Clawing My Way to the Middle

Stay Cool – September Welcome

perrydj — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:27:57 +0000

Okay we had the fall tease of cool weather and Lion football (they actually won recently!) but now it is back to heat. When I was a younger man I loved the heat but usually that was because of sand and bikini’s. Now I truly do enjoy the cooler fall temps and I know they will be upon us soon enough followed by SNO…I’m not going to finish that word:)

I was told that I start almost all my blogs with a coffee reference but I guess I’m still hunting for that coffee sponsor. Official sponsor of getting DJ’s brain a moving and we could make it the CDI brand served on sets. Ok. I admit it I LOVE coffee.

Great story – As many of you know I make my home in Michigan. This is home where my friends and family are. My LA friend Nadia Dawn recently said that I needed to get out in LA and do more red carpet. She was saying that I could go A list with all my stuff going on. I do agree a little more personal appearance PR could be helpful and I do enjoy the LA scene where I can be DJ Perry actor, writer and producer BUT I also enjoy being a son, a brother, a soccer player and just me. My father might soon retire but his real love is being a picker. Watch American Pickers and you’ll understand. He does it as a hobby because he loves the wheeling and dealing. Often he’ll sell some little item he bought for two or three times the amount he paid. Some days in this hard industry that business looks appealing. So, I’ve gotten into “Craigs List” a little as I try to get rid of some stuff that is just unused. I made a deal with myself that if I NEED something I can go buy it but if I just WANT something I will try and trade for it. That way I’m not cutting into cash in these hard times and I’m also not just gathering new things without getting rid of something. All makes sense…yes?

So recently I switched from Sprint phone to iphone and I was looking at first to sell my phone back ($15) OR one week later I had an offer for a 5 motor brand new Homedics back massage deal. I decided with soccer Sundays leaving Monday sore I would make a trade. I went up to a local NIP & SIP that has the old drive up food ordering. I met Dennis there who had the trade item and we were both talking about other stuff we are looking for. I’m keeping an eye out for recurve and primitive flat and long bows. He stopped me and said, “It seems like I’ve seen you somewhere, like TV.” Now Dennis was big, gruff and pushing 60 and I asked him if he watches movies. He told me lots of them but mainly westerns. I asked him if he had ever seen “Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town” and he said “Hell yes” to which I replied “Will Burnett, nice to meet you” and shook his hand. He was so tickled and went on and on about the film and Bill McKinney. I just happened to have a park release DVD that I gave him and you would have thought I gave him a bar of gold. It made my day and it did make me realize that I do appreciate meeting the fans. So I’m not moving to LA but maybe more personal appearances.

Speaking of…www.renovationthemovie.com is having updates done as we get ready for an Oct. 23rd premiere in Yuma, AZ and I will be there. It should be a great night of eating, drinking and watching the work on a big outdoor screen I believe. Check the site for more information on the showing.

Other updates, www.cdiproductions.com has many new updates but a special section on upcoming work opportunities in front of and behind the camera now exists. Future productions will be posting to that site as they arise.

RENOVATION – Premiere Oct 23rd

LOCKED IN A ROOM – 2nd cut of film underway

BENJAMIN – Post edit

OUTSIDE THE WIRE – Last looks

HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST – Sept 7th Official release

KARMA, CRIME, PASSION, REINCARNATION is playing Sept 8th in the UK I believe. I will try to post exact info when I find it.

That’s all I have for now but have a safe holiday and stay cool!

Chilly Morning Memories and Movie Updates

perrydj — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:02:23 +0000

This morning I awoke to the chill of Michigan mornings as we head towards the fall. It brought me memories of getting up for elementary school and dressing for school next to the vent. It made me think of going to camp and making the chilly walk to the bathrooms. I also thought about mornings at my Uncle Milo and Aunt Dot’s cottage on a lake. We would wake to my father’s fire in the fireplace and the smell of coffee and bacon. Nice thoughts. No fireplace crackling this morning and no bacon but I did hear the siren call of the coffee. So now I’m with dog on my feet, coffee by my side and stimulating these memories just for you.

As of late I’ve been doing some writing. I’ve been revising “Long Road Home” for the U.P. of Michigan. I’ve also been hired to write a screenplay that is a cool little mafia-like tale. The 1st 15 pages got the greenlight and so I will finish that up. I’m also in final negotiations on another script job turning a book into a script and it is in the western genre which you all know I love.

I continue to wait for the “In Our Time” film to get all its ducks in a row and meanwhile I’ve completed the 7 or so screenplays I read. I have a couple of projects that I’m in talks over for Sept. and Oct. shoots that could take me to California and Vegas. I’ve also got a smattering of other Michigan based projects providing some opportunities to act and sleep in my own bed.

Development on a half-dozen projects continues to go strong. I wish these projects would move faster but I can’t find that magic wand of automatic film financing. The lotto numbers also did not come in so…just kidding! I miss many of my movie friends that I only get to see when I have checks to cut. Oh well, the CDI Generals still plan and plot:)

HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST for sale at various outlets and wide Sept 7th, 2010.

http://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Neighbors-Dol-Aaron-Jackson/dp/B003M9876A/ref=sr_1_30?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1282830336&sr=1-30

http://www.amazon.com/Figure-Forest-Ws-Ac3-Dol/dp/B003M9880K/ref=sr_1_15?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1282830494&sr=1-15

We have word that AN ORDINARY KILLER has been playing on ABC in various markets so check your listings. JUDGES Special Edition and Blu-Ray is coming to market Oct 12th, 2010.

http://www.amazon.com/Judges-Unrated-Special-DJ-Perry/dp/B003VE9WVU/ref=sr_1_4?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1282829836&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Judges-Ws-Ac3-Dol-Blu-ray/dp/B003VE9WV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1282829836&sr=1-1

The word is also that BLOOD TIES will be released on Blu-Ray but not sure of the date. On other fronts the CDI Co-Productions of “Outside the Wire” Anthony Hornus’s Afghanistan doc is almost complete with hard-working Dennis Therrian putting the final tweaks on the film. “Renovation” credit work is underway and plans are being made but the special screening in Yuma, AZ on Oct 23rd and I will be attending so I hope to see some of you out there. Dean Teaster and Anthony Hornus both in the film will also be flying out with me and we look forward to seeing everyone. See www.renovationthemovie.com for trailer and premiere info.

I’m waiting on word from “Locked in a Room” last I heard they were on a 2nd cut of the film. The feedback from the 1st review session of the editing on “Benjamin” came back 100% positive! I’m told they are working double time to make Sundance submission. I believe director Jon Osman’s last film played Sundance and so he really would like to see our film premiere there.

Thank you everyone for your continued support. I do appreciate it.

Stay Cool with Saturday Updates

perrydj — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:58:37 +0000

Hazelnut coffee even despite the higher heat still soothes the morning soul. I’ve been enjoying the summer while also working towards getting back to work on set. I’ve been reading scripts and looking at some new acting work. I read three scripts last week and I have 2-3 to still read this week. I’m excited because several projects that have been in the post process are finally coming to a finish. Dennis Therrian and Tony Hornus have been working hard on “Outside the Wire” doc and soon will come the presentation and shopping stage. I’m in hopes of getting with the “Locked in a Room” team and seeing where that project is. “Renovation” is getting very close to complete and the 1st premiere and theatrical runs are being set up now. While some near the finish line others like “Benjamin” have just started the post run. Speaking of that fine film here is one of my co-stars, the VERY talented Niki Saletta, featured on Pepper’s LEADING LADY page on her DJ Perry fan club site.

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

We at CDI are all excited as this month is the release of two of our dramas “Heaven’s Neighbors” (Aug 26th) and “Figure in the Forest” (Aug 24th) the latter has a soundtrack and ringtones.

http://www.ringtonejukebox.com/search.asp?searchstring=Figure+In+The+Forest&submit1=Search

I’m still waiting on my shoot dates on “In Our Time” and so until those dates lock I will continue to look at and accept projects. We are also making great development strides and so I expect that we will be getting some of the CDI projects up and in production. I also want to thank Jon Moody for having me on his INDEPENDENT CORNER online radio show. It was fun as always and I like giving the info directly.

I did state on that show that TANGY GUACAMOLE has had a complete re-edit and will get a new Special Edition release so if Spring Break mayhem is your cup of tea there you go! I will let you know when I have more info on a release date. I do know the JUDGES Special Edition and BluRay release is Oct. 12th and you can actually pre-order on amazon I think.

Not bad for a quick Saturday update. Many new updates happening at the www.cdiproductions.com website. Keep an eye here for future cast/crew calls as well.

Have a great weekend!

Enter August

perrydj — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:35:28 +0000

Hello,

A bit sore today after a mighty soccer match yesterday against the #1 team. (we are #3 currently but that changes week to week) We played the 1st half to a 0-0 and 2nd half I took a knee to the lower back and had to exit the game for a few. I don’t usually go down (And I did not) and you don’t ever see me rolling around “acting hurt” as often seen with PRO soccer. I took a knee to the back jumping for a header and left the game. (Sub out) Before I could turn around from getting a drink – they SCORED. DOH! Well the day really belonged to the other team but we showed we are a fighting team.

Previous to the soccer game I had gone to a family reunion. We took a lake pontoon ride which was cool and chill. Over the weekend I had two major life changes. First I got an iphone 3G (I’ll wait until bugs are out of the 4) and so I’ve been trying to learn all that. Folks I played PONG and OREGON TRAIL on a TSR-80. I also traded in my old lease and have a new ride. It is a black Saturn Vue and I really dig it. I’m not a car person I just use them to get here and there but I love this new ride because it has a nice look but I dig the sunroof and I like stick shift again. I think it will serve the purpose well.

Pa Perry is back and better than ever after his heart surgery ordeal early this year. The garden is giving a steady flow of beans and tomatoes and the grill has been in full force this year. We bought another 4H pig for the freezer and so we have to pick that up this week. OK hazelnut coffee is kicking and this is all helping to get my thoughts straight for the week.

I’m being commissioned to work on another script it looks like and so I will start work on that. I’ve got a few scripts to read for other companies about acting roles. I think I will be seeing a 2nd cut of RENOVATION this week. OUTSIDE THE WIRE 1st cut is now done. I hear LOCKED IN A ROOM is also getting there. BENJAMIN will start editing this week.

Packaging with some of our projects is going nicely and I have many follow up calls this week. FIGURE IN THE FOREST has new NEW artwork and a revised release date of Aug 24th vs the 10th. We are exploring DVD release parties for the two CDI films FIGURE IN THE FOREST and HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS. The trailers are expected anytime now. Please join the facebook sites for these films and show your support!

OFF TRACK update! I spoke with Mark Owen and that pilot TV show will get completed and I will actually be shopping it around. Also some renewed talks of co-production. Maybe:)

WILD MICHIGAN, HJC, TIMBERWOLF, LONG ROAD HOME, A STATE OF HATE all deals of various sorts underway. It is only a matter of time.

With 4 projects in post and some releases out this fall I’m going to join JON MOODY on Monday, August 9th at 10:00 PM Eastern. We will be talking movies for an hour and questions are taken via phone or chat I think. So some first hand updates will be given and I’ll jib jab for a few.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jonathanmoody

I’m got some script reading, writing and studying to get to so until next time.

Keep clawing!

A WRAP on Benjamin film!

perrydj — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:16:10 +0000

What a beautiful weekend in the Michigan and I got to spend it up North with a little lake time. We won our soccer match on Sunday which is always a nice bonus. Lastly the NYC film BENJAMIN wrapped yesterday so another film in the can. There is a possibility that we may have Jon the director come to Michigan on some post work.

I’m trying to find out shoot dates on IN OUR TIME to see if I can hold or if I need to take on another film in the between time. I like to stay busy and I do have several scripts I’m looking over for acting roles. I have word that LOCKED IN A ROOM is moving along in post and RENOVATION is closer yet. The RENOVATION folks are talking about a Yuma premiere in October and so that will be nice. The doc film OUTSIDE THE WIRE will also be finishing in August and so we will have some good product to keep the fans happy:)

August and September will be busy with film releases for FIGURE IN THE FOREST, HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS, JUDGES (Special Edition) and THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ. I’m excited by all the production and releases. Now if we can launch a few more here we will be all set. We are getting closer and with a few more attachments I’m in hopes of closing these down.

I’m thinking of looking for more partnerships with CDI and other small production companies. We can bring assured distribution to the marketplace and that is the HUGE struggle that indie filmmakers face. The key is right script, some distribution friendly talent and the right relationships. It is tough even for distributors these days because even like the studio only 1-2 of 10 pictures are successful. I continue to communicate and learn more every day. Sometimes it is disappointing but I think you have that with any business and/or industry and when you do score a hit it makes it that much more fulfilling. So I need to get myself to make some time for these lunches and such people want to have. Much of my days are filled with emails and phone calls nudging projects along. But for some folks who have a small budget gathered with a touch of guidance they can really advance their project. It allows others to benefit from our mistakes. Is that a pay it forward:)

Well for those in the heat stay cool and I’ll bend your ear soon enough.

Home Sweet Home!

perrydj — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:47:07 +0000

I’m back in the Michigan drinking my coffee on a Monday morning. Yesterday we won our soccer match and I even scored a goal. I’ve enjoyed following the World Cup with so many friends and it is kind of sad that it’s all over now. As for playing soccer yesterday it was nice to run hard after spending all that time in NYC filming. I had such a great time and I know we did some very good work. I not a big city fan at all but the people and the experience were extremely positive. I made many new friends and saw a few old ones. My final scene was at Grand Central Station and it was a cool way to picture wrap. That place is so BIG! So I will be keeping you updated on that film entitled BENJAMIN.

Now I’m unpacking and jumping back into “In Our Time” and I hope that launches here soon. I’m all warmed up and ready to rock so give me a few and I’ll be ready to roll. Last week RENOVATION www.renovationthemovie.com rough cut was done and the fine tuning now begins. We are prepping for the release of HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST this August and so I encourage you all to join our facebook pages on these projects and buy/rent the films at a place of your choice.

I’m ready to really try and pull some of these projects together so we can do a few more of these little stories:) I do enjoy creating onscreen and the fact that I got to do a comedy again was just great. I got to work with James Russo whose work I’ve admired and he did not disappoint me. I want to thank all the hard working cast and crew of that film and I can’t wait to see the final project. I’m also hearing LOCKED IN A ROOM is nearing a rough cut so fans out there should have a few great projects to wait for.

I’m getting things back to normal so I’ll keep this short for now!

Have a great week everybody!

Break in Michigan = Beautiful

perrydj — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:32:42 +0000

Ah…so nice to be chilling back in my environment with so much nature around. After spending just short of two weeks in NYC it was refreshing to come home to Michigan. I had a Birthday on the 23rd and being that it was the big 40 I was able to escape the black balloons and “Over-the-Hill” jokes. Actually I feel in my PRIME standing on the top of the hill:) The time spent so far in NYC was great even though I am not a city dweller. I’m having a wonderful time co-starring in a comedy called BENJAMIN. I have so enjoyed the entire cast and crew and they have given me positive memories in regards to NYC. I’m not about the crowds, cement, buildings and all that so when off I spend most of my free time on the roof top of our actors apartment where the wind blows. NYC was donkey-ass hot (A new term) and I had lots of car scenes driving around the main downtown in Manhattan. We had a police escort on the trailer pulling the picture car which was a cab. I was driving the tailing car and I must have blew through between 40 and 50 red lights in traffic because spectators didn’t all know I was a picture car because I was actually driving. Whenever we pulled over to make adjustments to lighting we had folks taking pictures and video and it was just fun to watch. The people didn’t know exactly who we were but we looked enough like someone they have seen in films:) They thought my buddy Carl was John Stamos. (Very funny)

I’m going to take a few days to rest and take care of some business. Beyond that I want to see some family/friends before going back to NYC for a week to finish shooting. I play an anti-terrorist agent and I am having all kinds of fun. Next week I’m working with James Russo and Robert Miano and I’m excited to work with such talented actors. This is all a good break before putting Jesus on the big screen. I’m waiting on final shoot dates for IN OUR TIME but right now I’m just happy to be home.

I hope that everyone has a safe and fun-filled 4th of July weekend.

Back to the Big Apple

perrydj — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:24:07 +0000

Hazelnut coffee is flowing and I’ve waking up here in Michigan after we had a major thunderstorm that woke me about 4 am. I almost got up to finish my final packing but I decided to grab the extra four hours of sleep. I’ve been working development and getting ready to shoot IN OUR TIME but I had a great opportunity pop up. I got a call to come co-star in a comedy shooting in NYC. The funny part was when the director called me I laughed and said, “I kind of got this Jesus look going” and he explained the role and how it would all figure.

I play an anti-terrorist agent and I’m so very excited to do something zany before going into something very dramatic. As I know more of what they want released I will drop some exclusives here. My buddy Carlucci who starred with me in KARMA is a central character and so it will be great to see him. I also here rumor that Alma will also be playing a character and she was the female lead in KARMA so we have a nice reunion going on of sorts. I look forward to making some new friends and associates.

This last week has been working with Dennis Therrian and Triumphant Ent. getting the final stuff around for the August HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST. The latter has a soundtrack being released and we also added Joe Pullin’s music video for one of the major songs “I Will Wait For You” featuring John Oates, Peter Frampton and the London Symphony recorded at Abbey Roads studio. Here is a link for the music video.

http://web.me.com/dennistherrian/Therrian_Productions/I_Will_Wait_For_You.html

I’m going to shut down here and pack my work bag. I have a flight in a few hours so I’m going to go finish my packing. Time to pour another cup of the java:) Have a great week and I’m sure I’ll have a few good stories to share soon.

Soccer, Lilacs and a few Updates…

perrydj — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:16:41 +0000

Ah, outdoor soccer season has been underway and after a couple of wins we have dropped a few games by one goal. Defense is on point but we are having issues finding the back of the net. I did actually score a goal last week which is a rare thing since I play defense. The World Cup has been great to watch and enjoy with so many friends of mine. I also wanted to report that the lilac wine is fermenting nicely and if it tastes like it smells it should be wonderful.

On the movie front we’ve been prepping for the August releases of “Figure in the Forest” and “Heaven’s Neighbors” that can be pre-ordered on amazon.com, Walmart and many online retailers. Feel free to call your favorite retailer, rental house. After that is “The Patchwork Girl of OZ” and “Judges Special Edition” in September so stay tuned.

PR has been in full swing that I’m to play Jesus in the film “In Our Time” and I hope to have shoot dates this week. I think cameras may roll in July 2010 here and I will let everyone know. I’ve also accepted a role in a film that shoots end of this month. It looks as if I will be gone on my BDay which is nice because I might miss out on the black balloons and such:) I will tell you all more about the film soon but I’m excited because it is a comedy.

So it has been script reading, script doctoring and movie development. We still don’t know the final resolution on our LA legal dealings but we should end of the month or 1st of July.

Here are a couple nice interviews coming from the “In Our Time” project.

http://michiganmovietalent.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/322-in-our-time-exclusive-interview-with-michigan-actor-dj-perry.html

http://www.michiganpr.net/index.php?xnewsaction=fullnews&newsarch=052010&newsid=1229

Look for some upcoming PR on “Wild Michigan” and “A State of Hate” coming soon.

In heavy post we have “Locked in a Room,” “Renovation” and “Outside the Wire” so the work continues.

Have a great week!

Friendships Without Fine Print

perrydj — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:22:03 +0000

I’m back in the beautiful Michigan after almost a week in CA dealing with our little arbitration matter. I will say WOW! What a great learning experience and while I would not call any of it fun it was a great moment. I was the first person up and I presented the facts and survived the cross examinations just fine. It is easy when you have truth on your side. It is slightly irritating when a lawyer is trying to twist words into other meaning or discredit your character. I’m glad to report that this did not and could not happen. I’ve said before that I’ve stood by my actions, given best efforts always and I sleep like a baby every night. We were in force four strong and our attorney and on the third day we got the satisfaction of watching the guilty party OBJECTION! (We know he is guilty) OVERRULED! We watched the alleged guilty party just took a brutal, BRUTAL cross examination whereas he was going against earlier testimony within the 1st 60 seconds and it got worse from there. It was text book guilt from shaking hands, sweating and changing colors from bright red to ghostly white. Follow this with stuttering, wrong names and facts, his proclaiming of innocence and a string of “I can’t remember(s)” …(Follow this with a piece of hard evidence).

At the end of three hours I almost felt bad for the crook. I watched him dead on for the whole cross examination. He looked at me a few times and I saw suffering. I felt bad in a sense that we could have been business partners. The truth is that this man had been exploiting filmmakers for a long time. He just may have exposed himself and his company to the open fact that his entire library is most likely built on fraud and misrepresentation. I also don’t think that anyone has every called him to judgement on his actions. On that day, regardless of how the final ruling comes out, we achieved satisfaction of knowing that he had to account for his wrong-doings on record and under oath. In a few weeks we will know the final outcome but already we are in a better place because I promise you they will be more prompt with accounting and payout and I sincerely hope they change their business ethics.

What I also loved is the fact that we represented the mass of filmmakers out there who pour passion, heart and soul into a film. Some are duped by ONE WORD in a contract that can slide by even experienced attorneys. It is sad because some great filmmakers may never emerge into the industry because they were cut short having used every finance option open to them and being left with nothing to fight a battle against a major corporation. We fought that battle on that day for every filmmaker ever mistreated by a distributor. I was so proud of Collective Development www.cdiproductions.com and now the upper crust of Hollywood knows this company can and will FIGHT when RIGHT! I want to thank all the prayers and well wishes I got from folks and especially the filmmakers. This battle was for all of us and I’ve never been prouder. We have a few more battles to fight on smaller fronts. I really wish we could go back to our 1st film that did well and we never saw a penny from our initial distributor. The company paid itself out and dissolved into the night never to be seen again. What is even sadder in a few of these cases is that the dishonest people are also parents. The main antagonist is our little deal in CA has a 5 year old child. My father was and still is a ROCK on how to live like a good man. He instilled those values in us. I worry about these dishonest people’s children being raised by fathers who see lying, cheating and stealing as just a way of life. This man is a millionaire but he is no different then a street thug. Both are passing on the shortcomings in their character by condoning a behavior to a small child who sees their father as the end all. That is what was running through my head during part of this ordeal. I hope that man changes his ways for his child. Odd to feel bad for someone but I’m not a hateful person. I don’t carry poison around like that. My friendships mean a lot to me and they come without any fine print. Be a good friend and the rewards will be greater than any money or material things.

TO MOVIE NEWS!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/14542396

http://www.walmart.com/ip/14542409

PRE-ORDER now at Walmart and enjoy these two Jeff Kennedy directed titles. 
These films showcase some of the heart and soul of our company. The films 
release next month and you can add these to your collection. I hope everyone
has a safe and relaxing weekend as we remember those who fight so that we may 
have freedom. Be good to one another.


DJ