Good morning my friends and fellow artists. I’m sipping ye ole hazelnut coffee and again I have Scooby Doo cartoons going on while I type. I had a great week which I’ll be happy to share on here including an end-of-week trip to the Henry Ford/Greenfield Village. We focused on the craftsman part of the village and enjoyed seeing the art of working with your hands and materials to create glass, pottery, weaving and more. A good lunch and company there and back to Lansing. I see that Ireland is where my second highest viewership is after the USA. I’m a good dose Irish so that is nice to see the support.

Last week we were shooting the final pieces of ROM COMS MUST DIE. I’ve already seen that scene added in and it was everything and more we had hoped to get. Next is a BIG screen viewing to lock picture and to make notes of sound fx adds and music cues. Travis Hayward and a team participated in the local Capitol City Film Fest winning Best Picture and the Audience Award. I will see it this week but I’m not surprised and it is what helped us decide to give him the feature film directorial opportunity. We will discuss future opportunities at our meeting this week. I’m also going to be meeting with Adam Towner who also deserves a congrats as part of that festival win. It is what also helped give him the opportunity to co-star in the feature film. But Adam is talented on both sides of the camera and we’ll be discussing the RCMD poster and first trailer. Always a fun meeting!

Harsens Island Revenge has been delivered and we’ll have some discussions this week on home video release plans. But that is happening in October and we’re kicking off the theatrical release on April 25th in Alpena, MI. We have a 1st showing for main cast and crew plus a handful of VIP’s as the Sanctuary Cinema theater is smaller. I’m told the second show is sold out and the 3rd that night will likely be sold out as well. The film should play strong in that area for several weeks. For those who cannot make the trek to Alpena the next premiere showing and run will be early May in Owosso, MI with the NCG theater. If you have an NCG in your area call and request the film with the manager. We are finalizing all that and we’ll be doing that with a nice afterglow. Our book author Karl Manke is from there as is CDI producer/director/writer/actor Anthony Hornus.

Speaking of mister Hornus (Tony) his last directorial film SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA is having a special one night theatrical showing at the Iowa Farm to Film Festival tomorrow. If you go to the film’s FB page you can listen to two great interviews by Tony. It is always worth seeing on the big screen but you can buy/rent on Amazon and other retail sites. It will go to free with ad watching this summer and I’ll be sure to let you know more about that.

Speaking on Iowa, I did have a great talk over another Iowa story SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE that has been developing slowly. We have a second developing project from the Iowa area and that is the Frank Gotch story. He was the Catch Can world champion and hailed from Iowa. A real life Rocky story. It really takes people who want to see these stories immortalized and not forgotten. Every story happens in it’s own time I like to say.

Wild Faith Christmas is now being color corrected and undergoing music and sound design. I LOVE the characters from this franchise starting with WILD FAITH. As we get closer to a holiday release I’m going to start talking with some folks about the TV series. If you run a TV station or network and want a family friendly series with 20-30+ million previous viewers feel free to reach out. I have a few good meetings ahead that could move the needle on this TV series.

Speaking on sequels I was asked twice in one week about a sequel to Man’s Best Friend. I also had a dear lady say she had to stop watching for a few because of her crying. The film hits hard in the feels for dogs and veterans. I do have a full sequel outlined (One for Lost Heart also) and I might kick these out at some point.

Speaking on scripts I did finish my first draft of my latest THE KINGDOM CHIP. It is a real thought-provoking script that will lead to much needed conversation. It deals with many of the real challenges that lie ahead when it comes to technology. This project was written to loosely fit in with The Quest Trilogy. That is our series of biblical adventures filmed in the desert of Yuma, AZ. This script would possibly shoot in Yuma again with our friends there.

I’ve been approached about another possible script in addition to the couple books I’m looking at for adaptation to screenplay. I’m in a good place to write now and so I’m trying to lock in a deal on my next writing endeavor. I love earning from writing. Just me, my imagination and a cup of tea or coffee. Some of these projects might have CDI producing and some are for other talented groups to produce. It all requires a strong blue print.

On the development tip the proposed schedule is looking like a possible attempt to launch HOT ROD LOVE again which is our 70’s drag racing film. I’m talking and gathering a few verbal commits from people who love that sport. This fall/winter is perfect for our feature version of SMOKE & MIRRORS. (See CDI Youtube Channel) It is a ‘who done it?’ turn of the century piece. I love the writing of it and I’m doing a breakdown on that. And THE KINGDOM CHIP would be early Spring in Yuma, AZ if everything worked out. There are a few other projects in early development that could replace on the slate but the three above have a good strong start. I have not forgotten about a Knight Chills 2🙂

Misc Updates:

The NEW music video that CDI produced with Weyant Ent. from SHALLOW RISING was delivered and should release soon. The song is called BLIZZARD. I’m thinking we might also film another in the not to distant future. I’m also talking to a few others about more music videos (Mark Owen:) which I really do enjoy.

I do have some voice over work for a movie 4:26 that Carl Weyant directed after ours. I will likely knock that down in the next two weeks along with some VO work for ROM COMS MUST DIE. I am looking at a few outside acting gigs but it just has to be a right fit. I play a range of roles but the key is the connect. I have plans to try and do a new 2025/2026 reel. I get so busy and that often gets lost. But that can be good if you are working.

WRAP UP:

My office organizing has been going great. So has my property clean up from a long hard winter. I’ve been doing some tree trimming and also getting pots ready for planting. I’m still slowly deconstructing the wood shed and might replace it with a greenhouse. I will still need a place to process wood but I’m looking at some new ways of storing it. A deck sanding and staining is also right around the corner.

Soccer starts in May so that is right around the corner. I’ve been kicking the ball around trying to get my touch back. I’m also getting ready to go to my first flea market of the season! I love them. I find so many props and wardrobe for films. OK. I’m going to go make a few eggs and get showered up for my day.

I hope you all are having a great start to your 2025. Stay informed but don’t dwell on negatives. Listen to music and see how you can enact positive change around you. Laugh daily and keep checking things off that TO DO list. I’m anxious to see how the rest of the year unfolds. I’m sure there will be ups and downs as that is the way of life. Twelve days before the first audiences see Harsens Island Revenge in the theaters.

Have a wonderful week and a happy 50th Bday to my baby bro. I look forward to celebrating later!

DJ