The morning birds singing and my coffee is soothing my thoughts. It was a busy week readjusting back into the home life. I caught up with some family and friends and also had time to get up to speed on some business.

“Darkest Night” will launch its Official interactive website Weds which will be the start of the build up towards the premiere and release and years end. I’m still waiting for my Magnifico coffee sponsorship to kick in:) Also one of my co-stars Jill Palencia is the featured leading lady. Many more on deck so stay tuned:)

http://www.djperryfanclub.com/Jill.html

I’m in the “come down” phase from “7 Stones” which was a great shoot. Fans of intensity, action and drama will enjoy this film. Here is an official site to keep up with that project. A few of the news stories are also embedded there.

http://www.3rdcoastfilm.com/index-4.html

We should have some exciting updates for you soon on “Renovation” that has been in talks with various companies. Talks will continue this week but I will tease that the announcement could include information on the follow-up sequel.

“Benjamin” that we shot in NYC is done and the marketing campaign and distribution talks will now begin. “Locked in a Room” should be finishing up here possibly within the month. New screening dates for “Outside the Wire” forthcoming including a Lansing, Michigan showing! I’m being told Feb/March 2012 time frame of the historic epic “Madam CJ Walker” and “In Our Time” goes to camera in the Fall 2012. Many new updates on these two projects and I’ll release those updates as soon as I’m able to. Great distribution studio attached and I’m excited to be part of these two films.

I’m waiting on dates for “Love Letters in the Sand” pushed a tad because of a change in locations. Also looking to see what film will be the focus for the end of the year. I will just keep on my path of hard work and see where it leads.

I hope you all are able to beat the heat. I have yet another soccer match in the heat today but I still love it. I hope everyone had a relaxing and/or productive weekend. I appreciate the interest you all have in this blog. I hope it does inspire some of you to dig a little deeper. You never know what lies around the next corner:) Be brave and follow your path. It was meant for you.

DJ

A readjustment to real life after a week of hotel living, or at least when I wasn’t spending the long hours on our prison set. I’m speaking of “7 Stones” and the wonderful experience I had telling that powerful story. Written and directed by Tom Norton and produced by a team led by Girbe Eefsting. I was completely blown away by a set that reminded me of “The Well of Souls” in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK or some dungeon from MAN IN THE IRON MASK. My thoughts are this…

While CGI does free the filmmaker to create in-computer all these worlds I can honestly state that performing inside a room of just curtain green screen cannot and will not create the same environment to pretend in. I love the story of on GOONIES they didn’t show the kids the pirate ship into they rolled cameras and dropped them into the water. The reaction was REAL!  A breathtaking pirate ship of One Eye Willie. As a producer, I have and will use green screen but whenever possible I think that actual sets should be used. I think when just the world becomes the focus and not the actors, storytelling will suffer. So I really had a strong appreciation for the playground created.

I once again was blessed with amazing co-stars In Melissa Anshultz, Dax Spanogle, Burt Johnson, Michael Swain, Justin Kilduff and of course Hershey. Thank you for making it so easy. The CREW! I met some remarkable artists and I hope this film will be the beginning of several stories told together. I think the work is some of the best drama I’ve done in a while. This is due to the material which in this case was a severe character study in the human spirit.

I’m so excited that another great story has moved into post. BENJAMIN is done now and I’m told LOCKED IN A ROOM is right behind it.

NEW “Outside the Wire” screenings will be shown throughout the year and I do recommend that everyone watches this enlightening film. Tony Hornus really found his calling with this project and many orphaned children will benefit. Again a great study in the human spirit!

“Renovation” has a few offers and we plan to make a few moves and announce something in the weeks ahead. I’m excited to get this thriller out to audiences who I believe will really enjoy it.

There is so much happening on the developing slate that I can’t type it all here. The Philippine GPI/CDI slate is forming up with “Shadow of Death” being next for Spring 2012. I will have new updates soon on “In Our Time” and “Madam CJ Walker” two highly anticipated films from B4Tyme with me playing Jesus in one of them. These two projects will mark my move into US theatrical should the upcoming films in post only make it to TV/home video level. I’m excited to get to that next level because I’ve worked with many fine directors/production groups whose work deserves to be on the big stage.

I’m pressing for the 4th Quarter release dates on our NEW VIDEO titles and so a little more patience and I will get those around.

Tomorrow I have an entire day of PR in Grand Rapids with TV, radio and print for “7 Stones”. I’m happy that my long unkept nails and beard are again gone. Not the best facial adornment in 90 degree heat.  Here are a few sites associated with the film. They have links to many previous news stories…ENJOY!

“7 Stones” Facebook site

http://www.facebook.com/pages/7-Stones/195785083801954?ref=ts

“7 Stones” website

http://www.3rdcoastfilm.com/

I hope that all of you out there are working towards your goals. Remember it is not a destination but the journey. Enjoy the ride!

DJ