affiliated projects. New foreign, TV and domestic deals underway on several early CDI films. Also several can be downloaded immediately on amazon.com ON DEMAND. Working on a major release for “The Patchwork Girl of OZ” and looking at getting domestic DVD releases on a few others. They can all be gotten on amazon.com or indieflix.com as well.

I should have some updates on AN ORDINARY KILLER which came out in Oct. 09 with BLOOD TIES and so I’m happy those films are getting out there. Dec 15th was the release for THE BOOK OF RUTH, JOURNEY OF FAITH and Jan. it will be for sale on amazon and other national rental/retailers. I’m also told that Trinity Broadcast Network will finally premiere the biblical film on Valentines Day Feb. 14th at 7:30 pm so check your listings.

I also have seen rough footage and images from our Yuma thriller RENOVATION. All the tapes have been captured and a trailer and new website will be coming forth very soon. I’m excited about this project and I’ve been talking to several distributors about the project.

Last week was also a good week of work on our doc film being led by Tony Hornus called “OUTSIDE THE WIRE: FORGOTTEN CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN.” I think this will be a wonderfully powerful look at our soldiers from around the world and showing humanitarian work.

Wild Michigan update. The LLC  business around the film has been dissolved, account closed and we are going after the guilty party with criminal charges. I’m happy to say this entity was exposed for lies (not in Hollywood) and their offices on the studio lot closed!  Since we have new friends who want to see the movie made. Some commits have been made but not enough funds yet. We will reopen once it is ready to roll. It was just costing us money to sit and we might have foreign partners so a whole different LLC might have to be formed. Any way you look at it that damn film will get made. The script is well liked and recently went through a studio greenlight process and got 4 of 5 stars so it is only a matter of time. It was just tough because we were on the ground, prepped and spent investment before being left high and dry. Live and learn! Oh, also torpedo their company so they don’t FU$#@#$ anyone else and press charges. It will all work out and that company will be sad they didn’t just go along for the good ride.

So much good energy as we sail into 2010! Many projects in development and I know a few will find their way into production.

Watch the www.cdiproductions.com for updates…

Many new additions to the Texas based www.djperryfanclub.com ran by Pepper. If you want to see something or have stuff to add let her know. We have a new group of Leading Ladies being listed with new most recent being Nathalie from “RENOVATION” so check it out!

Also for 2010 I invite you all to join “Clawing my Way to the Middle” blog which I also post to Myspace and on the fan site via Pepper.

http://djperryblog.com/

Best to us all in 2010!

DJ

I’ve also been seeing Randy Godwin in the theatrical trailers for “Youth in Revolt” and he also is now passed. For these friends, 2009 with all the hardships and ups and downs played no part.  It is funny as I’ve stated before I saw many good things come from this year. People pulling together and helping one another and also people spending time with one another versus paying for other distractions. So 2009 gets good marks in my book and I’m ready for whatever 2010 has in store.

Onto movie updates…

Pepper is doing some revamping on her fan page www.djperryfanclub.com and again I want to give her a big thanks and a solid shout to all her friends in Texas that have taken the time to enjoy our movies. We have a revamp on the Leading Ladies section and I have another “Renovation” co-star up now!

Leading Ladies homepage: www.djperryfanclub.com/LL.html

Nathalie’s page:  www.djperryfanclub.com/NBK.html

Also the “Book of Ruth” feedback has been good. I enjoy the feedback good or bad and so feel free to post on IMDB.com. It is in most Christian retailers and is expanding in Jan. 2010 to more mainstream outlets and will also see TV in 2010.

“Renovation” trailer is underway now and we will have something to tease you with very soon. So everyone have  a great and safe New Year’s Eve and I look forward to journeying into 2010 with you all.

Peace.

DJ