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Posts tagged “donors

Film Updates and Winter Fun!

A beautiful white snow is spread across the landscape. The steamy coffee tastes good on a morning such as this. I did a special mid-week blog based on a fan email I received earlier in the week. It was one of those emails that just deserved a response. I’m happy to see how woven our Civil War film “Wicked Spring” is into the fabric of films in that genre. How schools are using the film to stimulate discussions among the students. I encourage my weekly readers to go back and read the previous blog.

Our 1st look at the “Donors” teaser poster was released this week. We also announced the addition of more cast onto the project such as the beautiful Anne Gauthier whom I shared the screen with in “Darkest Night” and Lana Wood, a legend. Post work is underway and I think a 1st trailer will be following soon.

“Deadly Renovations” is being prepped for Hong Kong film market in March and our DVD/Blu-Ray extras are being delivered this week. I’m excited to see what countries are interested in our thriller.

I’m still trying to get exact street dates on our New Video titles. I’m told that the Michigan showing of “Locked in a Room” will be in May. I also hear that “7 Stones” will be polished up and submitted for showing at the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, Michigan. I still have no dates on “Benjamin” showings yet. “Darkest Night” will be ready to shop at its theatrical run-time in April. Development continues and progress is being made on the various films.

Verbal talks are underway and I soon may announce my involvement in a film next month. I will hint by saying that it would be the 1st sports film I’ve ever done. I’m also close to closing a deal on a film in April. There is a chance that one of our films may go up in that month if I don’t do the April project. I’m also close to signing a deal memo on a June/July film that shoots in 3 states including Michigan so that would be great.

I’m also waiting on news on “Supermodel Showdown” the TV show I worked on in Costa Rica. Creator Joe Murphy was supposed to take a look at it and get back with me. I think it is coming out on Telemundo/NBC here soon. We use to roll with Big Cat to Night of a 100 Stars on Oscar night and perhaps I will attend again soon but not this year. I’m sure Hollywood is buzzing with excitement and I know the artists there will party hard.

Well I’m going to do some work this morning followed by some domestic activities. The dogs love the snow so that might be in the future. Also might run to go get bottles for the next batch of wine that is to be bottled.

Have a great Sat!

DJ

This is the 1st teaser poster on "Donors"


Roadtrips & Rolling Cameras

What a week!

So tomorrow principal shooting on the thriller “Donors” begins in Yuma, AZ.  The beautiful and talented Nicole (Niki) Saletta is playing our lead female. She has a youthful innocent nature that pulls from a deep well of drama. I’ve been prepping for my “Donors” role which is extremely dark and twisted. It is nice to bounce between kind and wholesome and dark and devious. Light and dark, good vs evil – the themes that have always been part of human history.

The New Video deal that has five of my titles announced a new theatrical division and I’m now hearing late 2nd quarter for a release. Some are Blu-Ray releases and others like “Figure in the Forest” and “Heaven’s Neighbors” will enjoy their 1st major national release. We were waiting for the company to complete their merger and complete their new deal with major retailer Wal-Mart. I’m also hearing that distributor friend Missionary Pictures International may handle all the faith retailers on the titles that fit.

In that faith/family vein we are on the move to get “Long Road Home” on the pre-production track. We’ve got a great script, cast and commits from distributors are underway. Dean Teaster will be the director on this film and it will be exciting to see him back in action. Dean had a chance to meet Melissa Anschutz, who is slated to be our female lead, at the sold out premiere for “7 Stones”.

Speaking of “7 Stones” – I want to thank everyone who attended and apologize to those who I did not get a chance to meet. We had a big snow storm move through and after the showing which ran late, our party heading back to Lansing from Grand Rapids. They have a month of polishing on the film with audio and CGI before paid showings and festival runs. The story is powerful and I think will really connect with people.

Curtis Hall and I made a run into NYC and retrieved some film stock from a film lab there. It was six boxes of film at 65 lbs each – ah yes, the days of 35mm. We also had time to catch up with our director of photography buddy Dave Isern. We had a lot of time to talk business and the drive through the mountains was incredibly beautiful!

As we enter Feb. I’m looking ahead to March film projects. I’m trying to schedule and finalize certain business deals. I read a powerful script that had a high dose of violence in it. I’m expecting an offer on that film this forthcoming week. I also have a few other films that I need to set in stone and start my character work.

Today, I’m off to visit an art museum in Detroit  and tomorrow is an MSU basketball game and watching the Superbowl with my amigos.  That will be a good time with food, drink and good commercials and film teasers. Michigan’s own Madonna will be doing the half time show. I saw her on the news and thought she looked good. I’m glad she has not gone overboard with plastic surgery like so many others.

Enjoy the weekend!

DJ


Be a Person of Action! & “Locked in a Room” to Screen!

What a beautiful, beautiful snowy day! I must admit that I do love snow. I like when the world slows to a crawl and we all are granted a gentle peace. I’ve enjoyed easing back into the artistic world of filmmaking in 2012. This year has the potential to just really blossom. We have a half-dozen films that will premiere or hit the marketplace this year. Yesterday I was proud to see many films I’ve worked on playing on the new streaming Netflix platform. Ghost Town, Miracle at Sage Creek, Blood Ties, Book of Ruth with even more on the mail version. One issue is that the data entry isn’t all updated so several other films of ours are on Netflix but you just have to search by film title. Each of those films had friends of mine that have passed – Bill McKinney, David Carradine and Russ Stine. I watched a few minutes and recalled our friendship brought together over storytelling.

Onto the present and future…

“Locked in a Room” has been accepted and invited to show prime time at the 10th San Diego Black Film Festival 2012. Friday Jan. 27th at 7:30 pm!

Check it out on IMDB
I will have to promote this more to my California friends. I have to speak with our director Larry as I got this news yesterday . That said, I likely will not attend that showing because I have a big red carpet premiere for “7 Stones” in Grand Rapids, MI on the 26th of Jan. at the art museum there. I’m sure our film will be well represented and FINALLY we get to see what audiences say about “Locked in A Room”!
This week has brought many good meetings and some with results. A development slate with a studio may get approved soon. I cannot ever be 100% positive on many of these deals because of this being my first time working many of these kind of deals.  I’ve aligned myself with some good seasoned producers to learn from. I’m also continuing to help those less experienced than myself. A circle of helping. Now that said, I cannot possibly help everyone hence why I really love this blog. I’ve had to struggle very hard to get to certain places on my path. It’s scary when I look back on what I did not know when I started. I still have days of mild fear of what I don’t know still ahead of me. I always respond by just center myself and bringing it back to my personal mythology. Don’t be afraid to live.
Please read the tao of DJ at the top of this page if you have not. I find the courage to keep on because that saying that the only thing to fear is fear itself really has some true meaning. Don’t be afraid to fail! Most of us, most of the time will to some extent. This is especially true when you first set out on a new journey. If you devote the time to educating yourself on your passion and taking thought out actions, you will break down walls and move forward.
I want to mention someone in here. Jon Moody is a young man who was really just a young kid when we first started communicating. He knows some of my Virginia film friends and has always had a passion for the craft. He had/has a radio show that he uses to pick the brains of doers in this biz that have found success. He later started writing and making low quality horror shorts. I know low quality as I also started with home video skits and such. I’ve watched him refine getting tighter writing. I’ve seen the growing production values and just learning from actual experience that you can never get in a book. He would probably tell you that 97% of what he has tried to do has fallen apart, didn’t gel or is just out of reach at this time. It is that amazing 3% that takes you to that next level. Another friend said, you work twice as hard for half as much and he might have generous in his words. You must go after what you want.  The world really does not owe anyone anything. It’s all action and reactions and so be a person of action. The world will react to your actions. Keep up the fight Mr. Moody and all of you out there striving to live your dream.
In Other Film News
This week I got a funny clip from Nathan Quinn from “Unconventional” for my reel. I was lacking footage from my comedy films. I’ve got two acting deal memos being worked on. I’ve done a little script writing here and there this week for fun. I can talk about one film which is called “Donors”. I’m playing well…an antagonist. Okay THE antagonist. Bad guy DJ:) More info on this film soon. I’ll leave you with that info as a teaser. That deal paperwork is coming over today so I’ll let that be the teaser until that is in place.
I’m looking forward to the next week – be active!
DJ

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