It went from a balmy hot day last week to a nice chilly cool – this is Michigan! I’ve got my coffee by my side and I wanted to write to all of you before my busy weekend. I want to start by saying that I’ve always been a little against the social network process. I think that just like iPhones (I own one), iPods (did condense my CD’s) everyone seems to be PLUGGED IN. Without sounding old as dirt I come from an different time. A simply time where we used land lines, actually wrote letters and a the floppy disk drive was high-tech. I’ll say that for my business the internet has helped greatly. To be able to submit pics,resume and reels via almost instant online is amazing. I just see so many people disconnected to the person next to them but connected to their network 24/7. Their cloud or cloud sharing must be next. I see the positives with my business and I’ve seen it unite people in countries fighting for human rights. The Bday messages started hours before my birthday and continued ALL day. Friends from elementary school, middle and high school, college friends, soccer buddies, Denmark friends, cousins I don’t see enough of, actor and crew friends from almost every film I’ve ever worked on and last but not least fans of the work…I was sincerely blown away! I saw another positive from the Facebook because it made me feel good. Made me feel remembered despite the low-key way I spent my birthday. I still do like face-to-face interaction but I know in this busy world that having a giant party with all your friends is not possible. I just want to tell EVERYONE that sent me a birthday wish that I’m honored to know you all. Be it from past work, past school, sports or just performing for you in a role on your TV – thank you, I’m honored. You all made me feel special and I appreciate that. I think you all are special as well to me and my life. I guess I have Facebook to thank.

Movie news!

TONIGHT OWOSSO, Michigan – 8:00 pm “Outside the Wire” if you can come join me in person as we kick off our Michigan showings. You can go to the CDI site http://www.cdiproductions.com to get tickets. It also plays Sunday but I will only be at the Saturday showing.

We had a great CDI meeting Monday night with almost all of the tribe. I introduced the folks to Mr. Jeff Watson coming on board our commercial division at CDI and Mr. Eric Nelson who is coming onboard as in-house legal with CDI. We also discussed the various projects in development and we have some plans brewing.

This week I did some additional Voice work on “Benjamin” the NYC picture shot last Summer. I was actual on that set for my Bday last year. “Locked in a Room” is moving to the finish line for an October premiere. “Darkest Night” is supposed to launch the official website this forthcoming week. I had some good distribution talks on “Renovation” and hope to lock that up this Summer to release to all of you. The development in the works is more than I can type right here. We have many talented people in our tribe of folks and they are all working with us to get their stories in motion.

Next up for me in July are two films. The first is “7 Stones” a powerful drama about political prisoners. We had a table read yesterday and I think it is gonna be great! Also I’ve been invited to join the cast of the drama “Love Letters in the Sand” also to shoot in July. I’m looking forward to seeing friends and making new ones. It is a very good script and I’m proud to play a small part in telling that story.  Lastly, I’m meeting with another director Tuesday visiting Michigan about another cool film shooting later this year. If it is meant to be it will.

I’m looking forward to a great back half of the year. Life has been good and I think we’ll create some more good art this year. Several projects are having the final touches put upon them and so I look forward to seeing those complete. Inspired, developed, produced and premiered – repeat as needed:) I also welcomed in the Summer Solstice and so it is officially Summer! ENJOY! Divide your time wisely between work and play and remember to unplug once in a while. I’ve got a graduation party this afternoon for a great friend whose daughter is moving into the college scene. After that I join Tony Hornus and Dennis Therrian and I hope many of you in Owosso, Michigan to watch a powerful story of the children of Afghanistan.

Have a great day!

DJ

Ah…drinking hazelnut coffee and writing to all of you on this fine Sunday morning. Very productive week both personal and professional. On the personal the deck got stained, the garden planted, the lawn mowed and even some repair work done over on the fort. We won our soccer match last week and this week will bring some good things. First, I have a Bday this week and so another trip around the sun is a CHECK!

I signed paperwork on another CDI associated project entitled “7 Stones” with director/writer Tom Norton and his 3rd Coast Film Partners. It is a story about a couple of POW’s and yours truly is playing one of the co-stars. It is a great script and will be a wonderful challenge. My clean face from “Darkest Night” is being replaced by an unkept beard of a man who’s spent time in a 3rd world prison. The most exciting news is one of my co-stars may be a monkey. No. Terry Jernigan isn’t playing a monkey:)

Speaking of Terry Jernigan, we’ve been in talks for him to direct a prequel to “The 8th Plague” entitled “Soul Eater”. Talks on this film with Two For Flinching is going very well. Also in 2012 will be the “Secondary Hero” shoot with my old friend Stuart MacDonald directing. We will be posting some casting info on http://www.cdiproductions.com soon for this 2012 shoot.

Those who have acting reels get those ready! Despite how Michigan thinks casting works the 1st thing most producers I know want to see  is a reel of previous work. It shows 1) What you look like during game time with good cameras and lights. 2) It shows someone else put money at risk to cast you. 3)  Various clips shows you likely have a good off camera attitude that gets you cast more than once.

See…producers talk and if you are a problem on one set that can really black mark you.

Be NICE! Always and to everyone!

Most actors do not have reels prepared and agencies are more willing to withhold reels versus pushing them because a majority of their talent does NOT have reels. So while playing the numbers the most experienced actors don’t get pushed forward. And we wonder why we mostly get only extra and under 5 work here in Michigan.  So if you want to get priority casting with CDI get those reels ready!

Next week we might see the “Darkest Night” website and 1st trailer! I’ll keep you all informed and you can subscribe to the film’s Facebook site under the same name. The next picture on this Philippine slate GPI/CDI is “Shadow of Death” with director Noel Tan again directing from a Russ Williams script. This is slated for summer 2012.

Interesting developments this week – one person I’ve known for quite some time, I’ve hired before and stayed in touch with over the years finally got their current project up and running. The forces that be can all crash in at that point and some people fold under all that pressure. For them it becomes what they can or can’t do. I understand the casting game and I look out for people when I sincerely feel they are right for a role. Long short is that a script and character I had interest in for years suddenly dropped out once funded. The friend took the stance of – I had no control here. I’m not petty. I firmly believe that the universe presents a storyteller with the stories they are meant to tell. I just occasionally get disappointed like everyone else not just in a lost role but realizing a bond isn’t as strong as you thought.

We’ve all failed here before I’m sure so I’m not throwing rocks just illuminating a point.

In the past I’ve  also had a good friend take some money from myself and a friend. Not a lost investment but taken money. Honestly, I wasn’t as upset about the money and chances are had he asked I would have shared what I could have. The sad part is that a value was placed on the friendship. Now maybe I too could be farther along on my path if I played selfish and stepped on whomever to get where I wanted to go. I’m not that person and to me it is not worth getting ahead by putting others down.

My story has a happy ending – so I reconnected with an old friend who was actually my 1st manager ever. She was well-known for placing models in big agencies. She eliminated her acting division except myself back in the day because she said I was out there working so hard to help myself. From her I got to go on trips to NYC only to be escorted from offices and treated basically like a pair of shoes all those years ago. Those early hard trips helped to define me – I either had to GIVE UP and be happy OR come out and KICK ASS. I choose the latter.  She is now a casting agent and is working a deal to have me on her current project. We both knew people on the film and that led to the reconnect. The actions she has taken just go to show CHARACTER. All these years have gone by and yet our friendship and respect still exist. Why? How? Because it existed in the 1st place. Look at yourself. Look at those around you. Know who you want to be and be it. The road might be longer but the person who arrives will be a better person. I promise you that.

August may have me on another period drama for a few days.  Promotional plans on “In Our Time” have begun with a phone meeting last week. Those wheels are slowly starting to move now and I’m excited to start moving that project along. Also at a CDI meeting this Monday we’ll see where we are with projects and if CDI can get one or two off the ground for the back half of the year. I’m also still trying to get street dates on some of the other CDI titles to release 4th quarter so stay tuned.

My father is on vacation but if you still have your father with you go spend some time with him.

Have a great weekend!

DJ