The Equation of Success – CDI Updates!
(July 7th and 8th – my parents have back to back Birthdays) * Little Me
Bangladesh, Finland, and France are just a few of the places where we have artists stopping by from and I welcome you all. I’m sipping some hazelnut coffee and pondering the long week. It was a week of setbacks and success. We have been working hard to get the schedule at a place to send out. So many variables that are factored into this ‘battle plan’ and we think we have it about there. I often say that communication is the key and say like in soccer, the difference between two talented teams often comes down to communication. This allows an organized defense or a coordinated attack and these same principles can be applied to filmmaking. We sent around an intro with W9 (for end of year taxes) and these docs but the wrong series of docs was sent. So moments after we provided a battle plan including cast days of work, we had to nix it. A correct one will be sent very soon. That email created a waterfall of communication that just created ‘noise’ when we are trying to fix the send out. It happens. It happened early. We caught it and we’ll be flowing like water again soon. I like CDI to work at a high level of professionalism and we really do put the work in but even so, sometimes we error also.
(I give team sports credit for many of the successes shared by our film crews – do you see blame?)
This weekend dispersement on the various films went out and that was two days of check writing and prepping for mail out. But it is a sign of a healthy flow and it is what keeps us moving from one project to the next. I also had two very special birthdays to celebrate this past week that being my momma and daddy. A few great meals to celebrate them and a few little love gifts. I also had a nephew hurt his wrists in a playground fall off a slide. As someone whose only cracked bone was a wrist from soccer, I know the uncomfortable situation it can be. But it could have been much worse. A child who just plays video games might not face the same injury (although I’m sure video game wrist injuries are real) but it is important to challenge oneself with outside play. We had woods near our house and so we spent countless days running, climbing and playing in the wild terrain.
Let’s look at a few of the artistic updates-
- SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA has been back in the Algona, Iowa theater for four days and today is the last of this FOUNDERS celebration. We’re finishing some minor corrections and adjustments for the home video release. We hope to have those dates to you all very soon.
- HARSENS ISLAND REVENGE as noted above – has lots going on. We’ve been gathering props and I’ll be heading to another flea market in a few to seek out more. A Sunday stop at the local PX might have found one of our few hard props to find. We’re having some good luck with sponsors and product partners and we’ll be announcing more of those soon. I’m looking forward to more meetings this week and once the schedule released we have many more tasks that can follow behind that. I’ve also been carving time out to just work on my role in the film. That has been fun to work the creative side by side with the business.
- Development – SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE and HASTINGS. These two 1800’s pieces in development are very different. One is a film and one is a TV series and the tones are very different. One is a brutally honest look at the true history and the other has a lighter family feel found in shows like LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. These projects will continue to be pitched as pieces are put into place.
- I plan to return to some of my on-going scriptwriting although the winter months tend to be better unless it’s a paid writing job. I have a few other meetings over developing projects that will require a script. I do truly love to write and it is what keeps things moving. A project without a script is usually 2 year from filming at best. A script can take a good part of a year to get into form. So when I hear people wanting to jump into production without a solid script is fantasy. In all these years I’ve learned an order of business exists. Many like to do “fun” cart before the horse things but without a solid foundation this is just wasted energy. You cannot just work HARD you must work SMART.
- I was doing a little producer work on a music video I’ll be helping to produce. As I’ve stated before- I really enjoy this medium for storytelling being of the MTV generation. More on this in the coming weeks but I like that CDI is getting involved in this medium.
(A few of the CDI Tribe)
WRAP UP THOUGHTS–
I had a meeting at the end of the week where I was basically imparting the fact that although we can make it look easy funding and producing these stories they are all very difficult. Many artists want more without having any idea of the true costs and efforts involved. CDI is not a large faceless company but a small company of artists who enjoy having more control through hard work versus whims of others. We are working hard to get us to that next level whereas I can put our producers around the table more frequently. When we are together we have less communication issues and we can work out or around any obstacles. I know we have it better than many and not as good as others. But even those others have more at stake and so the pressures are even greater.
As we are now about two months out from gathering to tell our next story (Harsens Island Revenge) people are getting excited. For many of us it is when we truly get to see each other and spend some quality time as artists. This month we’ll fill the final cast and crew spots and start putting paperwork under folks. I feel bad for some who want to ride with the tribe for a project but just cannot make a schedule work. It is a real problem for some and as we’ve talked about before- every shoot is a sacrifice. Being away from home for a month is hard but it does allow us to be part of something truly great. I like one of the nuggets of wisdom one of our producers gave at the weeks end. Stumble gracefully:) We make mistakes weekly but learn from it. We also work hard to try and make everything go right but on occasion something goes wrong. It is important that the team absorbs these wins and losses as a TEAM. The only person ever at fault is ME. Finger pointing or blame game should not even apply if everyone is giving their BEST EFFORTS. Why? Because it is all under the CDI umbrella and I am the supervisor. Do I get everything right? No. Do I make errors? Yes. I think taking ACCOUNTABILITY and not being afraid to FALL or FAIL is a great strength. And a fail is not a forever fail it is just part of deductive process. “Okay that didn’t work how I wanted it to so we now know that was not a good path to go down.” Wisdom to apply in the future. Those who cannot take accountability or fail to rise when knocked down are the only ones to truly fail.
Lastly, tying into a law of attraction and the power of words on our psyche – don’t belittle yourself. Don’t put yourself down or bathe yourself in negativity. I see that often on social media that kind of talk that does paint the person as a victim of circumstance(s). If the same negative things keep happening you must change the equation. You have earned the great gift of learning what not to do. People’s sympathy will not fix most situations only you can. It might start with only one thing a day that you do, organize or put into motion but it all adds up. You will feel better as the load gets lighter not heavier. A good example I used before was that during Covid while many stalled and just watched numbers and engaged in negative banter I organized my life and organization. I created new pitch materials, scripts and put us in position to benefit as soon as the storm passed. The storm did pass and we were already in motion and I was more organized than I had been in years because I had the time and used it. Organize a drawer, a desk, a file cabinet – make plans to succeed. While others spend huge amounts of time pleading their misfortune or arguing against someones point of view on social media – I create. I create the tools and plans to move to the next step. This is not a random accident. This is a battle plan. With no plan you cannot have any victory.
Be victorious by friends!
Until next week-
DJ
Production Ramble and Film Updates
It is a chilly and wet morning here in Lansing, Michigan. It’s been a crazy balance of film and life as we move out of summer. I’ve had a string of fix-it projects with our roof, car brakes, wisdom teeth removal and my computer. Note: I did none of those things directly. The computer hard drive failed and had to be replaced. I was starting to reload files from external drives when luckily the company was able to retrieve the old data. I do have to reload my script writing software which was due for an upgrade. Add on the fact that we’re re-doing a bathroom and that adds up to a good deal of domestic work. We also added a pair of oak book shelves last week that up-ended everything in the house for two days but now looks wonderful.
We’re working on a small narrative book video next week and that will be fun. We stepped out this week and supported Shane Hagedorn in another acting role in the Detroit area. It’s nice to see filmmakers developing and growing in their art. We met some nice people and had an enjoyable time.
Speaking of premiere showings we have one coming on the 14th of Sept in Owosso, MI for MAN’S BEST FRIEND. Tickets go up for sale the 4th or 5th on the NCG Owosso website. Keep up with the MBF facebook page as we’ll be updating there. It is open to the public and we’ll be having my co-stars Don Most, Garry Nation, Tim Abell and David Reardon in attendance. So if you want to see a powerful film about our wounded vets and adoption dogs – come join us.
WILD FAITH is finding an audience out there. This past week I had several people come up and tell me how much they enjoyed Wild Faith with a few having watched the movie multiple times. Next up a group of us will be traveling to AZ to attend the Wild Bunch film festival. Once we are booked we are going to invite our Yuma, AZ family and see if any want to come visit.
My dentist this past week was all smiles after he and his daughter enjoyed watching part 3 of The Quest Trilogy – The Christ Slayer. He shared some of the insights she took from the film. She GOT IT! Because she watched all three films. The movies can be watched as a stand alone but they are meant to be watched all together. So one of our goals this holiday season will be to let people know that the films are all part of a trilogy. I’ve also decided that I will be writing another biblical era film. I have one on deck now but the cost has put it a step beyond my means. But that could change as we expand our circles.
PRODUCTION THOUGHTS
We don’t USE people – We DEVELOP people. I go into every media relationship wanting the same long time relationship I share with several of our #TRIBECDI – Composer and sound designer Dennis Therrian is a good example, he and I go back to about 1997. In media now I hear about how ‘fluid’ people are and hardly keep a job beyond three years. Many are people who cannot deal with any conflict and need to be right all the time. Add to this that our industry is naturally fluid – in it’s flow…(Planning) few folks – (Shooting) army – (Post Work) few folks.
A freelancer has to make more good choices vs bad choices in a year or they will fail. This industry is based 100% on referrals if you’re amongst the wise. We as Indies have a small margin of error due to budget constraints. If you as cast or crew are doing what you love and YOU see the effort by production to give cast and crew a good ride while working to make a quality story. You should be supportive and loyal to the nth degree because it’s rare. For you under 25 folks you will realize. Many of you from your ‘Office Space’ cubical. Yeah… Don’t let your ego sink you. Before I sling arrows let me admit my biggest WEAKNESS. It has always been that I care about people. I truly do. I recognize that dreamer fire burning in some people. And I’ve seen people who’s willpower cannot match their dreams – let me translate LAZY.
I can see people’s success and fail potential. I see those battles of willpower when the dream becomes hard. Almost impossible until – it happens. I’ve bet on people that they could escape their self sabotage and live their better self. I’ve won more than I’ve lost but I’ve surely lost. The TRIBE works in a very tribal way thanks likely to my CDI partner Jeff Kennedy’s anthropology courses. If you aren’t pulling your weight your peers know. They see the lack of focus. They see the attitude and that person will find themselves pushed to the outer rim. I also will state that CDI is a tribe of artists that live on the alpha end of the spectrum. They are savage in their hunger for success as an artist.
I can tell you as an older lion that surviving in this industry long term is a badge to itself. That said, I love to develop appreciate, hungry and extremely talented artists. When you take away the environment for drama and BS, which is a trap for all groups of humans gathering, these artists potential shines even more. Making great art inside a shit-storm is a hard go. You have to control your artistic studio, workshop, world, set. Do this and watch your project get even stronger. The energy when a crew believes…when they see the world, is amazing.
I offered a script to one of our crew guys on ‘Lost Heart’…NOTE: I like my crew to know the story they are creating. Cast or crew I just would have to know what I’m selling hours of my life to. Okay…but he said he was enjoying piecing it together each day. This ‘interest’ in the art from the crew is what helps to elevates the final story.
If you prove yourself to be untrustworthy, undependable, unfocused, unprepared – you get my point. The crew will often work around you rather than with you. If your drama overly seeps into the set, they might ignore but they remember. See again as a martial artists, I see the hot set as a dojo. I mentally bow when I enter and I bow to my fellow cast and crew. We all stop our own time from ACTION to CUT and live those moments together that is the STORY. That is some intimate shit. And some artsy sounding shit at that. But it’s true.
Back to the topic, I’ve been doing this walk a good long time. I want this to keep creating and so I’m not looking for friends or social peeps, BFF’s or any of that. I’m looking for select artists whereas the Tribe see’s them as a good asset. I can say that of the cards that people have brought to the CDI table over the years to play, the best card was always loyalty. You work to create an inspiring place for artists to develop projects void of time-wasting, energy-stealing drama. That is the goal. How successful were we? We’ll let the projects tell that story as I believe the end product has a lot to do with that production energy. It absorbs into the story just like seasons when you shoot. An October movie always has a strong haunting and introspective vibe. Again that saying, Making great art within a shit-storm is a hard go.
I’ve been working hard to develop people because I think I knew where we were heading. I see the on-going slate of films peppered with a few TV series. That takes talent, dedication and organization. Again, praise to all the good stuff happening in our state. Back in the day there was Lynn Drzick (West Side) and Mike Kallio (East Side) and a shot gun smattering of filmmakers in Michigan. Working to TV stations at nights trying to complete films shot on FILM. Okay. I see movies on Vikings, Detroit Hustle, Firefighters, Sex Trafficking, Body Swappers…all in our state of Michigan. Very cool!
I’m going to slide out of here and get with my day. Be good to one another. Thank you for letting me ramble over coffee. I hope to see some of you Sept 14th in Owosso, MI at the MAN’S BEST FRIEND premiere showings. I’ve heard good things about the theater tests but I’m waiting to be surprised myself. Coffee cheers!
Have a great Labor Day weekend.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 