PEACE AND BALANCE – OCTOBER 2026 UPDATES
Hello my friends from around the world. I love seeing the breakdowns of all the readers. I so appreciate all the artists who stop through to reflect on the journey of an artist. To read my trials and tribulations and apply it to your own journey. I am sipping my hazelnut coffee which is my morning favorite. I got up and when cup in hand I explored with my furry son Finn. We listened to all the various birds and watched the squirrels wake and start their morning activities. I try to start my day with nature not technology. It is hard sometimes because of deals or medical monitoring for aging parents. But I try to start my day and end my day with zero technology.
I am and always have been a SciFi fan. I do love that technology has moved from SciFi into our real lives. What we once saw in STAR TREK or STAR WARS is now part of our lives. I’m still wrapping my head around my childhood on fascination for UFO’s now being front and center in the news. I said a month or so ago that riding in a TESLA driving itself was the most SciFi moment I’ve had in decades. We have a great film coming out at the end of the month that puts a spotlight on spirituality and technology sharing space in the new world. I think it is odd for us to image not being the Apex Thinker. We do still process information in a way energy wise that machines cannot quite replicate yet. When robots threatened to replace blue collar jobs the noise was not as loud as when it was suggested that white collar “thinker” jobs could be replaced. This stopped many in their tracks. Accountants billing hours could see machines or programs that can process the information in minutes or seconds. Hours of billable research by attorneys, consultants and such, done in moments. Many industries have been forever changed by advances in technology. Horses and wagons in transportation and military use replaced by autos. The mighty train and streamliners replaced by airplanes. Telegraphs replaced by the telephone. I could go on and on. And for those in the fading professions it became change or die. Not literally but you get it.
This week was a hard one for me personally because of juggling several things at once. Like many my age lucky enough to have one or both parents, I deal with their issues. Both have their current issues in very different ways. The medical system is a double edged sword. Modern meds that can now save someone from was once a death sentence. And a system that knows how to put a medicine bandaid on issues without regular evaluation. And doctors and medical staff are human, for now. We watch LUKE SKYWALKER inside a Bacta Tank being healed by a medical robot. (Sorry non Star Wars geeks) Would they do better at analyzing symptoms, labs and applying the correct medicine. Would they immediately know any bad drug interactions? Likely. A sad truth but the stresses and anxiety of the mind is something more complicated. The issue with compounding medicine is you lose track of what is treating the source issue and what is treating just a side effect.
So this week had me dealing with human faults. Not on purpose as I like to see most human beings as wanting to do kindness because they too benefit from that. Lazy could play into something or job burnout that is real. Another check on why technology and robots could get the edge on humanity. On one small piece of business something off my desk came back to it because someone did not read the submitted letter. On a personal level I also dealt with spending time on something that was declared as “simple” and wasn’t. And it was also thrown back because of their form not being clear. So something technology could do in seconds we take days to sort out. It is not looking good for us on that level. I also think phone trees were created by the Devil. Just joking, maybe.
So this week was full of issues and in the middle of that our elder cat foster-fail Fredrick who was showing serious symptoms has passed. We gave him a beautiful 8 months. He was loved by us and his three female kitty sisters. Or maybe he was Fredrick Hefner with his three ladies. Either way Fred had a good end of life and I encourage folks to give older adoptees a great send off. For me it is the seeking of peace. I saw a high-school classmate say something about peace over happiness. When times are tough strive for peace. Balance is what martial arts teaches and that can be mental also. So I hope all of you find peace and balance and happiness will find you. Onto some movie updates-
UPDATES-
- ROM COMS MUST DIE – has released to DVD and streaming. This is an over-the-top dark comedy about the frustrations of being an artist. The release will widen even more at the end of the month. I’m not sure how audiences nationwide are enjoying it but I’m happy that it is out there. The main push comes as we close in on the end of the month. Record a video and let us now your artist frustrations and maybe we will post it. Write a review on Amazon, IMDB, Letterbox or any review sites and we might spotlight your review. For those who have watched it Amos and Clem thank you.
- Next up to release will be AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip that will start its release on 10/30/26. Like my talk on technology above this film will make you laugh and maybe cry but it will make you think. It isn’t a cheap scare about the coming technology but a real look at the potential good, bad and ugly. I was inspired to write this after a real news story. I did add a SciFi spin but it is a projected path of where we might end up. So add this DVD to your CDI collection when it starts pre-sales in the coming weeks. And watch it when it streams and have those conversations with one another. I look forward to the reviews as I really don’t know how audiences will take it. The acting by the three leads Michael Rene Walton, Melissa Anschutz and Taylor Nichols is great. So I think everyone should enjoy the film. That of course is our goal every time.
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS – This is the follow up to one of our most popular films. Having seen the reaction to the film by our theatrical crowd I am excited to get this out to the tens of millions who have seen the first film WILD FAITH. It will be a beautiful gift of a story that I believe captures the true Christmas spirit much like SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA did. The film releases on DVD and streaming on 11/3/26. I will be heading to the Will Rogers Awards in a few weeks to see if we won GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE for my screenplay, the producing team and CDI as a production company.
- DEVIL’S PASS – (Now in post-production) This film was a collaboration with McGraw Multimedia and our friends in GA. If this project was a success it would have CDI helping produce their slate of films. It is different from CDI just having full control over production but has been healthy. It forces good communication between the parties. So far it has been a very smooth process. We have a few meetings coming up over the next two weeks that is just about communication and eliminating any grey areas that can slow the post process. We all want to make the best film we can and that is the underlying directive. We did a great Channel 10 Lansing/Jackson story that will air this week. The edit is moving right along and our director’s are very happy. If you follow our FB page we are dripping out Screen Captures and other great promo pieces. Coming in 2027!
DEVELOPMENT– I’m happy to be in a place of downshifting from production and looking ahead. As I noted CDI and our GA partners will be discussing a slate that bounces back and forth with our own CDI slate. I have truly enjoyed working with the CEO Dan Searles who like myself is a writer/actor and loves telling these stories. I am reading a few of his properties and vice versa. Our RETURN TO ALGONA (Working Title) has over half the funding committed by organizations and we are looking to close that with participating brands and private investors. It is a beautiful comparison of life from 1944 to 1968 during one of the most conflict ridden time in America. We once again follow the German artist and ex PW on his return to the town that once imprisoned him. The other film being considered being put back on the slate is the feature version of SMOKE & MIRRORS a comedic turn of the century who done it. Twice it was on the runway only to be bumped by two financed projects.
On thew writing front I’m working two scripts MBF2 which is the follow up to MAN’S BEST FRIEND, a powerful drama that has had fans clamoring for a follow up. I am in no rush to produce it but I do want to get the script out of my head. The first draft is almost complete. But I’ve been having a whole lot of fun writing WILD FAITH 3. I’ve had an 8 part TV series ready since Covid times but when the funding opportunities had too many strings we just did another feature film. I’ve adjusted the TV series to take place after the second feature film but if a good deal doesn’t present itself we will just do a third feature film. It is a world that I really enjoy writing in and so it is moving along quite quickly.
We are also working to develop several other film properties and even possible TV. I always like to put forth goals for 2027 and examine how I did with my 2026 goals. We are being forced to reexamine our processes always in the efforts of improving, streamlining and launching new initiatives. I still occasionally have that thought of how much easier it could be to just go bartend at the MooseLodge with my lifetime of stories and adventures. But soon after I realize my adventuring days are not over. I still might have a few characters locked up in my imagination to let loose on the screen. So development continues.
WRAP UP- This weekly reflection really helps me put my TO DO’s front and center. And the ability to talk about some of my own issues personally or in the artistic world helps. I still feel lucky that every day I get to do what I love. I get to work with people I love. I get to be myself and not play a role at a soul stealing job. I sometimes also enjoy the positive energy that comes with someone who was moved by a film or a performance. I don’t always have rainbows and flowers but I do realize how blessed I am. And this blessing came with sacrifice and very hard work. I try not to slip into the work-a-holic mode that helped me build what I have. But to also keep that hunger to push forward. I will be an artist until my last breath. Until I return to the fire ashes to ashes. But as you keep on your journey seek out that peace and balance. Until next week my friends! Coffee Cheers- DJ
Destroying the Identity/Self and Film Updates
I’ve got the hot hazelnut coffee by my side as I ease into writing these few words to share with all of you. New readers from Spain – welcome.
So I’m going to share something from my process of character creation. I’ve grown comfortable with my long hair and even my beard of various lengths. From Donnie in ASHES OF EDEN to Mark Franklin in BESTSELLER. Add in the identity that comes with playing Jesus or mountain man Ben Lily. The prep for the new role is for an injured military vet. I decided with some time to spare I would destroy the ego/self and go boot camp. I did not serve in the military and not sure that with my flat feet I could have. But holding onto the bearded long-haired look was holding me back. So I decided I was going to remove that. I did not WANT to cut my hair. I did not WANT to go clean-shaven. Especially as the air gets colder in Michigan and in a few weeks snow will fall. I thought about the ego of someone like Elvis who entered service and the pics of his haircut. I needed to break myself down. So I deemed this haircut as a NEED for the character but not a wanted thing. So my significant other helped with possible haircuts military in style. I did not like any of them because I did not want the cut. What I did want was that feeling new recruits went through when they got all their hair cut off and they became part of a unit/team/company of soldiers. So I had the cut done. I felt vulnerable with the shorn hair. I was not happy with my decision but beneath it all I was happy. I was far from Jesus, Ben and all the longer haired roles. See I think my girl thought I was doing it to feel good about myself. Many get hair cuts to feel good about themselves. I did it to destroy my current self. To create a new base to build Paul, whom I will play in the upcoming MBF film. This brought about an interesting conversation about change of looks. I was asked if I ever consider her in my hair choices. The answer was no. It has always been based on movie roles for 20 some years now. I’m always in development of some character. But it was interesting because I think many people do care about how they appear. I only want truth in the character. Does that constant change affect her? Perhaps. I guess because I do it for work reasons I never give it any thought. She asked what if I wanted a pixie hair cut and tattoo on her chest, would I care? I guess I’m open to allow people to express themselves. I like people who wear/look how they want to. I assume she picks styles based on what her work allows and what makes her feel good. Here I am cutting my hair against my own will to break myself down. To strip away the old and allow new growth. Not just in hair but in character. So a lot of credit to those non-industry significant others who have to deal with us and our character creation. So from this point on I’m growing into that new role. I just realized how different I think from many others. I don’t give a rats ass about the brand of clothes. I’ve been to India and I know the real cost of textiles. I know the mark up that these companies put on your favorite garments. I don’t believe the clothes makes the man but the man makes the clothes. I think if you judge me wrong because of a hair style, your loss. The other reason I pushed to do the cut this week was soccer. We won one of the most exciting soccer matches last week in round one of the soccer play offs. A fluke goal at the start put us behind. We settled in and took back control including scoring and making it a tie. With only 2 minutes left they scored. A minute or less and we attacked and scored with only seconds left. A shoot out that went to the fifth penalty shot kick and we WON. Tonight under the lights is the semi-final game. I’ve been using a headband to keep my long hair out of my eyes. Now I have full range of vision and I’m ready to focus on getting to that final game. Okay. Onto some film updates.
WILD FAITH
After a long wait the first official poster is HERE. I’m excited to finish this film. It will be done this year and if we can get done early enough we will look at a cast and crew screening. The music and sound design is going great. We just have 10 seconds of VFX work that is being worked on.
THE QUEST TRILOGY
VFX is the main push on THE CHRIST SLAYER. We’ll be rolling out the first official poster on this project in the coming weeks. Once VFX is dropped in we’ll fine-edit the picture and in Jan. 2018 it moves into music and sound design for 3 months.
CHASING THE STAR is in the marketplace and along with Part 1 FORTY NIGHTS will get the holiday push. I was looking at all the films on Amazon and it put a smile on my face. I’m so proud of all the artists. If you’ve watched and enjoyed the films leave a review on http://www.imdb.com (Film title) or amazon.com or wherever. I cringed when I saw our director asking on social media because it always brings the trolls, haters and such to leave their mark. But these mudslingers just smack an entire group of artists. I mean even in a bad film clip I can usually pick out some positive. I recently watched a clip edited by an associate I know – it featured some good locations but made me cringe when it came to some flashback footage. It takes as much energy to do something right as wrong. I would rather not call these people out as they’re doing something and improvement comes from doing. I also don’t feel in competition with anyone save our last project. I try to improve the work flow that often improves the final film. This example I’m thinking of was a failure of either the writer or art department. Know what you’re writing about. If I’m playing a Marine in the next film, I make sure it’s CORRECT. And if it is not 100% correct it should be close. Get the right consultants. There are many who will gladly help so that their history is not made a joke on-screen. Trust me as someone who has done many period films – it’s added work but so worth it at the end.
MBF
The new project by CDI is in full swing. Our first investors are giving their interest and casting is coming to a close. We’ll be announcing our two major keys this week. Anthony Hornus will be directing with Jesse Aragon serving as director of photography. We held on that PR due to the WILD FAITH poster announcement. We’ll start announcing cast over the next couple of weeks. I can say we have a powerful cast lined up. Stay tuned.
I’m going to call it for the day. The coffee cup needs refilling. I have a few errands to run and I need to mentally prepare for our game today. I hope you all have a great conclusion to your weekend and a productive week ahead.
Be good to one another.
DJ
