Freezing Temps and Finish Lines

This morning was chilly here in Michigan with temps at 9 degrees and falling. But the blowing snow is even more crazy. I know that our friends on the far east coast are getting it much worse. This morning after a coffee warm up we went out and about. We like to go visit estate sales looking for antiques or collectibles for the house or my office. We’ve truly found some wonderful treasures and it also usually includes breakfast which is a nice bonus. We braved some crazy snow and found some great items. One thing for the office is a like-new professional rotating DVD holder. I will use that to store copies of some of my CDI films kept in the office. Also found a few antiques for the office porch. Add a few other items which begged to follow me home and the trip was an overall success.

Books are one of the things that I enjoy collecting at these sales. I enjoy the feeling and smell of the paper. Even as I work with my new script, I NEED the paper. I’ve had many people in our organization who want to go all digital with paperwork. It’s fine for moving data quickly but at the end of the day paper is tangible. If a drive crashes you could lose important docs unless you have many back ups. So yes, I’m old school in my love of paper. I am a fan of wood also which is what I tend to collect. Some of you might have seen the wooden hammer pic I posted last week. It’s indeed a prop of mine for our upcoming film.

Let’s discuss the new film…

I’m encouraged by legal – not to fully disclose on this film for about another week. I can say the LLC is formed. The bank account is now open. The documents are all in process and things are all coming together smoothly. We also have some interesting things happening with distribution. This film will have distribution signed before we shoot. We have had more than one company show interest in this new film. The deals being offered are getting more interesting and next week will reveal even more. So a bit more patience here please and in time all will be revealed.

POST WORK

WASTELAND, our associated CDI, Sci-Fi film is 80% done with editing on Part 1. A small teaser is about to release. First poster art is being completed. All exciting stuff!

BESTSELLER – We went into the studio and did a few small dialogue tweaks to enhance the quality of a line here or there. The visual is about locked now and following will be the color correction. Music is our next layer and as we move steadily towards the finish line lots of exciting updates will be coming.

THE TERRORIST may be fully finished next week. I have a call scheduled with our director but I think we are just about there.

DVD art on WICKED SPRING, ASHES OF EDEN and DONORS is moving towards being completed.

Theatrical, TV  and foreign sales talks have been very steady. We’ve got a little commercial work in development. The work overall has been steady and I think following some upcoming meetings – we may have features launching back to back.

I also had some good talks with my management on upcoming acting projects. They’re happy for my next lead role and I’ve purposely kept my schedule open past March. They have several developing projects that they want me to participate in.

Aside from all that. Let me see. I caught up this week with a few filmmakers I’ve known for quite a while. Some collaboration was discussed but it was not the right fit for either of us. I told this particular individual that the great part is – “you don’t need us and we don’t need you.” So basically, when/if it does happen it’s because the project was the right fit.

On another front – I got a report that again someone (A filmmaker) was unhappy because CDI won’t support social crowd funding as it applies to filmmaking. We’ve got a polite policy in place on all that. If others are offended by that and offer negativity back – we will ignore them. Our beliefs on doing business obviously don’t match up. earlier I spoke of a talk whereas the business did not align. It was professional and this person left me with a “God Bless”.  Now this other individual seemed like he came off rude and unprofessional.

My simple advice to him.

If you’ve got your own company you’re entitled to do as you see fit. If you want to beg for donations – great. Our investors, partners, distributors and such see social-funding actions as last-ditch efforts to get funding by a hobby filmmaker or someone pushing a project that nobody wants to invest in. NOW. Before those of you out there doing social funding get your knickers in knots – I’m not saying you have to agree with them, with me or our company policy. Do your own thing. Follow your own path. Good luck. May the force be with you. NEXT.

I’ve had a lot of communications recently about KNIGHT CHILLS 2. The script is moving along and I think fans of the first will get a healthy dose of what they so enjoyed the first time around. The film itself will be much stronger in regards to the production due to all the experience and advances in technology since 1997.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Work steadily at whatever you’re building. Things happen less by chance and more as a result of hard work. If you want to get ahead you must move when others rest. Work when others play. When you work, work smart. Know your goals. Plan. Execute. Follow through. Keep trimming away those variables around you that are not sincere, supportive or loyal.

Keep Clawing and Make IT HAPPEN!

DJ