(Hershey’s one of the past CDI Product Partners) * Won’t you join us?

Good morning and hazelnut coffee cheers! It is a beautiful Sunday morning and I’m so happy to be sitting down to share with all of you. It has been quite an eventful week and weekend as the cold slowly lets go of it’s grasp. This past week I had a few days with family on day trips up North and to Frankenmuth eating and walking about. A German Christmas town we really need to have SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA and WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS play there. A meal and a scout at The English Inn and yet another meal with my dad and his wife on Saturday. So I had a lot of good family time and still have a day trip planned with my brother and dad for Monday.

The Q1 of 2026 is almost over and I’m finally at a good place to start taking care of the last of the 2025 business. I want to get together in person with my legal “tiger” to make sure I’m doing everything correct with the new holding company. This is a year of change but I know it will help us moving forward. On this business front, I put the last funding piece in place on one of the films. That will allow me to move forward focused and we’ll talk more about those projects soon. Let’s take a look at some of the updates. As always you might get some of the info here before the PR releases.

CDI UPDATES:

1. ROM COMS MUST DIE – we are making the DCP (theatrical file) and will be deciding upon the premiere place. Tony Hornus is looking at a venue to see if they have the correct sound set up. If so it might be where we do the AI JESUS premiere also. We used this place in 2002 for AN ORDINARY KILLER but we brought in all the equipment. We are looking to start promoting on websites, podcasts and such once we can announce the premiere and also the home video dates end of Q3.
2. We only had a small theatrical window in 2025 for WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS and so we are looking to see if we can book any other showings in 2026. We do have the home video release date which will be Nov 3rd for DVD and rental/buy streaming! I’m excited to see the home video poster art which should be coming soon. If you have not seen the original WILD FAITH movie please do so.
3. AI JESUS is now having the music composed. The marketing team at our home video asked if we could keep the same art for both the theatrical and home video and our director agreed. So that artwork will be released very soon. We also have footage from BTS being directed to Adam Towner who will be editing another ‘Making of’ for us. This film will look at a limited theatrical before the Q4 home video release. Everyone is so very excited about this release.
4. If you too are excited about the above AI JESUS film, I ask that you take the time to watch The Quest Trilogy. In order those films are FORTY NIGHTS, CHASING THE STAR and THE CHRIST SLAYER. These films are perfect for anytime but the Easter season makes it even more special.
5. We are close to re-releasing the GHOST TOWN novel back into the market. Have you seen the movie DEAN TEASTER’S GHOST TOWN? Also the script and making of KNIGHT CHILLS is underway. And I’m excited to say that THE QUEST TRILOGY book is also being assembled as I collect written recollections from folks.
6. I’ve been doing a lot of writing over the cold winter and I plan to carry that right outside to the patio in the warm months. The PR release hasn’t gone out yet and I’m waiting on a few documents but one of the films I’m writing has moved into Active Development. It is part of the Iowa slate we’ve been working on. That film is RETURN TO ALGONA (Working title) and is about the 1968 return of the German artist, ex-PW to Algona. It has been an amazing rush to return to some of these characters later in life. The deal will have CDI returning to Algona also once full funding is in place. We will have a large chunk of it in place but also have opportunities for a few other parties. But order of business has me finishing the script which will be done in April. We might start some advanced casting in Iowa to just become aware of some of the amazing talent in that state. It is always easier the second time we film in an area. It could film in 2026 but more likely will be 2027 but that all depends on how fast the business comes together.
7. Also on the Iowa front, I had a great talk about the SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE script/film and we will see where some of those talks go. We have some meetings over this next week so we will see if this film is getting closer to moving ahead. On this same line of development I would very much like to see the GOTCH movie launch. We are going to return to talks with business folks in Frank Gotch’s home town.
8. Both of those above are originals and above that we talked about follow up films. That is always a good idea due to a pre-existing fanbase. I have been in my spare time working on Wild Faith 3 should that fund easier than the 8 show Wild Faith: Hastings TV series. Also I’m very pleased with the direction of MBF2. I love writing and have started exploring literary agents and management to sell or take on work-for-hire writing. I really do love sitting and writing with my coffee and my side.
9. A CHRISTMAS SEANCE is the mystery who-done-it film we pushed to shoot AI JESUS. I’m doing some breakdowns on this film and we might shoot that as time permits. I’ve had several good talks over the project and I’m trying to see what the film would require funding wise. I love it because it also has a great comedic edge with the eerie atmosphere. It is turn of the century and I love that time period. Now that the business aspects of AI JESUS is done I will start to look at this and other developing film projects.
10. I did hear the short film I acted in locally has a rough cut. I will share more on that when they release more. I do have the itch to perform again and so following suit with some of my amigos I too will look to have a 2026 Acting Reel put together. Taking scenes from movies all the way up to HARSENS ISLAND REVENGE. That movie was an amazing experience and I think audiences are really enjoying it. If you have seen it and enjoyed it consider going to IMDB and voting and leaving a review. I noted that the film was attacked by a few dozen ratings of 1’s. I always know that someone has their nose out of joint when I see that. I also know that they/them/he/she are artists. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a film I would give a 1 rating too. If something wasn’t my cup of tea a three or four perhaps but I’ve never been motivated to rank something a one. It often is a tech savvy person with too much time that feels jilted. Not cast in something. Not part of the crew. Or cannot get their script made or a dislike of a director. I’ve seen it happen my whole career and I can never quite understand it. If I don’t like something I’m not going to waste more time throwing stones at it. And it doesn’t really hinder too much because most people watch and form their own opinions. And those that enjoy the films don’t always take the time to rate or review either. But jealous is the current all artists swim against.

WRAP UP:

I could maybe think of a few other updates but I think those cover the basics. If you have favorite acting scenes you think I should include on my 2026 reel leave me comments here and let me know. If you’ve seen CDI films and want to help spread the word. Leave a review on IMDB and vote. Join the film’s Facebook pages to get new updates. CDI also has an instagram and website at http://www.cdiproductions.com but overall we just appreciate all our fans. Millions of you have watched our films and allowed us to keep doing this for 30+ years.

On other personal fronts, I’ve been trimming and doing work on the property. My BERRY KA-POW CHUCK NORRIS Tribute Wine is bubbling (fermenting) like crazy. Some of it erupting from the airlock so I think it will have some kick just like Chuck Norris. I have two beer mixes which I might do one in the coming weeks. Soon we will be having CDI meetings with darts and corn hole versus wood stove and wood cutting activities.

I’m looking forward to getting some of the plants going soon. I might try to reboot my hops and also catnip that got lost when the new deck when in. I’m in talks on a few other property updates but was a touch sore yesterday after I moved several big logs like it was a strongman contest. I need to slow my roll with that. Indoor soccer has me in good shape and I’m ready for outdoor season to start in a few weeks. A nature walk on Thursday showed me the plant life getting ready to burst forth on the scene.

I’m going to close things up here and get after some breakfast. The hens have been giving 4-5 eggs a day so we’ve been eating well on that front. I still have quite a bit of clean up to do on the property from Winter but it is getting better each week. I hope each of you has a relaxing day and a productive week ahead. Don’t let other people tell you what you can or cannot do. But create a realistic plan and get after it. I look forward to talking to all of you again next week. Be good to one another!

Coffee Cheers!

DJ