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

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Festive Fun & Film Development Updates

All week I’ve been drinking a variation on my coffee – eggnog and coffee:) Some like it and others do not but I just find it great! This week we also added a mass amount of venison steaks and burger to join the 4H pork and beef in the freezer. I’ve almost got my Christmas duties complete although tonight will be tree decorating. We’ve had the beautiful fir-tree up and enjoying it even in the bare state. The animals really  love it and I’ve often come downstairs to find all the animals circled around it sleeping. I know that for many our industry shuts down from about the 15th of Dec. to the 15th of Jan. but in my experience many deals are also done in this time when things are slower and more relaxed.

We’ve recently made an announcement that the CDI associated film “Renovation” has been officially renamed “Deadly Renovations” for the release. The post team is working hard to get the deliverables all around and I for one am really looking forward to the release. I’m going to talk to one of our actor/producers Tommy Lynch about setting up a red carpet Vegas premiere before we hit select theaters. A new website address of http://www.deadlyrenovations.com will be in addition to the old http://www.renovationthemovie.com once the new one is active.

This week also had great talks on several films that could move into PRE-PROD from development. “The 8th Plague” prequel “Soul Eater” is looking good. “Secondary Heroes” is moving forward.  Dean Teaster’s “Long Road Home” and Anthony Hornus’s “A State of Hate” both had meetings this week. We even have an untitled Jeff Kennedy film moving ahead slightly on the development trek. Several others are still building their packages and so 2012 is looking strong.

I might sign onto an outside film next week if negotiations go well. I read a script I really liked, connected with a character and I’m working my schedule. If all works out I might have a solid announcement on a new project.

I know that “Darkest Night” is in the post trimming process and will go dark over the holidays to get ready for 2012. “7 Stones,” “Benjamin,” and “Locked in a Room” will also be making their 1st showings in the near future. I’m very excited to see these projects on the big screen.

“Outside the Wire” has a 2012 screening schedule as we continue to have talks on this project. The USO and other organizations will be the focus of some future meetings. I also heard rumor of another doc in the works so I expect some new announcements on that front first of the year.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season!

DJ

Posted by  |  December 10, 2011 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments

RIP Bill McKinney – Appreciate the Artists

So I want to start my post this morning honoring a great actor whom I had the pleasure of working with on our Lionsgate western “Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town” (Comcast On Demand, Netflix, Amazon). This actor is Mr. Bill McKinney famous for many roles in great films such as “Deliverance,” “The Outlaw Josey Wales” and of course my favorite playing my father in GHOST TOWN. I recall doing producing paperwork at Robert Bradley’s home and on TV I’m watching Clint Eastwood and Bill verbal spar on-screen. I remember thinking “tomorrow is my turn” to play with this great actor. Our 1st day together was shooting the father/son stable scene and it is currently one of the 1st scenes on my reel as I believe it reflects some of my best work. Bill felt the scene because of not always seeing eye-to-eye with his own son and God knows my father and I have also had our disagreements. So the scene really worked and we had great respect for each other from that first day. I have been looking forward to the next time we would work together but yesterday I got word that told me  I would just have to appreciate the time we had. Bill McKinney passed away from throat cancer. His family said two weeks earlier he was shooting a commercial for DORITOS which doesn’t surprise me as the man was a battle axe. I hope the commercial is for the Superbowl because that would be a fitting send off. To work with Bill was to work with true greatness. It is why I will continue to be a fan of working with the aging vets of our industry despite what some casting folks say about BUZZ, HEAT and FLAVOR OF THE MONTH type B.S.. When the goal is to make a good film go to the old pros! They will add so much depth to your roles, your film and they are doing it for the love of the craft! So I want to give my on-screen dad a heartfelt send off. I only hope that I can be part of a string of hit films like he was. When it comes to intensity he could stand toe to toe with ANYONE. Cheers to Bill!

This week had me working film sales, development on no less than 4 different films and discussing acting roles in a few other movies for 2012. I did read a cool script the other night and I’m in discussions on that film. I’m told another director wants me to look at a role in a Michigan film so I expect to take another read soon. I’ve been doing a bit of writing on a script I’ve had upstairs in the nugget for quite a while so that has been enjoyable. I’ve also been sending paperwork around on the upcoming studio films I’ve got moving down the line. So overall it has been a very busy week. Thankfully I’m almost back to feeling myself again. I had a hard time with jet lag and came home just slightly sick.

We do have some casting calls slowly rolling out. You can seek out the COLLECTIVE DEVELOPMENT INC. Facebook site as they are posting there first. The first call was for a very experienced actor of Indian (India) background/look. Those who know me can attest how much stock I put into reels of previous work. Cold auditions suck and never yield the same results as seeing the actor in the real deal. So if you’ve been slacking on putting a reel together or getting your footage of past work – do so.

We’re also going to be posting at the CDI Facebook site to see if any female TRIPLETS that have that country girl “Daisy Mae” sort of vibe exist in Michigan or the surrounding states. I also heard that some of the Michigan film incentives were going to be back in action for 2012 so that is good news!

On the personal level I asked for some beautiful snow and boy we sure did get some. Almost eight inches of the white covered everything in the Lansing area. I’m going to have to do a little clean up as the heavy snow brought down a heavy tree branch on a portion of the garden fence. Not a problem as fences can be mended and now we have some more kindling to burn in the fire pit.

I will leave you all with the plea that next time you work on a project with a group of artists  truly appreciate that opportunity because as the wheel of life turns we will lose friends and peers. On the CDI Facebook site there is also an album that honors many of the fellow artists that have passed on. Remember and respect those artists who made their mark and passed on. Appreciate the artists and the moments spent with them. They are your history and part of your mythology.

DJ

Posted by  |  December 3, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment