“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ― Sun Tzu

Posts tagged “gardens

Every Big Goal is Achieved By A Series of Smaller Goals! – CDI UPDATES!

Good morning everyone out there. I want to once again thank all the readers from around the world. I see a lot of friends from the asian territories stopping by, welcome! It is sunny today in the Michigan and actually we’ve had a great stretch of good warm weather. The world is popping with green and I love the morning birds including a few neighborhood roosters. Our chickens have been loving the warmth and we’ve getting about five eggs a day. I’ve been spending my afternoons doing improvements on the property in-between business calls. I put in a plank walkway going around the fort office from a home improvement article I saw. It came out looking really good. I’ve also been grinding up some brush from tree trims to mulch. Also the under deck area I’m organizing and planning my retaining wall. I love getting out into nature and working in the dirt. I’m trying to bring back my hops that were relocated when the new deck went in. I’ve enjoyed having my morning coffee on the deck and also doing some of my daily stretching. We lost our first soccer match 6-3 which should have been closer but sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce just right.

I’ve also been adjusting to wearing glasses and also cataracts which has one that is advanced enough that the clarity in that eye varies by light and other variables. I’ve been taking my glasses off for my above mentioned soccer matches but I’ve decided I need to get some prescription “rec specs” for playing soccer. Might get them with glare guard to help my game. I’ve now talked with several friends who have dealt with this and even had the corrective surgery. Getting older is a privilege but a challenge to deal with this and that. I think I’m going to get a larger computer monitor to help versus just my smallish lap top screen. I share these things so folks know that while life is great I too also have challenges. I was wishing an old business associate a happy birthday and discovered he passed away in 2023. Again enjoy the journey. I am on the cusp of my June birthday month and I’m content. Another trip around the sun almost complete. Enough of these things and onto the artistic updates.

UPDATES:

  1. We have a marketing meeting for WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS with our home video distributor this week. We will try to do a few more theatrical showings in the Fall before we release to rent/buy on 11/3/26. The film will be represented at the RED LETTER AWARDS in August. We still might have a festival or two still in us but we are excited to make the film available to the tens of millions who enjoyed the original WILD FAITH. Just on the distributors ETV (YOUTUBE) the film has about 50k views short of nine million. Across all platforms I’m at a loss to even wager a guess at the audience but I’m deeply appreciative.
  2. ROM COMS MUST DIE is almost all delivered to home video and so we’ll get our streaming/DVD dates soon. But we are going to be releasing into theaters all Summer and even doing some fun brew N views. This movie was very well received and I just need to try and plug into the horror/comedy audience that I once knew well. We are doing a great TV show interview on June 11th called The Baron & Sindee Nyte Show on Youtube livestream at 7pm EST. I will be on there with Adam Towner mu co-star. If you have a review site or podcast and would live to talk this film that makes fun of our beloved film industry, reach out.
  3. AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip – We gathered at the Pine Studio to watch and listen to the film with the first full pass on all music and sound design. The score is just great but with Dennis Therrian‘s work that surprises nobody. But also the sound design was so good. It brings you right into the scene and the score amps up your emotions. The performances were powerful across the board. And the subject matter is so thought provoking. AI is entering into all areas of life and this film will have discussions stimulated. It is a film for everyone as all perspectives are addressed. The scientific non-believers, priests, nuns and everything in between. Technology. Religion. Government transparency. It is all there. We will likely look to do a big premiere in the coming weeks. This could easily be director Anthony Hornus‘ crown gem. Follow the Facebook page for all the updates! All our films have FB pages to follow. You might want to go back and watch THE QUEST TRILOGY (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star and The Christ Slayer) just to give some background. This film loosely is a follow up but not part of the trilogy.
  4. DEVIL’S PASS is no longer in development but pre-production. This collaboration is a unique western. Traditional in the values with a unique twist. It will be captured in a kinetic high action way by the McGraw brothers directing. We had a great meeting over crew and cast. We are still filling in the blanks on both but the blanks are getting fewer by the week. WILD FAITH alumni Darby Hinton has joined the cast and we’ve even bringing one of the last main cast members from BONANZA out of retirement Golden Globe nominee Mitch Vogel. You can see all the additional cast and crew on the IMDB page. Again all the films have IMDB pages. We have a meeting this week which we’ll be announcing some casting and crewing needs soon. This is for locals in the mid Michigan area. CDI always works with sponsors and we’ll be getting that process going soon.

DEVELOPMENT: Development is always underway and on many fronts from Algona, Iowa to Kalamazoo, Michigan. With several directors and showcasing several stories in various genres. I have a few business plans to review. I also have a few meetings to collect feedback on with funding potential. We are working now to line up 2027 productions. I’m also going to return to script writing as I have a few in process. I took a meeting on another possible book to script endeavor but we will see if that advances or not. I will take this time to thank all our investors and sponsors who make these stories possible.

WRAP UP: I’m going to wind this down and go enjoy some more coffee with donuts. It is the Fullmoon which is when I allow myself to eat something unhealthy. Aside the from the 24 hours usually stretched over two days, I stick to almonds, berries and healthier snacks. But I do love donuts. Trivia: My favorite even while they are all good is the double chocolate. I hope you all have been enjoying the first half of your year. I hope you are meeting your goals and crossing off your TO DO’s. Every big goal is achieved by a series of smaller goals. So get after those goals and make those dreams happen. Until next week- coffee cheers!

DJ


    Father’s Day and Cusp of a Birthday – Updates!

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    Good morning my friends. Welcome new readers from Serbia, Israel and coffee cheers to you all. I want to also take this moment to thank all of you Father’s out there. Thanks to all the men who take on father roles and give guidance. I’m so grateful to have my father who was kind, strict, generous and taught us much by his actions. I still am amazed by everything he ‘balanced’ while dealing with marriage at a young age and raising two boys. His dream and his goal was to have a family. My goals have included the building of a film family. I also have been so lucky to have the family life I’ve had. I’ve loved my furry family as much as I would have any human child. I value all life and nurture where I can. I’m also on the cusp of a milestone birthday. This week I’ll add another mark on the number of times I’ve gone around the sun. So I have much to be thankful for. I’ve also watched my brother follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a wonderful dad. So to all of you out there – Happy Father’s Day.

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    Let me see – we had a producers ‘meeting of the minds’ this past week over our next CDI film BEST YEARS GONE.  So much great pre-production has been underway including the announcement of Erika Hoveland who will be playing opposite me in the film. Our tribe of talent gets a little wider with each film. Our restrictions due to the virus are getting slightly better as small productions start to creep out for commercial day shoots and such. Any of these shoots where you see them just ‘going for it’ with no precautions is a good example of again hobby shooting. If you have no accountability to investors, cast/crew safety, state/union/insurance guidelines we are not playing the same game. It’s a lot to balance but we have a great game plan forming up by great people.

    Having filmed for so many years where many of our families deal with our strange storytelling habit I have always made a point to try and be wrapped for the year by Thanksgiving. I don’t like to be filming between Thanksgiving and New Year save a few exceptions. That said, we’ve chosen the furthest shoot window possible. So our onset pre-production week will be end of Oct into early November. And the shoot will be 15 days in November wrapping out a handful of days before Thanksgiving. We’ll make the few needed story adjustments and the hope is we will be further down the road from these virus restrictions. We’ll also start some B-roll, beauty and VFX shots in advance. I’m so very excited to get shooting but you want to be smart when you do it.

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    LOST HEART is being mixed together. The musical score, sound design and dialog. We have started as a group to discuss how we will premiere the movie. We might have an outside big screen premiere much akin to a premiere we did for DEADLY RENOVATIONS in AZ. A band, food and the ability to have people spread out some. Following that a run in theaters and drive in’s would be the ideal situation. This funny and heart warming movie will be just the needed thing for many out there.

    Asking Forgiveness

    MAN’S BEST FRIEND might play a few more festivals this year but the audience keeps building. Thank you to all the fans of the movie who have reached out. I can say the same for WILD FAITH and the development work on the TV series continues. I also had some people reach out to express their joy in finding The Quest Trilogy (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star, The Christ Slayer) I think it is helping that people are realizing that there is three films that have interconnecting pieces. I had People ask if CDI will be doing more biblical adventures. I would like to when the timing is right.

    Renovation Movie Clips

    I’m excited to announce that a new deal has been made with ITN Distribution to get three of the CDI associated films back out into the marketplace. The previously mentioned Deadly Renovations, Donors and Darkest Night. More as that develops and they have new art and new release destinations.

    I’ve been two weeks without my Movie Magic software because of my computer update to Catalina but it has now been fixed. So I can continue my weekly writing and I’m very happy about that. The yard has never looked better and we just added flowers and got more plants for the garden. I seeded a few lawn spots due to tree-cutting and behold it is filling in. Daily entertainment from all the birds and critters which we’ve been feeding has kept smiles upon our faces. I hope you all have a productive week and I look forward to speaking with you all next week. Keep your chin up if you’re facing hardship and just keep moving forward.

    Be good to one another.

    DJ

     

     

     


    YUMA -Week ONE Pre-Prod Down!

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    Today will be another day in the 90’s here in sunny Yuma, AZ as we prep to film. Back at home I hear of chilly cold and keeping the fire burning. The only fire here is the big ball of heat in the sky. The sun has been good for me for sure as most in Michigan likely have low Vitamin D. We’re here to film part 3 of The Quest Trilogy entitled “The Christ Slayer”. I think we’ve been able to take everything that we’ve learned on the previous two films and take it up a notch. Our first week of pre-production is over and tomorrow cameras roll. For me I have our production meeting followed by a rehearsal with some of our cast that arrived. Carl Weyant and the Perry brothers Ponce and Scott flew in last night and I’m excited to create with them. Our secondary team started to come in last night. We all went to a nice Mexican place in town and got to know one another. It is a magical thing when storytellers from all over the world come together to create. This adventure has a boat in it, gardens, farms and of course desert. I’m beyond excited to do tell this tale.

    Other exciting film news…

    Staying in the Quest Trilogy vein our Forty Nights art for the April 4th DVD launch with Bridgestone Multimedia Group is almost done. A final proof on Monday but I can say it is beautiful. The art on the Wal-Mart release got rushed due to a release date and I was not happy with it. It was not our elements and was just okay. Additionally the International Christian Film Festival has nominated the film for 4 awards.

    Forty Nights

    That will show in May in Florida.

    CHASING THE STAR our second film will be done this week and a test screening is set for Champion Church next Sunday. I’m excited to see the audience reaction to our powerful follow-up film. Much more will be announcing on this film as we move into the theatrical phase and head towards the national release Sept. 5th.

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    Many of you know we just recently dropped the first look at the Wild Faith teaser trailer. It has been doing really well in receiving reactions. The simple fact is the trailer is strong but the film is MUCH stronger. Everyone just really brought their A game.

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    I got word that THE ACTOR the film that I did a time back in NYC with Carl Weyant is releasing digitally on the 29th of this month! A film worth checking out for sure.

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    Things move around on the board when in pre-production from changing locations, crew, cast and other details of production. When you look back on the finished film you often can’t imagine things being any different. I know in one case we had a change because of illness and another because of dragging negotiations. We had a location change that seemed like an issue at first when we lost a location but by days end we had found a location that was much better suited. Things happen for a reason.

    I miss my family, friends and comforts of home but like all of us I must work. I have to say that I truly do love my work. Don’t get me wrong I have days where I wonder “why am I doing this?” usually when bogged down in logistical or legalese, but all for the greater good.

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    I’m sure I’m missing some updates but perhaps I’ll do a mid-week update with so much developing OR I’ll be speaking to you next Sunday after our screening of “Chasing the Star” at Champion Church.

    Time to go do our production meeting, cast meeting and lastly hair and make up so they can make this caveman look more Jesus-like:)

    Be good to one another.

    DJ