Day After Christmas Reflections

I’m back in my chair with my laptop sipping hazelnut coffee and watching the LIONS football. For the non-Michigan, USA folks, the Detroit LIONS are the pro-Michigan football team. As a young child I had a Lions helmet and I recall many holidays and family get-togethers with people yelling and swearing at the TV. Our Lions have not had the best record. They are tough and often put up a good fight usually only to defeat themselves via errors. I’ve had several relatives go to their grave awaiting that magic season. The Lions have a new coach and have been playing tough but also losing. They won their first game two weeks back and it was like a Christmas miracle. They liked the taste of that and won their next game in an upset and now they are playing again. I guess I’m just saying they are looking better. I will always be a Lions fan just like I’m a Michigander through and through.

This morning I could not get the ye ole’ blog done since we had an early Christmas gathering at my dad’s house. We ended up having four smaller Christmas get togethers and I think they all went very well. It was easier and more enjoyable versus trying to shove it all in together. I’m not a clothes shopper since high school save maybe the jacket or hat I don’t need but end up getting. So the reason my socks and underwear don’t look like Swiss cheese is because of loving family. The occasional flannel, henley or sweatpants also via loved ones. I will wear something until it is see through and 1/10th the original thread count.

I don’t ask for much and actually enjoy finding gifts that suit people. This year found me slightly behind with SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA (SNIA) dropping me right into the holidays. I still have a few wrap up things with that film but for the most part now we are all into post-production. The FX work is starting in Canada and our editor in Boston is ordering things. First talks have happened with our composer and sound designer Tricky T. The Tricky T has been finishing another project for us which is FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH. This amazing doc is being hailed as one of the best on the subject matter. Dennis (Tricky T) has been mixing all the audio elements and putting it all in surround sound. Both these projects will see the first showings in 2022. But let’s make it three – our SMOKE & MIRRORS underwent a final fix just a week ago and this comedic horror short will be making its festival run and release in 2022. We had intended to release in 2021 but with the needed correction and the other projects we decided to wait. I’m looking forward to all these moving down the line. SNIA will likely only be seen by the folks in Algona theatrically as a premiere in Dec 2022 if all goes smooth on post. The VFX is the most challenging aspect and we’ll see how the timeline shakes out but we have great people working it.

SNIA has started to release still photos and as I said last week I’ll be looking to put a behind-the-scenes video and a teaser into production first of the year 2022. Also in 2022 will be the home video release of BEST YEARS GONE. We are being asked about more theatrical showings which might happen and we’ll do a few festivals for fun. The thriller BESTSELLER has it’s home video campaign ahead. It’s looking like 5/31/22 for digital transactional and 9/1/22 for TV/Cable and subscription and ad based video-on-demand. I’m thinking BEST YEARS GONE will be something close to that maybe staggered a month. I will know more soon.

Speaking of 2022 – This week I have a few sit more downs and send outs on our other CDI films. Our distributor is running some good promos on The Quest Trilogy and we’ll be doing one soon for WILD FAITH and possible WICKED SPRING for a western/1800’s film push in the new year. I’m also wanting to have some real conclusive meetings on WILD FAITH: HASTINGS. I think we were ahead of the curve on the western revival and we are positioned well to continue the roll that WILD FAITH has started.

Also I’ve got a good start on a new script (TAGLINE: American Graffiti 1975) that is being custom built for our troupe and to build on some of the good business we’ve started. This film will shoot in Michigan and likely go up in the Spring (March/April) and at that time we’ll have a better look at the playing field for the WILD FAITH: Hastings. If that is lagging another feature will go up 2nd half of 2022. I’m really prepping to have a good year and with a good wind we’ll launch these projects.

I’m going to go hunt up some holiday left overs and take care of a few gifts. Thank you to everyone who reached out with a holiday greeting. Cheers! I have a buddy or two stopping by later to catch up. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. It really was holiday season and right now with the sun shining outside, everything right now just feels good.

Have a great week and I’ll see you next year (next week):)

DJ