Happy Holidays – Returning Home & Ready to Relax

Happy Holidays 2014 – Keep Clawing Your Way to the Middle!

Ah………I feel like a traveler just returned from a foreign and distant planet. First, Christmas time in Las Vegas isn’t the same as in Michigan. My hotel room absolutely lacked the Christmas spirit that I’m once again dwelling in. Don’t get me wrong – I had a great experience shooting “Wasteland Tales of the Desert Part 1” in the Valley of Fire. The place was once the location of a prehistoric sea now long gone and leaving the rugged terrain of the Valley behind. The ground was hard and rocky covered with petrified wood, brush and various sedimentary rocks – many with fossils and hints of the once watery condition. We had a tight crew that everyday woke at 5:30 am and got about, shared breakfast and departed for the Valley. We shot everyday until about 4:30 when the magic hour struck the majestic location. We returned banged, bruised, worn and happy. Everyday we got great footage! Everyday had powerful performances. At days end it was back to the hotel for bath/showers. Now I haven’t taken a bath versus a shower in a long time but with my sore bones it became a daily ritual. All day included walking, climbing and laying on anything but flat surfaces. Once clean it was off to dinner with our cast and crew. Ribs, blackened Mahi Mahi, super burgers – let’s just say that food is not lacking in Las Vegas. After eating my night was spent either running lines for the next day save one day where I went to bed at 9:30.  That early in Las Vegas is from beat up tired. 200% always!  But by the next day I was rested, recharged and ready to rock and roll. The footage, the stills -amazing –  the film is gonna be really cool. We had so much fun shooting it and that fun seeps into the footage. An official website will be going up and more pics will soon fill the Facebook albums.  The first teaser will begin immediately and the film should be assembled by Feb. 2015. I think once people see this film we’ll have many people interested in being involved in the others “Tales from the Desert” – so we’ll see who the desert beckons next. This is just a great CDI association and I’m proud to be part of it. Our team was awesome and we really got what we needed. My fellow cast members Nicholas X Parsons, David Gries and Damian Maffei were all a pleasure to work with. They take their craft serious and they brought their passion to the show every day. I also want to thank my former co-star Jaime Lynch for giving our cast and crew the VIP treatment at her new show she stars in at the Luxor called FANTASY. If you are over 18 and want to see a great show this is one not to miss. She has an amazing voice!

On other fronts –

THE TERRORIST – I talked with director Jon Osman over our progress on the film. The graphics and color grading are looking great! He is continuing to work the sound design getting the film ready for a final mix.

BESTSELLER – I think we are in the final steps of FX and sound and music are moving along as well. We are driving towards the finish line.

ASHES OF EDEN and DONORS are prepping for their initial national release in early 2015.

IN THE WOODS and WICKED SPRING are prepping for new national re-releases.

I’m anxious to regroup, recharge and get ready for the new year ahead. I’ve got a few script projects to return to writing on and a few other projects that we may be announcing details on very soon. I’m fresh out of the desert and the facial scruff is gone for the moment. I’m happy to be back home with family and friends and I once again feel blessed. Blessed that I got to go off to another state – to a great location – with some great artists – and do some great storytelling.  And now I’m happy that I see stockings hung with care. A Christmas tree lighting up the room and my pack of pups sleeping peacefully. I smell ham cooking and classic Christmas music plays softly. So with that I’m going to say goodnight. I think it’s time for a late night snack OR dinner if I were still in Las Vegas.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Be good to one another and enjoy the season.

I appreciate you all taking the time to stop by.

DJ