Here we are again sharing a few weekend moments on this blog journey. The coffee is nice of hot and my thoughts drift to an unusual make up soccer match later today. We tied a game we should have won last week. Still, to come out without any lasting injury and enjoying the benefits of an hour and a half of running is always good. I’ve introduced my brother and some friends to the awesomeness that is Battlestar Galatica. If you like SciFi and have not seen this series you should. I thank filmmaker Nathan Quinn for getting me hooked up on some BSG. So say we all:)

Let’s start with “Renovation” http://www.renovationthemovie.com this fine action and suspense filled movie has been the source of some ongoing negotiations for distribution. We’ve got a deal in principle for worldwide rights. We’re still back and forth on a few finer points but we might very well be announcing a deal next week. IF this deal works out we would see it out to you fine audiences in March 2012 after a limited theatrical release in certain areas. We’ve already had interest from a few foreign territories including the Philippines. Also there is talk of putting “RENOVATION” in the theaters behind “Darkest Night”.

Let’s move our attention to “DN” (Darkest Night) and a Happy Birthday to GPI owner and producer/screenwriter Russ Williams.

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/46468/darkest-night-website-now-open-new-stills-and-official-poster

The announcement of the NEW very cool website has been launched. This site actually explores the real story behind this film. It explores the history and lays out some of the more exciting events that took place while shooting. SOMETHING else lives in that location where we shot and it made itself known a few times. Read up if you would like the true stories of the unknown. The premiere should be at  CineManila Film Festival if all goes according to plan. Post continues.

“7 Stones” I hear almost has a rough cut and look for a November Michigan Film Festival premiere. “Locked in a Room” has got to be moving towards a close. I’m excited to see the final “Benjamin” once they get that all set up. Director Jon Osman is off recovering somewhere in Asia.

Development – we have many projects moving slowly coming together. I watched the making of “Dances with Wolves” and was thriller to see all the financing and production issues they had. It really made me realize again that these are normal issues for our industry. A domestic studio is looking at “Holly, Jingles and Clyde” and Monday they will meet with our foreign rep. I hope that we might actually get to make that charming film. PR with Ashley Tisdale has been all over the place and her manager Bill said they really like the script. That is because it is a wonderful little script and so I hope it finds it’s legs. Pieces are moving on all our developing properties but let’s look at releases!

This 4th quarter will be an exciting time. We had a change in distributors last year on the run up for release with E1 Ent. and now these projects have been reset with New Video. This distributor is well known for the DVD releases of several popular cable shows and docs. We’re proud to be releasing with them and I want to thank Cecil Chambers for his hard work here.

On December 6th we will see the release of “An Ordinary Killer,” “Figure in the Forest” and “Judges”. On December 13th we will see “Heaven’s Neighbors” release. I’m also told that “Blood Ties” will release in November likely kissed up to Halloween. I have more talks on “The Patchwork Girl of Oz” on Tuesday but I’m hoping that we can get it out in December in time for Xmas. So that makes five maybe six films at this years end. That should give most of you watching material for a while. A few have had a previous release and so this marks either a blue ray or special edition release. I know we are all excited about the first release of FIGURE, HEAVEN’S and OZ!

OK. It was a busy week of phone calls and emails over these projects. Now I’m gonna get around and do some yard work before the game tonight. I’ll leave you with these words.

“Gunga galunga… gunga, gunga-lagunga”

Awoke to a peaceful, beautiful rain. The garden is starting to put forth what will become the harvest. The seeds went in late because of how wet of a spring we had. I love the cool weather we’ve had the last week. It put me in mind of hard cider and hay rides. I had two soccer matches pretty much back to back since one was a make up game. Two hard-fought victories that sent a few folks to the hospital for stitches. Sports are a great meditation and allows the mind to run like a captive animal let go. The action of the moment doesn’t allow second thoughts. It doesn’t allow time for insecurities, self-doubt, questioning, analyzing, line items, cost control – REPLACED BY – Work with the pack. Trust in the pack. Defend and Attack!

Simple – direct –  instincts leading! I enjoy activity like this  that feeds the inner fire.

Focus, intensity and reacting in the moment. Sounds like another craft – like acting. In some of those intense onscreen moments you cannot get caught thinking. Real people in certain charged situations are just acting, not acting like as in…”I’m a tree” but as in ACTION, driven by emotion. I know after a good rant onscreen I can’t remember anything I was really saying. It was just coming deep from a place of fire.

Fire can provoke fear, comfort, warmth and a death. I think the lesson is BE THE REAL YOU! UNIQUELY YOU! You fuel the fire that ignites the imagination and birth’s fictional onscreen characters. In the great words of wisdom spoken forth to the world by Guru Butthead – “Ah…that’s pretty cool!”

I’ve refused to live my life by the up’s and down’s of the stock market or the endless loop of gloom and doom on CNN. I love news but many of our problems are not really problems. They are a stone in our tire. An annoying squeak of a shopping cart-wheel. My point is that many are born into conditions not even close to what the homeless here can receive. Yes. They might have to get an earful of some practicing preacher but it is not staving in a refuge camp.

Okay. Speaking of the homeless. I had an idea. What if those willing joined an organization like the Peace Corps. reinforced by some Federal spending normally put forth to help a country in need. The potentially amazing work force of homeless could literally make a clean start. A modest pay and costs that are severely offset because of costs in other countries. We get to help our own and help the country while keeping some control on proper spending. And lastly, find me a group of people more suited to such acts of compassion than folks who had previous lived hardship. But, not as hard as others around the world. I see a great chance to set up change in programs like that.

HARD TURN PORT!

Okay blood and horror fans! I’m so wanting to give you some exciting updates on RENOVATION but a bit more time is needed. I’m excited by this film and think audiences will dig it. JEKYLL & HYDE is my only hint or tease.

DARKEST NIGHT the VERY scary Philippine horror film has a GREAT interactive website at http://www.darkestnightmovie.com/

This film is the first of a slate of GPI/CDI collaborations.

LOCKED IN A ROOM is moving towards a close and I think that film will shake a few major scares out of folks.

I could go on more about the films but the week was filled with small steps. I have cultivated immense patience in this industry.  Many journey’s require many, many steps and if you cannot be patient stress and frustration will be your life. That said, patience comes once you’ve done your required tasks. I know I always bring it back to an actor friend who is unhappy with the work offers and in almost every situation their materials are not together. Acting reel? Yeah. I gotta finish that up. So instead of fixing a problem you waste time lamenting the outcome of a situation you are directly accountable for. I’ve been guilty before. Yes. I gave myself the first lecture:)

People who know me know not to ask me a question unless you want my often blunt response. That is a good trait when it comes with a reasoning behind it versus just a feeling. Those same good instincts we discussed earlier can twist around if marinated in negativity too long. Honest communication  is part of our company’s strength at CDI. Our folks are not a bunch of YES MEN. I’ve disagreed at different times with almost everyone. It is how we deal with differing viewpoints. We talk it out and see who has a truly BETTER WAY vs a DIFFERENT WAY. There is no way of telling which path – or a mixture of the two paths would make the best solution. I know many production companies out there with communication issues.  It is a real test to see how many companies gel for the long haul.

In true tribal fashion when a direction is decided upon, mutual respect will motivate them together. This support is despite the understanding that someone has accountability tasking and might have to make a final decision that may differ from someone else’s opinion.  If you’ve never worn that coat of accountability I would suggest wearing it a few times. It might create better understanding between task groups. In film, this is ABOVE THE LINE and BELOW THE LINE but at day’s end they’re all there to TOW THE LINE and make a movie!

No. I’m not going to bust into “walking a mile in someone’s moccasins”:)

I enjoyed these few moments with all of you. The coffee is gone and so it is time to move on with my day.

Have a great Saturday.

DJ