It is a slightly humid Saturday in Michigan. We had a good amount of rain which meant morel mushroom harvest but also lawn growth. Slightly behind on our garden but we do plants vs seeds most of the time. I’ve had a very busy week finishing up BESTSELLER and happy to have this film releasing. It’s a major thing to say, I’ll oversee a film. You are accepting someone else’s money. Now you can’t always predict market appeal but you must make a product worthy of market. We have a taunt thriller and I think it will catch on especially with vacation goers and fans of the genre. Watching this film in a dark cabin in isolated Michigan/Anywhere will make a few hearts beat fast. Once the film kicks into high gear it will have people on the edge of their seats. We learned this reaction to the film from our media showing. So I’m excited to now let others have this experience. The 23rd will be fun showing in the old historic theater which will also host the afterglow. So as DVD’s are being made and the event showing draws near – I’m starting to slowly relax. After the premiere I will be talking to interested distributors on BESTSELLER, THE TERRORIST and a few other projects.
In other Film News-
I’m awaiting offers on a few films for additional TV play. Business is going good on many fronts. I’m as busy as I want to be. That said, I have had a few film projects circling and they are acting projects. If the right deal comes together I might step into a new role. I’ve been working business on “40 Nights” as post editing continues. We are going to start putting some “40 Nights” marketing materials (trailers and such) together following our BESTSELLER premiere. “40 Nights” is a powerful story and I can’t wait to show this later in the year. As the 1st of 3 biblical films it is a great start off film. I’ve been putting together my outline for my follow up biblical-era script. I love that writing process.
Scripts-
With writing I’ve been working on two other new scripts pending my mood. I’ve also started to update an older script that almost got made. I had positive updates on a script of mine under option. It is moving along that studio slow process:) So in between all this crazy business I find my moments to just write.
I often get asked to give advice to filmmakers so I will try to drop some here…
BRANDING –
In days of old where resumes were the 1st step followed by interviews people were careful about what appeared ON their resume. In interviews people often wanted to be on their best behavior and say the right things – Why? To get employed.
Now social media has invaded every aspect of our lives. As someone who hires cast, crew, vendors and such…I do occasionally pop over to someones social media. It is the most revealing of people in my opinion. But if/when you pop over – you see people who wear their every insecurity, displeasure, angst and so on for the world to see it often plays against a person. EXAMPLES
If they whine over every decision not in their favor in a public fashion to try to lobby opinion – WE HEAR – DON’T HIRE
If they complain how on the edge with stress they are and how they’re not sure how much more they can take – WE HEAR – CAN’T HANDLE PRESSURE – POOR HIRE
If they complain about their fellow employees constantly – WE HEAR POOR SOCIAL SKILLS – PLAYS POORLY WITH OTHERS
Can’t catch up, frustrated, behind, blah, blah… WE HEAR POOR TIME MANAGEMENT
I can’t every catch a break. NEGATIVITY, INSECURITY…
Even if some of these things are true to you – why would you shine a light on your weak points in hopes of someone hiring you? I find the honesty refreshing but many of you are saying to people who hire – DON’T STOP HERE – DRAMA BOMB IN FULL ACTION
It isn’t even talking coming from behind people’s back this is FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH as they use to say.
RUDE, VULGAR, HATEFUL – it just gets laid out there. Often in the same sentence with their disbelief that they can’t get hired or constantly get overlooked. Back in the day some people took competitive nature too far and bad mouthed others. But now people bad mouth themselves by how they represent themselves.
Hey! If you are independently wealthy and don’t need to be hired – Richard Branson can say whatever he wants. Cool. But if you are looking to get hired – consider presenting yourself professional. One buddy of mine occasionally works with kids but his posts are often off-color and with adult language. I like to swear at times without a doubt but not in a social media post. I don’t do it for shock value and feel public professional is better. I have films and fans of films – some that have adult language/violence and others that do not. I try to be respectful to audiences in general. My two cents. Just something for those of you trying to make a go at business endeavors to consider next time you want to let your fingers fly.
#$@@$#^$#& – OK. I’m going to get on with some other Saturday activities. We have another soccer match after having Mother’s Day off. I’m looking forward to that. I hope you all enjoy your weekend as well.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 