Memorial Day Weekend 2024 – TEN FILM UPDATES!
(Wounded vet Paul Landings tries to readjust to life working in an animal shelter)
Hazelnut coffee cheers! Above is a list of where some of our new readers are from. Please do invite folks and subscribe yourself. This has been a very productive week. Our soccer team dropped a match but I’m loving the work out and feel as if I’m playing good. I also got to end the week with shooting some primitive archery. Some people love guns and go to the range to blow off stress. The loud aspect and ringing ears even with protection makes shooting something for hunting or self protection but not fun. But slinging arrows is something I really enjoy. My main bow is a compact recurve made by Bear. It is a classic and shoots extremely well. It was a great time and I’m going to make that more of a regular activity. I have several others bows that I want to try out for fun.
(True story of WW2 home front soldiers watching over German PW’s)
Outside I’ve been doing lots of work keeping the mowing up. But also added a new arbor and chainsawed a lilac tree of some dead branches. I chipped up the medium sized branches and the large are cut to season for burning. I wonder if they smell good while they burn? On the full moon also did some harvesting of red clover, chive and sage blossoms for tea. Many herbs have great medicinal properties in addition to food flavoring. The hops is growing great and we’ll see how they do after the new porch build which is slated for July. It will create a much bigger deck area and create a nice under deck area as well. I need to start cleaning out the space under the deck and get it ready for the build. I have at least one tree that needs a trimming to get some branches off the house. A few tree trims might need an expert. The berries are getting ready to pop with raspberries looking like they will be a bumper crop. Today we’re having the mother’s over for a grill. Venison and buffalo burgers and chicken with mushrooms and wild onions. Okay, shall we get onto some film updates?
(Civil War veteran Emmett Murphy readjusts to life after the War of the States)
UPDATES
- I think last year I expressed my sadness at the passing of my book editor at Revel/Baker Lonnie. I had written a story that had accepted for our 4th collaboration this one on birds. The new editor Katelyn reached out and the book is moving forward. I’ll promote that when the book releases nationally.
- Staying with literary – It is time to buckle-down and get the first of the CDI books rolling out under our new publishing deal. Knight Chills and Ghost Town books will likely be the first ones up. I need to get on the artwork and create an action list.
- More literary – I’ve been doing a lot of screenwriting as of late and working on a few properties that were smaller in scope meaning fewer locations and characters. This means few company moves hence fewer shoot days and lower budget. Of the three scripts we have we might elect to shoot two of them versus the HOT ROD LOVE which has a larger cast from all over the USA. I will say that the 3rd film script that I’m closing in on is a sequel to a popular film of ours. It has been a joy to write for some of these characters in the world we previously created. My only hint is – giddy up.
- Our Dean Teaster’s GHOST TOWN has been signed with Ammo Content and can now be seen on TUBI at https://tubitv.com/movies/616519/dean-teaster-s-ghost-town (FREE with ads) and will be licensing to many other platforms. I’m also told we will be releasing in the UK so please let me know my friends if it starts to show up there. We’ll do some PR on that next week but you got the intel here first!
- The true-crime film AN ORDINARY KILLER starring myself, Terence Knox, Terry Jernigan and Dan Haggerty is now being used to help the non profit The Red, White and Blue Project thanks to a fundraising effort by Two Average Joes Media who runs a podcast on true crime. They’ve remastered the film and a special HD DVD is going to be sold. Once the purchase site is up we’ll share that. We are looking to put it into the streaming market just before Christmas. I want to cut a new trailer but we’ve remastered the old one for the time being. That will be releasing soon.
- KNIGHT CHILLS which is enjoying a remastered Blu Ray release with Saturn Core/Vinegar Syndrome will be entering the streaming market this Fall. CDI’s own Adam Towner has been working on a new poster and trailer. We’ve had several meetings and I hope to see some updates this weekend.
- I got a sneak peek at some Tom Miller artwork for FROM VENUS. He did the cool artwork for KNIGHT CHILLS used in the Blu Ray release. It is looking great! We have to discuss how we want to deal with the duel format of the film – outside the comic book is letter box and inside the comic book is full screen. Unique in concept but now we have to decide what to do in the remastering. Maybe a matte of the comic book old old school TV matte.
- Remastering tests continue on FIGURE IN THE FOREST and HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS. I do want to get the double DVD featuring the two films for sale. Both are great films directed by CDI’s own Jeff Kennedy.
- I got to see the first cut of the music video we just did with SHALLOW RISING and it looks great. The previous video is suppose to release this month and when it is we’ll promote it on here.
- I had a great meeting with my friends at McGraw Multimedia where we are discussing some exciting collaborations. We also had a great meeting discussing pulling together various artistic companies in the Lansing area. If it all gels it could be BIG for Lansing. Stage, screen and video games all under one roof. I’m in talks with them for future supervision of production which I’ve discussed with various companies out west but I had/have no interest in leaving our state. This facility would be exactly 7 minutes from my house which makes it ideal.
(WW1 veterans deal with the Purple Gang of Detroit in the roaring 20’s)
I feel as if I have a few additional updates but I’m going to wrap it up here. I have some breakfast to get after and I have to get the grill ready. I’m looking forward to a day of friends and family. I love catching up on some of the TO DO’s around the property. This forthcoming week I’ll finish the script I’m working on and we’ll have some developmental talks. I will say that we’re discussing a return to the Alpena area to work with some of the fine folks we’ve already met and worked with on Harsens Island Revenge. SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA is preparing for it’s TV debut on UP FAMILY & FAITH channel and I’m anxious to hear if the film did some licensing in Cannes, France. Harsens Island Revenge is having sound design, dialog and musical score all worked on. We overcame the few tech issues we were having with software. The reports coming in on dialog are wonderful and I’m told will be some of the best yet. That is technology for you both in source capture and clean up. A long ways from our small DAT players. The trailer and theatrical poster are being worked on and I hope to have a first draft by end of the month. My goal would be to release a trailer on my June 23rd Bday. We will see if the team can make that happen.
(Making plans for 2024/2025 and behind with John Mashni)
I might have a Knight Chills trailer by that time also. Our 1st film and our most recent film side by side. That is growth. We’ve learned so much from set back and success. We’re excited to move into new territory. We’ve been planning some big things for 2025 production-wise. I had a great meeting with John Mashni, one of our producers and our legal consultant. We were preparing breakdowns to release $ back to investors on the current films. Additionally we’re discussing the future which has some very promising opportunities. Many more stories to tell my friends. Do me a favor and enjoy your favorite CDI film(s) with some family and friends this week. Recommend one of your favorites to someone new. I’m also told next Friday we might get some exciting news finally on IN THE WOODS, my first starring film returning as a remasters Blu Ray and even to select theaters. I’m just so grateful that I’m allowed to do what I love and that so many people are touched by the stories. Thank you for all the little notes and fan mail, it is appreciated. Have a safe and fun Memorial Day and remember those who served and died to protect our freedom and liberties. Enjoy a few of our film clips in this promo for ENCOURAGE TV– https://youtu.be/HKVI4ONZ4Dk?si=p3u50jdleuSG60HU
Until next week! Coffee Cheers!
DJ
REFLECTIONS on a Unique Season – New CDI Updates!
New readers from Denmark, Thailand and other countries around the world – welcome. I’ve got my hazelnut coffee here by my side and I’m sitting down to give you a few updates on this Memorial Weekend. In my home state of Michigan it has been a bit of a challenge most recently with the rain causing multiple dams to break and at least one town needing to evacuate. Also our virus restrictions have eased some and my hope is that we don’t have spikes leading to a tightening down.
The American way of freedom and rights has been put to the test on many fronts. As a capitalistic society we have long put profit ahead of health and safety. Now because of an increase in communication and perhaps compassion? -the health of individuals is carrying weight because those that put wealth above health are being exposed and being held accountable. But for many their immediate livelihood also effects their health so we have a challenge is seeking that balance.
I don’t look down on people with less formal education because while some can recall all kinds of knowledge others have a knack with mechanics, electronics, skilled labor that also is important. What I see is that many just don’t understand virus transmission. Also those seeking proper information are being confused by opposing information made worse when a political agenda is attached. So people get frustrated and just get to a point of F#@%@%#@ IT!
Others need to fill their lives with conspiracy and such and those things have happened down through the ages. But friendly speculation can turn deadly when people take this as truth. I enter every conversation knowing I could be wrong. I try to ’empty my cup’ and learn from every interaction I have. I fear that in America during this election year that we’ll not get any relief until after the new elections. I read of people complaining because stores are trying to accommodate everyone’s concerns. Someone who refuses store rules should be out, my opinion. Just like NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE. People not following directional arrows because they are proving a point should be asked to leave. That business came up with rules that was best for them based on recommendations.
Now we’re working on our policy and rules for working with CDI on our next film BEST YEARS GONE. We’re financed and ready to roll once we feel we can safely handle production and work within guidelines. Now if someone on the crew did not want to work under these set conditions they would not be hired. I don’t care if you think 5G towers did this and so-and-so says masks do nothing. If the policy is a mask on a hot set – you wear or we don’t hire you. A sickness of any kind can really stumble up a business or project. Those accountable for finishing the project need to make the best decisions and safe is better than sorry, as mom use to say.
We are currently targeting August to film but stand ready to push a month or two if needed. Things are looking better but if people start going total disregard – we could see our situation go backwards. Either way we will move forward with caution. We are soon to announce another cast member who recently worked with the tribe on LOST HEART. We’re happy to have them in the TribeCDI family. Stay tuned for more cast and crew updates and we’ll start announcing some of our sponsorship partners as well.
LOST HEART – The music and sound design is almost done and mixing will be next. The color correction and VFX are also close to being done. We have a few surprise announcements also but we’ll wait for the ‘ink to dry’ as I like to say. We’ll be exploring how we want to premiere the film in the coming days. I’m really excited for people to enjoy this wonderful story and you will – soon!
I’ve had wonderful fan mail from folks watching MAN’S BEST FRIEND, WILD FAITH and The Quest Trilogy (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star, The Christ Slayer) and so while spending time with your family please enjoy the hard work of our artists.
DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
We’ve been hard at work here at CDI and soon we’ll be launching ‘COLLECTIVE COLLECTABLES‘ our merchandise division. The CDI Music Division and we continue to explore the animation opportunities. If you have skills and a reel from me a line – I want to see what artists are doing.
I’m happy to say we’ve made great strides on the ‘HASTINGS‘ TV series and our WW2 film for 2021 is over half financed. I believe we’ll have all our commitments by the end of summer if not sooner.
WRAP UP
Be kind to one another as we navigate through these times. Channel your energy into what you can control. Adversity can create great new opportunities. You are forced out of your comfort zone and from that new place great ideas can spring. But the key to success is to be a doer. It is not enough to have a good idea you must vet the idea and if deemed worthy – do it.
Until next week. Zen your space. Be mindful of others. Create don’t hate!
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 