That’s Life! The Highs and Lows and Riding the Line!
Good morning! I’m trying a different creamer for my coffee and this one is pistachio. It is pretty darn good not as good as my hazelnut but maybe I will do that for my second cup. I want to welcome all our readers from around the world. Life is funny how it keeps rolling with highs and lows. Yesterday I was reflecting at how at peace I was. My sick family member is doing so much better and that is what has me most pleased. I do have three appointments to get them to this week. Business-wise I have everything going in a great direction. I had a great meeting yesterday morning with friend/associate producer John Mashni on end of year film business. We have been working with our accounting firm on streamlining the business. We are in Phase 2 with a good plan for 2027 phase 3. I will start to put that into motion this week. Also the end of the year disperse to investors is being calculated and that will also be going out in the coming weeks.
On a personal level we brought in Baxter another old male cat who was in bad need of a forever home and having recently lost our old man Fredrick it felt like a good fit. He has won the lotto that way and I hope he has a great number of years in our home. I decided to share something personal because it is real life. I don’t like when everyone paints a picture of no issues in their life. I was feeling great with my Fall day having done some winterizing work. I sat down to snack on a soft dehydrated apple ring. I heard a snap and…let me back up my story about 40 years. I had braces when I was young and due to some rough treatment by the orthodonist I had one of my front teeth die. They had to do a root canal and they capped both front teeth so they matched. Ok. Back to my apple ring bite down-snap. I thought the veneer had come off but whatever in my mouth felt heavy. A swish of my tongue revealed a gap. I pulled out of my mouth the tooth. After many years a root canal can leave a tooth brittle and that must be my case. No blood, no pain, no swelling I just look like a hockey player. Plus I have no good story to go with it. No epic soccer battle. No kung fu fight. No fall or accident only an apple ring. So I have messages out to my two dentists and I will call them first off on Monday and see who can see me. I have the charity premiere for AI JESUS The Secret of the Kingdom Chip on Nov 18th so we will see what shape they have my smile in. I will note that the last two years I had my wisdom teeth removed and had an implant from a cracked tooth that went below the gum line. I was at a point of just maintenance which I go every 4 months and have a solid routine. So it will cost more money and time but it could have happened at the Will Rogers Awards or even during filming of DEVIL’S PASS so I am at peace that it happened now.
MOVIE UPDATES:
- Following the BRONZE win at the Will Rogers Awards our WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS has released onto streaming to rent or buy. I invite you to watch the first movie WILD FAITH and the follow up. It is currently on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, Hoopla with more adding weekly. We look forward to hearing what you and your family think about this story.
- ROM COMS MUST DIE has moved into ad-based video on demand too which you can pay to rent or buy with no ads or watch free with ads. We are starting to see some great reviews and it is good that people are getting the joke that the film is. It is an over-the-top parody of our film industry. WATCH THIS REVIEW and we look forward to reading your reviews! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdtz2nIsdqU
- AI JESUS The Secret of the Kingdom Chip. The subject of AI is everywhere and this film examines that in a way that isn’t all doom and gloom. It doesn’t ignore possible issues but presents several perspectives. It is a comedy but also has some serious topics discussed. This film is now streaming to rent or buy on Amazon Prime and several participating platforms. This is the 3rd time I’ve played Jesus in a film. In parts 1 and 3 of THE QUEST TRILOGY I played Jesus but I think in a very unique way. Watch all three filmed in the beautiful desert outside Yuma, AZ part 1 FORTY NIGHTS, part 2 CHASING THE STAR and part 3 THE CHRIST SLAYER. I’m working on my reflections for an upcoming book on the making of these three films. I’ve also been approached about participating in a documentary film about those who have played Jesus in the movies. So I think the timing is right to reflect upon the experience. If you have not seen these films all fours will be a good watch over the holidays.
- We are doing a special charity premiere for AI JESUS The Secret of the Kingdom Chip to benefit NEW HOPE PET RESCUE. November 18th at 7:00 at the Hannah Center in EL, Michigan. Admission is a donation to the rescue and 100% is going to the rescue. I hope to see some of you there!
- DEVIL’S PASS edit is undergoing polishing and I’m excited to see where we have landed with it. So far the film looks great and once Dennis Therrian starts sound design and music it will really come to life. It will release in 2027.
DEVELOPMENT:
- I’ve read one of two outside scripts we are considering to produce with CDI. I will note as I’ve had many writers and producers reach out that we only consider outside projects that come with funding.
- We have two scripts we are looking to fund and produce. One is the follow up to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA called RETURN TO ALGONA. We have a good amount of the funding committed and I’m working to finish that up. We are looking to have a green light by 1st Q 2027 to shoot in Q4 2027 in Algona, Iowa. The other is a local Michigan film which is a comedic who done it film.
- I’ve set the goal of finishing two scripts this winter both sequels of popular CDI films. The first is WILD FAITH 3 a stand alone feature incase the TV series WILD FAITH: HASTINGS is still too heavy to get off the ground. I’m almost done with the first draft and so far I am just thrilled with the story.
- The other script is MAN’S BEST FRIEND 2 or MBF2 and that is also close to a 1st draft and I’ll send time polishing up this story. This film has had so many asking when is the sequel and what happen to Paul Landings. This film will let audiences find out.
WRAP UP: I still feel very blessed even though I have my own hardships like everyone else. If the gap isn’t fixed with an implant or has a removable piece you will see the gap tooth appear in a film character. This situation could have been from some tragic fall or accident but instead was just from an old tooth that got tired.
Today, gap in my tooth and all we are taking the mom’s to lunch and going to see a play co-starring my sister-in-law. This week I am suppose to see an old school buddy if I can make it work around my dental appointment that I need to schedule. So my week ahead is already full but I will just keep on keeping on. I’m excited that we will once again have a live tree in the house. We have a new little man in the house with Baxter the cat.
I was about to marinade some venison steaks to make jerky in the dehydrator and bottle up the CHUCK NORRIS BERRY KA-POW Tribute wine this month. The chickens eggs have slowed but not stopped. The winterizing work around the property has begun and I will forward to finishing that below the snow flies. I hope all of you have had a great weekend and carry that right on to your new week. Sometimes you just have to keep your head down and keep walking. I look forward to talking next week. The last bright spot was my alumni school Michigan State University beat U of M at their stadium and almost kept them from scoring. The win was a good bright spot to end the night. Go Green! Coffee cheers! DJ
Artists Helping Artists- Updates and Insights
Good morning!
Happy Chinese New Year of the Dragon! Happy Super Bowl Sunday or whatever you want to attribute the day too. I just will say Happy Sunday! I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee which is really tasting nice this morning. I’ve had a good week and I hope to give you a few updates to our projects and endeavors. I want to thank everyone once again for joining me here. This format here helps me to summarize my progress on projects and to plan ahead. It also serves to update the interested parties and for other artists it can help, artists helping artists. Where to begin- I had a great talk this past week with an author John Farkis doing a book on Old Tuscan/Mescal studios in Benson AZ. If you do your research it is where countless great films were shot. TOMBSTONE being one of the most famous. I was privileged to have worked there myself. A producer Thadd Turner, well known for his passion of westerns was doing a new film there. His son who was young at the time loved Civil War films and WICKED SPRING (You can watch free w/ ads on Encourage TV) was his favorite film. And his favorite character was mine. So what a cool father to reach out to hire me as an actor. He knew I had experience in producing and I wanted to really study how others produce. I had not yet produced Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town or Wild Faith yet but they would require more wrangling of horses. So I jumped at the opportunity to produce the behind the scenes for the film. We ended up with an epic hour and a half or more of content that was shown at the Lone Pine Film Festival. (Another famous place for filming western TV series) I was thankful to be able to be on set and meet some many talented and wonderful people on both sides of the camera. It is the set where I met Rance Howard, who would become my mentor and co-star in another four of our films. One of my childhood heroes David Carradine (Kung Fu) whom I got to know quite well. Wes Studi, Irene Bedard, Mark Rolston, Buck Taylor, Michael Parks, Francine York, Brian Libby – and the list goes on. The film’s lead Tim Abell and I would forge a friendship that would lead to several collaborations like playing my dad in MAN’S BEST FRIEND. It was fun to bring back all these good memories. That is what each film is like. The experiences of making the film. Tommy Dippel was always a hoot and took time to really explain the wrangling aspect. Jon Proudstar coordinating in the office but was happy to see him acting in Reservation Dogs recently. Wes Studi on Finding Your Roots. Watching TV and film becomes a different experience when they are your friends and co-workers up there. John the author and I had a great talk and now he’s another to add to the circle. He enjoyed watching WILD FAITH and will be doing a review for which I’m honored to have.
(Lone Pine me, Tony Hornus, John Saxon, Thadd Turner, David Borowicz)
Speaking on literary – recently I talked about the new campaign for my first starring film IN THE WOODS. A cult film that was the resulting passion of a couple young filmmakers trying to earn their way into the industry. So soon they’ll be announcing info on the remastered film and the new director’s cut. End of this week I’ll get my first watch on the new director’s cut and we’ll be capturing commentary. To prep for this new campaign a making of book (Now also in hardcover) filled with the story of the struggle and original script released late last year - PURCHASE HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Woods-Lynn-Drzick/dp/B0BXMTJS9C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36RJZKN42LZ5G&keywords=In+the+Woods+movie+lynn+Drzick&qid=1707660674&s=books&sprefix=in+the+woods+movie+lynn+drzick%2Cstripbooks%2C85&sr=1-1
Coming soon is the new special edition In the Woods novelization by Nancy Gideon. I had penned a prequel script the told the full story of the creatures in the movie. An epic sword and sorcery tale that sheds light and answers all the questions viewers of the film had. We cut some of the flashbacks from the film due to budgetary issues as we discussed previously. But if you read this you will get the full story. I was proud to add to the world created by Lynn Drzick and if you enjoy a good story of warring kingdoms this might be just for you! PURCHASE HERE: https://www.amazon.com/panDEMONium-Woods-Origin-DJ-Perry/dp/B0CV8F73D6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WENU3ERCKDAR&keywords=In+the+Woods+DJ+Perry&qid=1707661064&s=books&sprefix=in+the+woods+dj+perry%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-1
All this is preparing for the new release of the classic and new version of IN THE WOODS on Blu Ray! The question that lingers in the aftermath is SEQUEL? PREQUEL? Only time will tell but I will say that there is an interest by all parties. Wayne Higley? Al Fargo? Alex Kerwood? Or Prince Freeacus? Lentar? Captain Hur? We will have to wait and see what is to unfold in the forthcoming-
LITERARY –
Staying on the subject of literary with books being a close second in my favorite medium next to motion picture/TV. We are looking to release several books/screenplay combos where the materials exist. Plus cool interviews with key folks about the making of that particular film. One such book I’m exciting about is THE QUEST TRILOGY, our 3 films (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star, The Christ Slayer) * Also on Encourage TV – all in the biblical realm. A coffee table book with the three scripts and essays by the three directors and key members of the production. I have to get after the essays as that can be like wrangling cats.
Re-Issues: All the CDI films are now being loaded onto the backup CDI RAID which I’ll name HAL. Once there we’ll be digitally remastering some and creating new DCP files (For theatrical) as some films like GHOST TOWN and AN ORDINARY KILLER will be getting a special new release into theaters as a first step. Blu-Ray deals are being looked at for all the films as a superior way to preserve and view physical media and lastly streaming. From the CDI Classic Collection – FROM VENUS is going to be pushed behind CDI’s first film KNIGHT CHILLS, which released in Oct. 2023 on Blu Ray BUY HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Knight-Chills-Tim-Jeffrey/dp/B0CJ5WBSZR/ref=asc_df_B0CJ5WBSZR/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=680424942453&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10081684957020523845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019404&hvtargid=pla-2260223998064&psc=1&mcid=399dd8121370380c8b97cdbf876e05c6&gad_source=1
Knight Chills streaming in Oct 2024 is a goal and we’ll be talking to various horror streaming sites. FROM VENUS Blu Ray in Oct. 2024 would be great also. But things sometimes move at their own speed. But we keep pushing forward.
All of these CDI library films getting new life in the HD age is exciting but we have many films living in that world now.
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA – PR will be forthcoming but as always you get the news here first. While the film continues to be available on DVD or play on a growing number of transactional platforms available to rent or buy like on Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, Youtube and Amazon Prime– WATCH HERE: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CN1KYNNT/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r - The film will be going to subscription video of demand on the UP Family & Faith tv this Summer! Our distributor will continue to work hard to bring it to the various countries around the globe! Thank you to all you have enjoyed this movie and if you have some positive feedback feel free to leave it on our http://www.imdb.com page!
Harsens Island Revenge – Our director Carl Weyant is back this week from Brazil. The following week we’ll be looking to have a sit down and watch the film minus the opening scene yet to be shot. We’ll be discussing music with composer Dennis Therrian who has been “sketching” musical beds to play for Carl. We’ll also be discussing the first teaser trailer which scenes are being pulled for. And the theatrical poster plus by the end of the month we plan to release a behind the scenes video by our own Adam Towner. To say I’m excited to sit back and see the flow is an understatement.
DEVELOPMENT:
HOT ROD LOVE– Our next Shane Hagedorn directed comedy drama set in the 70’s made some more steps this week in funding and sponsorship. If we can lock up funding in the next 6-8 weeks we’ll be looking at July/August timeframe to prep and film. Schedule could slide if funding takes any longer but we’re in talks with several parties and have faith we can keep our timeline.
We have another feature in development that I cannot speak on until development paperwork is signed but that should happen this week. It is another historical drama based upon a real person. We’re very excited about this project which the goal is to fund in 2024 and shoot in 2025.
SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE is another true event film in development. It is the state story of Iowa’s early days and will be a great story to preserve the history.
WILD FAITH: HASTINGS– We keep putting piece after piece into place on this TV series that would be the spin off from the pilot feature seen by tens of millions around the world. Step by step!
SCRIPTWRITING: I’m also 1/3 of the way through a script that could film next winter. Smaller in scope but a great piece of acting full of intrigue and interesting characters. The script is the blueprint as I like to say so it is important to have a tight script.
WRAP UP: You can see that various projects are underway. This past week we the help of a few amigos we got the remaining logs cut up into kindling for the wood stove so we’ll be ready for the next snow and…the first podcast “Fireside Chat with DJ Perry” which we hope to do the 1st one this week. I’m happy to report that our chickens are starting to produce eggs and even some of the plants and herbs are getting a head start with the warm front we’ve had. My cousin handy Bart gave my newly acquired wood chipper a once over and so stick clean up will be more productive. The end result will be much needed wood chips. I’ve been still immersed in my study of herbs and I’m looking forward to a good growing season. More clover will be going down in the yard that is loved by both the chickens and leprechauns. We’ll see if things align for the new patio deck this year. I also want to look at better privacy fencing in places but one thing at a time. It is all a work in progress. Just like we are. I hope you all have a great week. Keep those 2024 goals firmly in mind and work towards them. I’m exciting that soccer is right around the corner and I’m ready to lace up my cleats! Until next week-
Be good to one another!
DJ
PS: I lost a few pics and all my tags trying to upload and I luckily had my recent draft so I’m just going to upload “as is” as I’m out of time.
