ACTIONS BEHIND IDEAS! PLUS CDI UPDATES!
WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS streams/DVD on 11/3/26
The birds were a chirping and the sun shining here in the Michigan. I’m sipping on the hazelnut coffee and reflecting on the past week. It was full of great messages wishing me a happy birthday on June 23rd. I had a very low key day whereas I avoided most film work and just relaxed. A new patio rug allowing us to move the hammock onto the deck. Sushi, soccer and being thankful for the 56 years I’ve traveled thus far. We had a bday party the following day for my nephew and also a great soccer match whereas we came back from 4-2 half to win 5-4. We had to dig down deep and lock up the defense and find the back of the net. We did just that. Friday was a fun Father’s Day trip with my dad and brother exploring some of the old family farms and even found the grave sites for a few relatives. Saturday was finishing my mowing before the heat wave hits us this coming week. I’ll use the heat days to start my film disbursements. I did finally get most of my disbursements from legal so I’ll be working on that. Let’s look at some of the other updates in the world of film.
FILM UPDATES:
- I”m awaiting returned paperwork and funds to get the DEVIL’S PASS bank account open. Next week we’ll start evaluating reads that were submitted for the few speaking roles. We’ve been doing some crew interviews to lock in our final members. We’ve been rolling out daily news on the Facebook page for this film.
- ROM COMS MUST DIE has been delivered for home video. I’m working on a brew and view at a local Lansing brewery. We’re pushing on theatrical even though up against some Summer films. The home video release date is 10/2/26 and I got a peak at the distributors cover art. It made me smile and I really like the concept behind it. I would love to see this play in a drive in showing. I might work on that. We should start hearing from some of the festivals that we submitted to come July.
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS is being eagerly anticipated by fans of the first film around the world. I would love a few more theatrical showings before releasing on DVD and streaming on 11/3/26. We have producers that will be representing the film at the RED LETTER AWARDS and the WILL ROGERS MEDALLION AWARDS. This film we be a great addition to the Wild Faith franchise.
- AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip is completed and we are evaluating it for theatrical. Monday I will pick up the wrap book being digitized and upload that to the distributor. The audio and video assets have been submitted and once we get all the materials in we’ll get home video release dates. This movie is wildly unique and will be a good watch for anyone excited or worried about AI and its inclusion into our world.
DEVELOPMENT:
- RETURN TO ALGONA now has a sponsorship document and we’ll start to approach various brands and businesses to get involved and help fund the remaining amount needed. My goal is to have it committed by the end of the year. That would put us filming in November of 2027. This powerful follow up to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA will be a great reunion to tell this next chapter.
- I need to pull my attention back to our business proposal for the three Katharsys Media/CDI films. I’ve almost got all three of the finished films delivered and that will free up some time.
- I’m also looking forward to finishing two of the scripts I’ve been working on. Those being MBF2 and WF3.
- I’m due to have another sit down with Curran Jacobs over the two films we have in development. That said, I’m excited to be working many scenes with him on the upcoming DEVIL’S PASS.
WRAP UP: A special day ahead and I can talk more about that next week. Next month I’ll be going to LA for a little R&R and maybe a visit or two with some friends in that area. A visit to Disneyland Star Wars is in the cards. I’m again really appreciative for all the birthday wishes. I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love and feel I was meant to do. I’ve been having fun creating this new role for the Devil’s Pass film. That includes look, wardrobe, voice and everything in between. The schedule for that film should be locked for dispersement to departments this week. That said, we have many things underway already.
I’m looking forward to getting through the 4th of July weekend with the fireworks. Our boy Finn hates the loud booms and shakes even when trying to be brave. I had my days in my youth (StretchFest) but now I don’t waste the money. Our hens have been kicking out the eggs. Our plants are growing like crazy ands lil mulberries are out. I still need to bottle the wine made from last year’s harvest. We have a break from our soccer due to the holiday. I hope all of you stay safe from the heat, firecrackers and everything else. Keep refining your goals and chasing your dreams. You have to put action behind the ideas. Step by step you will get where you need to go. Coffee Cheers!
DJ
Youth, Experience, Wisdom and Loss
(Finn waiting for his buddy Jake to race)
Hazelnut coffee cheers from your artist friend DJ Perry enjoying a cool non-humid morning. My furry boy woke me early to go do his races with his buddy Jake. A lady walks her dog daily and they meet at the fence and do a series of “bop and go” runs. That is one barks GO! And they both bop the fence with their snout and run down and back along the fence line. I was proud of him because he hates fireworks, even the word. But even after a morning barrage set by some young yahoos likely not even to bed yet, he still returned to run. Usually it was one BOOM and he’s done. Let’s follow this conversation with yahoos.
I was once a yahoo which is a young foolish, self-centered, invincible-acting youth. We use to have a massive 4th party at my buddies house whereas so many fireworks were set off. This was not a country house but in a neighborhood and I can’t imagine the amount of distress we caused homeowners pets. And now I live in the karma. Also since last Monday my week has had a sad background to it all. Dear friends of mine that I actually introduced and who celebrated 30 years together recently lost their son. I knew this young man since he was a baby on up. He was like a nephew before I had a nephew. He had a ultra loving home and he was a well mannered, kind and humorous soul. But much like myself and many other’s he occasionally sought a BUZZ to be more social. Not all buzz’s lead down a dark place and for many it is just a phase. For some it can lead to a tragic ending and that is what happened here. This new generation seems to have much more dangerous substances too readily available. I’m not saying alcohol isn’t destructive because it surely can be. It can cost friendships, marriages, health and life either in bad decisions or eating your vitality. I will mourn this loss for a lifetime because it came way too soon.
I use to drink too much in my younger days but it was by choice, boredom and to deal with some of the early setbacks and failures of trying to get ahead in the film industry. I see the battles many young actors and filmmakers are going through. I feel for them because their passion is like a disease. It can be devastating to believe you are meant to do something without the means to do it. But keeping a clear head and trying different avenues is slowly revealing a path to success. After several wrong turns through the maze you start to gain ground. Experience teaches you and prepares your emotions for rejection. I told someone recently, you know me for my 30-40% of success but not of my 60-70% of setbacks. I’ve been dealing with those setbacks even now. I get something in place and it unravels. I put a piece in place and another falls off. But that is the way.
My belated birthday trip to Greenfield Village on Friday gave me many of the same inspirational insights to success only after many failures. Henry Ford didn’t fall into success. Nor did Thomas Edison, Walt Disney or Milton Hershey. Poverty. Fires. Bankruptcy. Ridicule. The greats all faced it unless handed down the money and those individuals were usually a pale version of the visionary who suffered to create. I’m thankful to be alive with the opportunity to try to climb the mountains.
I’m ready to get back to work tomorrow and try to get the new projects on better ground. We have some amazing wins this year already but I’m trying to prepare to do that again next year. We are fighting to film more stories this year and do it proper. Let’s look at some film updates-
- The first Harsens Island Revenge trailer is almost done. I’m awaiting the final version so I can upload to CDI Films Youtube site and we can premiere it. It is really good and only a reflection of the powerful film but it will be a great teaser to get folks ready. I wanted to release it on my birthday (June 23rd) but we were waiting on new voice over. And I wanted to try and have it released by week’s end or even today/now but the full audio was being remixed with the new narration. We have artists who deeply care about the story and final product and it shows. I would not be surprised to see if come across my desk today sometime and if it does we’ll all have a glorious Monday kick off! Additional trailers and poster art will follow!
- This week I’ll also be sending the new HD trailer of KNIGHT CHILLS, CDI’s 1st feature film, to a few distributors. Adam Towner did a bang up edit job and it is such a joy to see the work from all those years ago being presented again. And with the popularity again of Dungeons and Dragons and fantasy role playing games I believe it will be a hit. The Blu Ray sales on the special edition were wonderful. Now we want to bring it right into people’s homes. Follow the film on Facebook for all the new updates including the new trailer!
- AN ORDINARY KILLER sales link for the special edition HD DVD is still being put together. The streaming deal on this dramatic and touching film will be signed this week. It will stream in December! Now that Adam Towner has finished the new Knight Chills trailer the AOK streaming trailer might be next on deck.
- Dean Teaster’s GHOST TOWN is now streaming and kudos to Brett Frame for his trailer for the new release. Go to TUBI to watch free with ads and it should start appearing some other platforms also.
- Work on “De-Noise” and Up-Rez on the other classic CDI films is underway. I want to get a sales site up for the double feature DVD’s of HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST. FROM VENUS artwork is being worked on and I’ll be having more talks on that film also.
- FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH the documentary on Catch-Can wrestling and the world champion Frank Gotch is being developed as a feature film biopic. We are making some ground there with UFC champion Randy Couture attached to play the famous trainer Farmer Burns, ironically related to our production designer GW Burns. We are working hard to try and align the financing on this story.
- Also in development is ROM COMS MUST DIE, a parody on the state of art in this day and age. Also the much awaited and anticipated sequel to WILD FAITH is aligning its financial pieces. It is a Christmas adventure with many of your favorite characters. If all goes as planned we’ll film in November of this year.
WRAP UP: I’m sure there are a few more updates I’m missing. But with the weather so nice and cool I have a list of things I want to get down on the property. I’ve been harvesting berries, mint, sage, red clover and more. I was given as a gift a beautiful metal owl that blows in the wind. I think I’ll attach a picture of it on here. The chickens have been gifting us eggs and they’re still a joy to watch strut around looking for food.
(Bubo the Owl)
I think I have an interviewer for a book coming to the fort/office tomorrow to discuss a past project. So I’ll go do a bit of straightening up there also. As noted above, this has been a hard week for many people who knew the young man who passed away. Our time here is limited and so make the most of it. Chase dreams and help others. You unfortunately can’t help everyone but that is why I love our stories. They reach tens of millions of people and spread that positive good energy. I’ll wrap this up here but I’ll look forward to chatting again with you next week. It will be the 4th of July weekend ahead so please do be safe. Until next time we meet, coffee cheers!
DJ
(Wright Brother’s homestead – true dreamers)
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 