Stay in the sunshine…
I just deleted an update that concerned a business dealing where someone just did not do something they were meant to do. I no longer work with this person and I think once again this illustrated why. Had the biz relationship worked out it would still be in effect. But no time to dwell on someone who continues to perform in the same old way. Some things never change but we are about change. Positive change!
I would rather stay focused on the future and walk in the sunshine. ALL the bumps in the road have been cause for change. The changes ahead are big and so a new road lies ahead. We will look back one day and smile at the early days and the challenges. I’m meeting, learning and working with more experienced people in our industry and they are also now taking notice of my personal work (acting, writing) and also my work with THE TRIBE (CDI). I’ve stated before that things often do NOT happen within our desired timeline . I still believe that when a story NEEDS to be told it seems to come together.
Not everyone may like to infuse the mystic “EVERYTHING IN ITS TIME” into the movie/storytelling process. But it cannot all be just about the shells and beads earned. To Patrick Swayze, I’m sure at the end of his journey it was about the people he touched with his stories not the dollars. Did he make people believe in love, justice, friendship and illustrate that with his work? Millions of dollars will not save you, me, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks… and so the work itself can be priceless. It allows us to give long after we are gone. The art direction staff in THE WIZARD OF OZ probably mostly dead but not their work. Nobody can or will ever take DANCES WITH WOLVES away from Kevin Costner no matter what other box office numbers may or may not happen. Composer John Williams and his theme to STAR WARS will invoke chills for hundreds of years or more I’m sure.
In Conclusion:
In these hard times where we must also chase the paycheck remember that the art that you birth into this world will live long beyond the compensation does. To all of you that have given, are giving and will give…thank you.
This update is dedicated to Patrick Swayze and the many artists we lost this year. So we’ll talk business in another update.
DJ – The artist
Live each day as your last…
So many people never do for fear of failure. Change comes from trying and learning. You should not put off that call, visit or action that you’ve been meaning to do. The thing is life can be short and how you live will be remembered long after you are gone. Know that random acts of kindness create random results in our own lives.
The news has been blasting the past few days about a double murder in Owosso, Michigan. The first person was an activist and that helped capture national attention. The second killing was a businessman who happened to be our first investor in “Wild Michigan” and how tragic a story. Despite the fact we are dealing with a dishonest person who has hurt the projects earlier launch we will make that film. It has struck the CDI group hard. One of our producers had spent some time with him the night before and he had no idea what was to come that morning. Do you? Do I? Many good friends and family have gone in the last year or two. So while we are able to keep chasing our dreams others are at rest, their chase ended. PEACE.
So enjoy the struggles of life in part. That is life. A million dollars will not remove struggle. A new house, new car…still struggles. I can honestly say that I am at peace and enjoy my life, family and friends. I still work very hard and I enjoy the end results. Let us talk about a few of those updates.
The movie SAVAGE is getting ready for a festival premiere.
http://fearsmag.com/08/index.php/News/Firts-look-at-SAVAGES-poster.html http://www.shockya.com/news/2009/09/03/savage-movie-poster/ http://www3.webng.com/horrormoviesandstuff/Savage.html http://www.28dayslateranalysis.com/2009/09/savage-first-one-sheet.html
I hear KARMA, CRIME, PASSION, REINCARNATION is playing a Belgium Festival and going to theaters in the UK.
http://www.centremultimedia.org/International-competition.133.0.html
BOOK OF RUTH is gearing up for a distribution run and they will settle all their business first. Very excited to see this get out there. Join the MYSPACE site for updates!
Tuesday Sept. 15th KNIGHT CHILLS releases on Indieflix.com and will be also on amazon.com and VOD there.
Fans of DEAN TEASTER’S GHOST TOWN are welcome to visit the park and see where we filmed. Here is Stella Parton singing to Robert Bradley (both are co-stars in the film)
http://www.ashvid.net/video/miss-stella-parton-sings-at
I’m reading lines and getting ready for RENOVATION which will be a great project. More updates here soon. Here is a cool interview with my female co-star Charlene Khalaf.
http://www.youtube.com/user/RampantDirector
Anyway, it was a chill weekend getting stuff done. It was funny while doing work I watched MIRACLE AT SAGE CREEK which was on 2 channels and watched many of my friends and after that was a western with a young Renee O’Connor called FOLLOW THE RIVER. I love seeing friends doing their thing.
I have a practice soccer match today before the playoffs start. It will be a fun day.
Take care everyone and live fully!
DJ
Signs, signs everywhere are signs!
As I relax into another day of the weekend starting with my beloved coffee (I have to get a coffee sponsorship) any coffee companies have your people contact my people. I always wanted a reason to say that! I’m serious, as I have a few great products that look to myself for endorsement. ONE DROP HOT SAUCE, look it up, try it, love it. I grill OFTEN and I really like their product. I’m talking with them about promotional product tie-in’s with WILD MICHIGAN. I’m a lover of hot sauces and I prefer flavor over just HOT.
MSU (my alumni school) won their first football game and while out and about I saw “HIRING” signs at a few businesses and SOLD signs on a few houses in the area. These just seem to be little sign that things are moving in the right direction. I went into this weekend feeling GREAT! Many hardships and battles over the last 18 months and some good victories along the way. I feel we have our HOUSE in order at CDI finally. Many goals that we had set have been put within reach now and it is by the hard work of everyone involved but especially my generals.
Next week many things will be put into motion and for that I feel very blessed. I can’t get into it all but several projects have packaged up nicely and other negotiations have gone in our favor. Why should they not I ask? We have always tried to do good things for all the right reasons and we have encountered a few forces that would like to have seized on what they thought was an easy meal. WRONG! Several things are all coming together that should firmly make CDI a player in the years to come.
“Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town” would be considered GOLD to PLATINUM if it was a single album. October is a good release month with a CDI project AN ORDINARY KILLER and a Jeff Burton film BLOOD TIES both out October 20th on DVD. It sounds like KARMA, CRIME, PASSION, REINCARNATION that released theatrically in June in India is hitting the UK next. SAVAGE that I originally penned has a premiere this month.
http://fearsmag.com/08/index.php/News/Firts-look-at-SAVAGES-poster.html
See FEARMAKER STUDIOS for more info…
And projects for acting are many and so I’m looking to be on-set quite a bit the end of the year here and next year will be a busy one as well. I’m excited to announce some of these when the ink dries. I will say that I should be in Texas and Arizona at years end and this fall we are busting to re-organize and shoot “Wild Michigan” before snow flies. I know many people would love to see that happen and so we work hard on everyones behalf. I’m here to say it will happen it just has been a major struggle because one element outside our organization was dishonest and a liar. Every dog has its day and this dog is hungry.
I hope everyone is getting some good quality time in with family and friends because life is really about that at the end of the day. I love what I do even when the doing is difficult. I’m here to tell you that if you follow your heart with hard work the desired results will start to manifest. They seldom happen as fast as we think our patience can bear or unfold as ultimately planned in our ideal little thoughts. BUT… the universe does have a plan for each and every one of us and so breath deep, try to take nothing personally and be happy for the half full versus the half empty.
Happy weekend!
DJ the dreamer, DJ the determined, DJ the lover of the coffee bean:)
Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve created!
OK,
So normally I type my emails on a word program and send to Pepper’s fansite (yes my blogging is from her prompting), myspace and a few others when I can remember. The goal is/was to give other artists an insight into the trials and tribulations endured day to day or week to week. I debate within myself over the pros and cons of this new communication. I’ve always loved SciFi and so you think I would be the 1st to jump on new tech. It has made communication with folks in my field easier. Where it use to be road trips for the Detroit Production FreeLancer Balls or other such functions I do find that I’ve reclaimed more of my personal life back. The dream does not consume everything now and I guess in some part I owe that to technology. It also is the reason I agreed to do this. Fans? Flattering and an honor to be part of someone’s special time of entertainment and escape from the hardships we all occasionally face. But it is important to for rising artists to know the struggle is natural, you’re not the first and won’t be the last, and you can succeed.
Bards and storytellers and the people who took the deeds of others (usually hunters or warriors) and highlighted their actions so in the darker times HOPE could be found. History and a sense of community and security are achieved. Okay, that sounds kind of like facebook, myspace as these are the personal mythology of these individuals.
So now I’m typing on a fancy data board that will help disperse the BLOG to other places. I’ve been happy to know that the readers are out there. I’m also a very direct person who will tell it how it is. Also there is a time where words are a waste until action is achieved. But I use these networks to promote and bring awareness to projects. I will learn SYYPE if it keeps me from some long flights and I can go enjoy the zen of my space moments after I click off. I had to get a new Bluetooth which I will use this week on calls. My last one was low charge and fuzzy so I took it off in the car and when I stopped for gas it was flung from my lap.
I’m so very excited about the coming months. First fall is my favorite time of year and it has felt like that here in Michigan. HOT coffee (which I have now) goes so good when the morning has that chill. I like watching MSU football on Sat afternoons. We have our last regular season soccer game today and this is the best conditions to run in for almost 2 hours.
Also biz is working itself out and the story time is near. As in all ventures where one sets his sights high, problems will be there. I imagine sometimes when Columbus was going around trying to raise funds so he could go sail off the edge of the earth. (In some opinions) I’m just amazed more at what people did when communication was all letters and travel was months not days. Top that off with shorter life spans and it makes historic figures more impressive.
Now not all journeys made were good ones, ask the Native Americans or the Native Australians, etc… but exploration is in human nature. I’m very proud of the shifts in cleaner technology and power and I guess as a younger man I always saw myself as the cutting edge and grandma’s ways were the old ways. All grandparents passed on and a younger more technological adept and dependent generation, are the cutting edge. I just pull what I like from the new and add it to the tried and true. Some might be saying DAMNIT DJ, this is not a reflection on getting experienced (Notice I didn’t say old) Maybe because mature is more proper but I also still feel as child-like as when I was 15 years old.
So the movie news. LOTS of buzz over giving my interest on a film script with writer/director John Regan.
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33167/robin-hood-goes-southern-gothic-sherwood-horror
http://english.ohmygore.com/sherwood-horror-moves-into-development-news-uk-6407.html
http://www.horrormoviefans.com/newsblog/2009/08/26/robin-hood-vs-vampires/
John and I have been friends since doing THE FLOCK many years ago. John is VERY talented and I think he has realized that the plucked from the masses and made famous is a seldom act. Most often it is built on blood, sweat and tears. Hardship, disappointment and so forth, but as my father has always told me. You appreciate things earned versus things given and that is so true even to this day.
Because of every setback I’ve had, we’ll use WILD MICHIGAN, it will make it that much sweeter when we are shooting or the lights dim and the movie plays. It isn’t just the story itself but it represents the struggle and the journey. For many out there, unless you have ever produced you are not qualified to judge. Some seek employment and others employee others. The latter is much harder and not nearly as selfish. I could have a career as just an actor and throw writer in there but I guess I enjoy the challenge. Also I’ve told a few people before that one of my favorite things to do was “write a check” and I’ll tell you why. I liken it to feeding your beloved dog with your hands, a practice that develops bonding. It is a pleasure to empower someone with the PROFESSIONAL BOND. A artist that is paid to create his art side by side with other artists. In Egypt did people look up and say, “My father helped carve that face,” I don’t know. Maybe they said “Grandpa designed that tomb and we think he’s locked inside.”
I just believe and I hope others believe that by creating these projects they are making some lasting. I rambled off the path again. WILD MICHIGAN. I was told recently that I was “Too kind and trusting” and this was where a few folks tried to take advantage of a situation. That said, I can also be stern and forthright when I feel I’m standing with truth. I know much buzz concerning our WILD MICHIGAN project is buzzing and so I will say it is my intention to shoot this fall.
We have circumvented all dishonest elements and are restructuring as we speak. I’m proud of many of our people, not without the occasional disappointment. It is easy to be the ray of positive when all IS positive but real character is revealed when the chips are down. Take George Washington at Valley Forge. Those officers who showed great character despite the frostbite, hunger, lack of patience… who stood steadfast? I’m sure those people were noted and somehow stayed in Washington’s circle later in life. Even if they did not, I’m sure that that fortitude and character displayed brought them opportunity.
Most all of the people I have surrounded myself with are because of my belief in that artistic ability and character. Some new people brought in are because others vouched for their character. Know that we are always judged by our character. I also know that truth and perceived truth can also be hard to define. So to all out there carry the Collective Development ideals. Be good to one another. Don’t give in to false information and gossip. Don’t highlight someone’s shortcomings to benefit yourself somehow. Lift someone up, brush them off and give them the truth, even if they don’t like it. Next time it could be you on the ground.
If you are addicted to everyone knowing your business you can TWITTER “Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
You will see who helps you up or steps on you or over you. The greater gift may be the one who inspires you to stand, dust yourself off and start the march again. Some help by example and that is what I try to be.
I wish a wonderful week to everyone.
DJ
As it should be…
Today is one of those nice chilly Fall-like days and later I’m going to a family gathering at Pa Perry’s and so that will be fun. This week will be a good week as we get to the bottom of several issues. It is all just change really and most often that is a very positive thing. I had a few more offers on movie projects and I just have to weigh everything out and look closely at my schedule. I have to say that while I’m a person who likes to go in with trust and open heart to new working relationships, we are not without teeth. A few folks on different fronts have been allowed to run their course. Others call it, giving them enough rope to hang themselves. That is kind of a gruesome saying actually. We have always just looked for other good folks with skill sets that when combined develop a collective property of art thrust out with a business push. So we have some restructuring going on within the company getting ready for big growth. We have a bright future and through all the struggles we have had in the last year I see the end of the tunnel. Soon I see everything as it should be!
Another soccer war tomorrow and so we will see if we can again be victorious! Enjoy your weekend, your family and friends and keep working towards your dreams!
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 