So the Dream Continues…

The coffee pot was here to greet me on this fine Sunday morning. We’ve had a few steady days of slow snow falling and the green grass is again long gone. Crazy busy week on so many fronts. We won’t go all into the Middle East stuff as this is not really for all that but change is coming there and it really shows people power.

On the home front I acquired a few new things such as a gunsafe (Hey I’m from Michigan), picnic table for around the fire pit and also framed a few pieces of art I’ve had for years. (Since the 1970’s)  I’ve also been sorting, cleaning and organizing my business affairs. The new year wheel is turning so onto a few film updates…

I’ve had a few great scripts/offers that came my way for acting as of late. One came as an SOS as a replacement to again be shot overseas. I LOVED the script. WW2 Historic drama with a Zorro flair including ninja, samurai, Nazi’s…long short is I had to seek permission from another production on dates and I also inquired about an additional pay bump as it was a touch under my usual. Being that they start shooting this Monday (Tomorrow) with the American character starting on the 5th they had to move forward fast. They hired someone else who said, YES, YES, YES. I guess I wanted to let you all know that I too STILL face rejection on a weekly basis. I felt a deep artistic pain because I truly connected with a character and film and could see it all in my mind’s eye. They wanted me, I paused and questioned and the biz part of the show-biz stung me. DOH! Next!

I’m still looking at a few acting projects. We’ve got a few new associated projects in development that we’ll announce soon. CDI’s projects moving and grooving towards that all mighty green light!  These two projects have been a big focus last week.

“Outside the Wire, Forgotten Children of Afghanistan”

It plays the 35th Cleveland Film Festival – the dates and times  are Tuesday, March 29 (7 p.m.), Wed. the 30th (11:40 a.m.) and Thursday (1:50 p.m.). The other festival info including the new GI Festival will be passed along here shortly.  Many network and distribution outlets being looked at.

“Renovation” the 1st theatrical screenings are being booked and the 1st wave of screeners went out to distributors last week. Already positive response on the film and so I think we’ll be getting some good offers soon!

REFILL TIME – OK back:)

I’m looking forward to “Darkest Night” shoot in April. It is CDI’s 1st international collaboration and one of my goals is to keep opening up these bridges between filmmakers here and abroad. I think much like “Karma, Crime, Passion, Reincarnation” which I sincerely hope makes it to the US this year, it brings a wonderful new vibe. The music score on “Karma” reminds me of “Temple of Doom” which for those of you who follow me know that is one of my favs.

I watched a producers link of the NYC film “Benjamin” last night that has the new score laid into it. It is a really good film and I think my fellow actors did a wonderful job. I can’t wait for that to come out.

“Locked in a Room” has to be getting closer now and that is a whole different twisted vibe:) I hope they do a premiere in Michigan for that film. Ah…Michigan. A raging debate over the tax incentives which seem just fine perhaps until fall but could see a altering in the program. That would be better than elimination for poor Michigan which has been struggling.  This is a new industry whose merit must be placed above any and all political agenda. That said, I think that many of these governors are taking very unpopular actions because many before them refused to do so.

I also have mixed feelings on all this union stuff going on. Again I recall in the auto industry folks bragging about being able to sit and play cards while getting paid all because of certain union negotiations. I do know that in at least one situation where we asked our own union (SAG) for assistance. They said, anything we can do. When it came time for action they said they could not get involved. And to add injury to insult before the dust was cleared they had their hand out asking for a payment. They have also treated several actor/producers I know like outsiders when these people are heroes trying to create work for their fellow union members. I for one see the union as pretty non-effective when truly needed. Furthermore they have just enough organization to get in your business and seem surprised when you tell them things worked out a certain way especially when they did nothing to assist. So I’m not political on this matter and I’ll wait to see how it all works out but I’m still waiting to see where one of my dollars collected for dues has done anything for me. I do have a cool looking card that probably cost 5 cents to make so I do get that.

Onward to better topics –  “GPS the Movie” a great thriller I helped produce and co-starred in will go to the CHILLER TV this Spring so see if you get that TV channel. I hope the extended audiences enjoy it. We’re actually in talks with several TV networks on several projects so I’m excited that we’re exploring that realm.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight. I really enjoyed both “The King’s Speech” and “The Social Network” where the line about the twin brothers in skeleton suits chasing the karate kid around the gym, is probably my 2nd choice favorite. So enjoy and maybe one day it will be myself and more of my associates getting recognized. The Oscars have become a lot like Sundance for me. I don’t want to go watch I want to participate and that means creating the right products. So the dream continues.

Have a great day!

DJ