CDI FILM UPDATES and Challenges of a Low Tech Person Surviving in a High Tech World
(A Simple Man – Ben Lily in WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS)
Hello my friends joining us here. I see new readers last week from Australia, Sweden and India. Hazelnut coffee cheers my friends. We are well into December and the temps here in Michigan have gotten cold. Our Detroit Lions had a heck of a game on Thursday that gave us yet another victory which is nice. We are moving along on editing our most recent WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS adventure. Shane Hagedorn is doing the editing and we have to be about 20 minutes or so into the edit. In the film I felt very comfortable playing trapper Ben Lily. Even though it is 1880 Ben represents a man trying to maintain a place in a quickly changing world. In his world electricity will soon take over the oil lamps and motor cars will start to replace horses. Give Ben a good pistol, knife and horse and he was a happy man. It’s funny that the cycles seem to repeat for every generation.
(The book and audio book series)
GENERATION – I just completed the last narration for the audio book series FOR GENERATIONS TO COME by Ronnie Lee. Some of the books and soon the audio books will be available on Amazon. I’ve enjoyed the read that also gives us a peek into the changing of lives throughout the generations. I could really relate but we all can actually. Things from my childhood in the 70’s are now in the Henry Ford Museum.
(At the studio reviewing Harsens Island Revenge)
We had a great session out in the pine studio where Harsens Island Revenge has been having the sound design and musical score done. It’s our 1920’s bootlegging movie based on the book by Karl Manke. We watched the film with all the VFX, sound and music laid in. We saw a few spots that still need mixing and our director is still tweaking the color correction. As I watched all these things underway I was in awe of the technology. It’s funny that some might assume that because I’m a filmmaker that I’m a tech-head which could be nothing further from the truth. My first computer experience in the 70’s was on a TSR-80 that you loaded with a tape player. I played a few games off floppy disks with our family COMMODORE 64 but never learned any programming. I watched others use all these programs to edit, color correct, sound design and compose music and I shake my head at me taking 30 min just to try and change my Facebook Marketplace location to Lansing after somehow getting stuck on a Florida city location. My script writing software MOVIE MAGIC is the first software I was gifted in the 90’s and I’ve stayed with it my entire life. I don’t know all the in’s and out’s but I can make it work. I’ve never made a website and I still can’t wrap my head around file sizes. Anybody else like that out there?
(Post Supervisor Dennis Therrian amazes me by all he can do and do it with excellence!)
This blog is one of the most tech things I do weekly and I still mess it up often knowing maybe half the functions. I’ve never used EXEL to calculate, for me it’s like old school graph paper. My team has gotten me to a basic level of google use but still I have to have links sent to me all the time. I’m just trying to make it another 30 years if I’m lucky without being swallowed up by a wave of technology. Now AI is entering the game and that is cool if it means in 5 years I can have an R2D2 * unit. (*Star Wars reference) Talking with my attorney this week I’ll eventually I’ll have to move check writing over to auto check writing but as of now I still write hundreds of checks roughly twice a year. Great talk with another friend and his success with crypto. I’m not big into digital and I don’t own any crypto or digital currency and don’t plan to. Nothing against it, I guess I just like to keep it simple. With the editing and the mastering of these film projects using such complex and interesting software it brought these thoughts to the surface. I know I’m not the only one who can’t navigate these complex programs. I can’t even log in properly to my AARP account. I wish I could edit so I could update my actor reels. It has been many films ago since I’ve put anything together. I have played on Instagram making a few reels with music and a few fancy filters and that feels like a success. Check out CDI and my instagram accounts officialdjperry is mine and tribecdi is the company. I really don’t use social stuff except to promote movie stuff daily and keep up with a few friends and relatives. It does help with birthdays! So I wanted those of you out there struggling to keep up with tech to know you aren’t alone. I see others older than I struggle even more although some have a real knack for it all. I still do best with a yellow legal pad, a good pen and a phone that I know how to mostly operate. I’m already several models behind on my phone. As soon as I learn something they change it. Let’s do a summary TOP TEN on updates!
- KNIGHT CHILLS plays again in Brooklyn NY at The Spectacle Theater today at 5pm and again Dec 11th (10pm), Dec 14th (Midnight!) and Dec 17th (10pm). On Amazon you can buy the novel. The Blu Ray is for sale also and on 1/31/25 it will start streaming!
- As noted I finished my narration for the last book in the series FOR GENERATIONS TO COME by Ronnie Lee. Look it up it is very interesting!
- SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA our WW2 Christmas drama is playing select theaters in Iowa but started the Algona run this week. It plays until the 12th unless they extend it. It’s also available to stream or on DVD via Amazon. I got some beautiful feedback from folks that had watched it on the big and small screen. We have started a tradition in Iowa and I hope on TV and streaming it becomes one of your traditions.
- I noted that the Harsens Island Revenge screening went beyond great. We need to fix a few credits and do some mixing but it is almost ready for prime time. It really is epic and had some jumping out of their seats with the opening action. We are soon to start working on setting up the Q1 premieres and theatrical runs.
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS which as noted above is 20+ minutes into the edit. It’s looking to move into music and sound design in Feb with Nov 1st being our targeted theatrical release goal. The excitement surrounding this film is carrying over as many are going to watch the original. Both are going to be beautiful, heartwarming stories that will highlight the best in humanity.
- December 15th will be the re-release of the HD version of AN ORDINARY KILLER to streaming. Based upon a true tragedy it highlights the dedicated police work over several generations.
- Bart Ketner is managing the CDI EBAY store and the 1st CDI Merchandise has started to roll out. You can see it here: https://www.ebay.com/usr/collectivedevelopmentinc?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR16XEHbbFvF0m1eSRk1-zMh0HX8sqYsZcCFd1FfY86AV7IYAWZZNYaBQx8_aem_66YD6cOv8KppqvnhPoAhQA
- We’ve been doing some final casting on what will be the first directed feature by Travis Hayward and DP by John McGraw! Once that is locked down we’ll start looking at a schedule in Jan/Feb 2025.
- I have two other features being developed and evaluated to go into funding mode. Both are very exciting projects and will be great additions to the CDI family of films. One is a period comedy and the other a historical drama.
- I’m also lining up a few writing projects for the winter season. When it’s cold and icy nothing like a hot coffee or tea and sitting down to pull from my imagination.
(The view from the post production studio)
WRAP UP: This season has started with much joy. I’ve had a few great reunions with family, friends and our producers reviewing upcoming projects. These projects fill my days and I’m very grateful to be able to do this line of work. When not working on these projects I’m doing general upkeep and organizing. I’ve been turning some of the harvested herbs into oils and tinctures. The most recent was BEE BALM oil. It is good for the skin and any rashes, bug bites and such. I’ve been enjoying SAGE and MINT tea that I harvested. Sometimes I feel I was meant to be born in a more simple time. Maybe the extent of my storytelling years ago would have been around a campfire or maybe on some vaudeville stage. But I was born into this age and I love how many people get to enjoy our collective stories. Our industry is hard. If I was born into the tech world like our youth maybe my actor materials would be stronger because I would be better at doing all this uploads, downloads and such. I’m content to just do what I can do and have faith that I’ll participate in the stories I’m meant to. I no longer yearn for huge projects in far away places. I’m content telling powerful, modest stories with my friends. That’s how it all started back in the day with the VHS camcorder and boom box for the soundtrack. Behind me are the days of shooting on film. A wonderful but stressful tradition I was proud to be part of. And now I do what I’m good at- writing, organizing/managing and becoming. You can’t be great at everything. I just ask people to have patience with me and thankfully my team does. I’m just an old TSR-80 Moving down the Oregon Trail🙂
Until next week!
DJ
NEW ‘Releases,’ NEW Production Direction, NEW Growth!
(My first starring role as monster hunter Alex Kerwood)
Friends,
Coffee Cheers! I want to welcome all our new readers from Germany, Brazil, Philippines and more. I hope you all are having a great weekend. We have some rain this morning that came last night. We had a few perfect warm yet cool and not humid days. I’ll have to put another mow on the yard start of the week. I did a lot of herb harvesting the last couple days. Mint, sage, chives, bee balm, catnip, red clover and more. The power of many of these herbs as tea in not commonly known. We are aware of the taste profile in cooling but many of these have powerful benefits. I drink my coffee in the morning but from noon on you will usually find me sipping a tea infusion.
I had a great soccer match later in the week that we dropped to last year champs but only by 2 goals (6-4) and we capable of taking the match had a few things gone differently. I have learned to love the other steel that sharpens my blade so to speak. My running shape is great and I’m very pleased with that. Add in some archery and my martial arts training and I’m keeping my body busy. Fuel your machine with good eats and push yourself weekly and you’ll be able to turn back that wheel of time a little. I also had a partial tree that broke off maybe fifteen feet up or so. It is really just a squirrel condo these days but the branch shoots started growing out of it rubbing the side of the house and roof. I got a ladder, a pole saw and some motivation and gave it a major cut. I created some more firewood to season ands now we’ll be ready for the July porch build.
I great week of business as we enter my birthday month. First I’m going to announce here that we tried to get up a big hill with HOT ROD LOVE, our 70’s drag racing comedy. We will not start something we cannot finish so the decision to shelf that film for another season is at hand. This is not an easy decision but one just based on facts. What we are looking to do is produce two smaller SCOPE feature films. Smaller is scope means fewer locations, characters and more local casting and crewing versus flights and lodging. As I’ve noted before those are some of the major costs. I’ve written three of these smaller scope films this year so far. I just finished one of them last week and I’ll be polishing it up Monday. The other is a smart comedic horror film that really has a lot to say about the state of our industry now. It would also be the launch of another director from within the CDI family. These smaller scope films have been developed working with our main distributor.
The second script I don’t want to discuss too much yet as I want to discuss the script once polished with our previous director. I say “previous director” because this second project is a sequel to a popular CDI film. If a deal cannot be made we will still move ahead but we’ll see how it all falls together. Currently were processing checks to return to our investors. At that time we’ll invite past investors to travel with us starting with those who backed the first film. One of the investors already got wind and has committed with excitement. Both these projects are exciting because they are diverse in flavor. The 3rd smaller scope film is being looked at by Carl Weyant, our Harsens Island Revenge director. It would film early in 2025 if everything came together. But right now we’re going to focus on the two films in front of us.
(Director Carl Weyant and Dennis Therrian composer/sound designer)
FILM UPDATES:
Harsens Island Revenge is in dialog clean up and I’m told that is going amazing thanks to the artists who captured it, the technology of the recording and the post software now available. Also I’m going to be meeting with director Carl this week and I hope to set a release date for the trailer of June 23rd (My birthday).
(Shane Hagedorn in Silent Night in Algona)
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA is on the run up to the UP Family & Faith tv release which I believe is July 1st. I’ll be in talks with the distributor this forthcoming week. I hope they made some licensing deals with foreign territories at the film market in Cannes. This WW2 film should play well around the world and I’m excited that this year we might do some theatrical event screenings around the holidays.
Recently we’ve been remastering and getting some of the CDI classics remastered and ready to re-release. I’ll be sending the KNIGHT CHILLS screening link to our possible new streaming distributor. The Blu Ray release has been good but the streaming will be gold. The film is now in HD and looks great in all its dice rolling action. If you love role playing games this classic Blu Ray belongs on your shelf. The book and making of script release is also being worked on and will go out with the streaming release.
(Throw back to a Japanese release of ‘In the Woods’)
The above film was CDI’s first feature film but even before that I had a handful of film releases and my first feature role was starring in IN THE WOODS. This film was born of passion and we fought hard to fund the film and make it. We faced all kinds of challenges but ended up with a monster movie that found its way into Blockbusters, Hollywood Video, Family Video and mom and pop video stores across the land. It released in many foreign countries and it gave us our first footholds in this crazy and wonderful business. It was great to watch the podcast announcement as Terror Vision announced the new Blu Ray release. Both the remastered classic and a new streamlined director’s version that plays much better. That is what many years of hindsight can do for you. But we’re proud of both versions.
(‘In the Woods’ promo card)
First here is the Official Facebook page to follow along: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560335641893
(The 2024 Blu Ray Cover Art)
And the Terror Vision pod cast look at the hour 13 min mark WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a4wAh0zces
The NEW 2024 Blu Ray Trailer: https://youtu.be/iXsSR67108w?si=ubmu0n3UIzc8yp_m
BUY THE Blu Ray HERE: https://www.terror-vision.com/store/in-the-woods-1999-blu-ray
There is talk of an event theatrical screening in Kalamazoo where the film was shot. Discussions of a few Horror Con visits have taken place. And there is real talk of a sequel which would be a great full circle moment.
(Terence Knox and DJ Perry star in AN ORDINARY KILLER)
AN ORDINARY KILLER – We’ll be cutting a new trailer for streaming (Looking at December) in a few weeks but the classic movie and trailer has been remastered and will soon be available on a collectors HD DVD. I hope to have a link for you to purchase from next week thanks to Two Average Joes handling the fundraising efforts for The Red, White and Blue Project.
Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town – This film is now streaming on the first of many platforms. You can watch it free with ads. Watch the 2024 trailer here with this PR: https://www.prlog.org/13021607-western-ghost-town-immortalizes-ghost-town-in-the-sky-theme-park.html NOTE: The film has historic violence. You can WATCH THE FILM HERE: https://tubitv.com/movies/616519/dean-teaster-s-ghost-town
In addition to the re-release of Knight Chills, Ghost Town and An Ordinary Killer– restoration efforts are underway on FROM VENUS, HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST. It has been a joy to bring these films to new audiences. The DVD Double feature of Heaven’s Neighbors and Figure in the Forest will be going back up for sale soon!
WRAP UP:
To date, only Jesus has been my repeat role in both part 1 FORTY NIGHTS and Part 3 THE CHIRST SLAYER. It’s a compliment to even consider bringing some of the other characters back to the screen. I really look forward to that possibility. IF you have not watched these three films in The Quest Trilogy please do. Just google up ENCOURAGE TV and watch in order with part 2 being CHASING THE STAR. I had some talks about returning to the biblical at some point.
We have some on-going development on a pair of films to film in Iowa. We are taking steps on one and the other is moving a tad slower. We have a few meetings coming up and perhaps we might be rolling cameras in 2025 in Iowa.
This week is full of meetings and look for some announcements on the new CDI film slate. I’m going to go have a little breakfast and get some things done around the homestead. I hope you all have a great end to your weekend and a great start to your week.
Until next week, DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 