“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ― Sun Tzu

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ASHES, AWARDS and ARIZONA HEAT

So I hope some of you had the morning to catch up on my previous week blog. I’ve been taking some family time and hitting a few estate sales that last few weeks. It started with us searching for some antique items for the house and has turned into a fun weekly outing. This week we found a brass lantern light, a cottage rocking chair, brass/wood hour-glass and the list goes on. Some stuff for the office and other stuff for the house or the home bar. This week I’ve also enjoyed the first of the 3rd batch of home-brew shared with Shane Hagedorn during a marketing meeting. Also my banana/coconut wine is fermenting nicely and will make for an interesting wine for sure. I’ve been splitting some time between the computer film work and also doing stuff in the yard as we get ready for summer fun. Tomorrow will be another soccer match and I’m looking forward to that. Last night we had dinner with my brother and his wife and I even held the new niece. It was a nice visit and always nice to see what projects he has going on around there. Okay let’s look at some of the business unfolding in the film world.

First, I’ve left my old LA agency and taken up new management with Myra MacKay. She is a seasoned professional with many good tie in’s to many producers/directors. She also is a fan of my screen work and so we are going to do a trial run this year and see what she can bring to the table.  There is already some exciting stuff developing and so I’m ready to see how that all goes.

“Ashes of Eden” is out to a few dozen distributors and in the next few weeks we hope to start engaging in some serious discussions over the next wave of distribution.

The “Bestseller” trailer is about done visually and so music and sound polishing will start this coming week. What that means is distributors and fans will get to see the first looks at this exciting thriller. The feature will have one day of pick ups before we lock up the picture to start music and sound design.

Next week we start the next round of discussions over the next films to be released into Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I’m looking forward to that. I’ve also got talks ongoing with the UK and Brazil and our sales team is also closing in on Australia.

I’ve got a feature script to read this week from a director I’ve worked with once already. It is a WW2 script and I’m looking forward to the read.

It also looks like we will have a music video and a few promo videos shooting over the summer. We are growing close to announcing more on a feature film script. The question is what side of summer will it shoot on – the start or end because the location is HOT in the summer. That is not good for cast, crew or cameras so we will see how that all plays out.

Also the first talks on a new CDI associated film are beginning. It is a good script and I think it will be another great project that will continue the great tradition of telling stories for a worldwide audience. More as this develops…

IF you are in the AZ area on may 24th I encourage you to attend the DONORS premiere in Yuma, AZ. I’m excited to see this finished film myself.

I had intentions of discussing a few other things that I’ve observed around me but I’m not really wanting to wade into some of that right now. To address it in a zen like way is to say – “If a man wins a race whereas he was the only one running was it truly a race at all?”  Another point to ponder would be to say “An award granted is sincere when it is earned and unexpected but what is the nature of an award when it’s purchased for oneself by oneself?” Just a few things for folks to ponder out there.

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful weekend. Relax and prepare yourself to have a productive week ahead.

DJ

Dogs, Deals & Distribution

It is a sunny yet still quite cool Michigan day here in April. It was a crazy week for sure with me being sick for the good part of a week. I’m very happy to have that behind me and not living hour by hour with chills, fever and aches. I still have a slight cough and the sickness really put a dent in my ready training for our first soccer match tomorrow. I’m just happy that I will be able to play. I really enjoy the season that runs from now into October.

This week was spent pulling some things together on “Bestseller” in post and closing in on a final cut. It looks like we will do one day of pick ups for that film. The trailer is locked and so next week we will start sound design work. I’ve got paperwork in line for the feature music/sound design and so we are prepping to begin all that. So as “Ashes of Eden” is finishing the 5.1 mix this film preps to go in. We will also be doing color correction on “Bestseller” over the next week or two so more work getting knocked down.

PR on “Donors” was released that announced the Yuma, AZ premiere in May on the 24th. I need to see where we are at with “The Terrorist” film out of NYC but that has to also be getting close.

I read a funny comedy and gave a letter of interest on that film that could shoot at the end of summer. I’ve got a possible associated CDI script to read this week. Some very good progress is being made on a film we are looking to shoot in a few months. We are pulling on backers now and have distribution offers already on it. If you are looking to get involved in a film with a low start-up reach out to me. We have a policy of going to previous backers first and some are on board but after we run down those lists we will open it up to others.

I had good talks this past week on management and that is happening. I do have a new manager we just have to complete the details of the deal. This will help both in having a 3rd person deal in some situations but also their relationships to some A list director/producers will give me a good front and center on a few upcoming films.

“Ashes of Eden” is out to the first wave of about a dozen distributors and we are going to prepare the second wave list incase the deal we are looking for doesn’t present itself in the first round. Again the feedback on the film has been wonderful and I think it will find a good home.

Also CDI Distribution is having some great talks with a handful of companies over our library.

Lastly, for those who follow – both our dogs that had surgery are doing good. Both had their staples/stitches out and that means no more CONES! It was like having a couple of bulls in the house banging into everything.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and stay HEALTHY!

DJ