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

Latest

Making Beer & Wine/Films Releasing in the Springtime

What a great week it was both personal and professional. I have to say that seeing plants start to grow and the warmth slowly creep over the land has been a positive and uplifting thing. I do love winter but this one was pretty intense. I had a chance to do some yard clean up. We’ve got plans to get the patio rocking this year also getting the pond going. Taxes both company and personal are submitted so that is off the plate. This week should have me becoming an Uncle which is an exciting thing. I have 6 gal. of beer brewing which I’ve called STAN REED’S SUMMER BREW. It is named after my character in the spring break movie TANGY GUACAMOLE. I’ve also got everything for my Banana/Coconut wine and that will be put into play very soon. So I’ve about drained the hazelnut coffee and I’m ready to throw you all a few new updates.

ASHES OF EDEN – This week has been watch-overs on the final version looking for tweaks here and there to be made before it all gets mastered out. We have one final watch/listen again on Tuesday of the stereo mix version. We spotted 5 or 6 improvements and those are being made as I type. The excitement by the masses is growing with record-setting ticket sales topping 500+ in only a few days. We could have close to a 1,000 people ready to watch the local showing. I hear that we will have several of our out-of-state stars coming in as well. If you are in the Michigan area and you want to be part of this showing go to the Capital City Film Festival site. Tickets are only $5 through the festival. I’m looking forward to telling this story to the masses. From there we will start talks with the interested distributors.

BESTSELLER should be close to a locked edit by month’s end. We should also be releasing the 1st trailer about that time. I’m excited by the preview because it really did capture the essence of the original story.

DONORS, the thriller we helped produced out of Yuma, AZ will have its first local showing on May 24th. There is a good chance that we may be in the area shooting on another feature. That is a HINT and if things go as planned I would look for an announcement around Easter.

REALIZISM a great short film that I acted in for Mitch Nyberg will play also on April 13th at the Grand Rapids Film Festival. Check out their site for times.

Several of the CDI films are in talks for additional Network and foreign licensing and I’m confident that we will have several releases to inform you of very soon. I’m going to keep it short but let me see if I can give any insights pulled from this week of business.

My advice would be to invest of yourself and your time wisely. If a project is going to be sub-quality or never be seen by any audiences beyond a few fest crowds why do it. If you need to build a resume and hone your skills – sure. But if you are established, which can be hard to do, do not kill your worth by taking on projects that are not worthy.  Value yourself.

Have a great weekend.

DJ

ASHES, BESTSELLER, REALIZISM and MORE – Updates Galore!

The hazelnut coffee is flowing and I wanted to get this blog update complete before we head up North for some R&R. I will get right to some film updates since we have a few important ones.

ASHES OF EDEN has its cast & crew showing with public in attendance sponsored by the Capitol City Film Festival – tickets can be purchased here http://capitalcityfilmfest.com/event/ashes-of-eden

BESTSELLER is working to prepare the 1st trailer and I can tell you it is looking good! It will be released mid to late April and the film edit is being fine tuned.

THE TERRORIST that we did in NYC is also in a fine tune edit and I hope to see it release at year’s end. NEW poster art has been released.

DONORS the thriller we shot in Yuma, AZ is completed and is setting for a premiere in late May. There is a chance I may be in attendance for that showing if this other project in Yuma, AZ area launches.

A CDI association deal as well as my participating as an actor on a follow-up picture with At Risk Entertainment is underway. The talk is that cameras would roll in July. They have been doing camera tests and so things are coming together on that front.

REALIZISM a great short film is playing at the Grand Rapids Film Festival also on April 13th (Yes same day as ASHES OF EDEN) at http://www.grfilmfestival.com/schedule/short-narrative-block/  I will be unable to attend that due to commits on the other screening.

DARKEST NIGHT released into Germany, Austria and Switzerland joining THE 8TH PLAGUE, WICKED SPRING and LOCKED IN A ROOM. Thank you to all the new fans from over there.

Again BOOK OF RUTH will be playing in the 2 week block of films on the UP NETWORK for Easter so check your TV listings.

I think that will about wrap things up. I want to thank CANDLEBERRY CANDLE COMPANY who has been a sponsor for some time now for sending me their entire Jim Beam collection. The smell of those candles and coffee is just – heavenly!

Be good to one another and enjoy your weekend.

DJ