CDI Updates! Don’t take any of it for granted, get busy DOING!
Good morning! Hazelnut cheers my friends. So my week started with some unexpected events. My day was winding down early this week and I got an email from a person I don’t often communicate with. It was to inform me that my friend and artistic collaborator Greg Zivic had been found passed away. At first I had hoped it was a hacked email account spreading a vicious lie. But 24 hours later that was found to be the truth. I had been in conversation with Greg as we were looking to sit down with another friend of his over films. We had settled on St. Patrick’s Day. He was an artists who did many other things including ER doctor. He had owned a gallery prior that was a showcase for artists often with food, drink and music. He had various ventures with other close associates from real estate to medical R&D. He was a doer, a dreamer and a damn fine fellow who I never saw angry. I know he helped family, friends and of course the wounded who came into whatever ER he was working. It is hard to say goodbye to such people but as we get older that goodbye becomes more often. So RIP Greg.
We had a few really nice days of sun and warmth before winter made a return. Cold with even a bit of snow. But the signs of Spring are everywhere from little sprouts coming from the ground and lil buds on the trees. I need to do a trim on the mulberry trees while it is still cold. The chickens are almost at full production with 4-5 eggs a day. I enjoyed a few days of working the property save maybe all the dog poop pick up but it had to be done. The upside has been a few more fires in the wood stove before the season is over. Every year we make a few small improvements to the property. I have a few in mind for this year.
Out of respect for above mentioned Greg, I did not release some of the PR we had planned. I will do that this week. I did spend a few days catching up on all kinds of desk work. The streamlining has been moving along and I’m happy to be evolving. I had to get our next wrap book digitized. A wrap book is a book of all the agreements that are executed for a movie during production. These are required for distributors to take your film on especially if they are presenting to 3rd party companies. So WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS is almost all delivered and now ROM COMS MUST DIE is almost done as well. I would say by month’s end for those two films.
OTHER UPDATES:
- The poster for ROM COMS MUST DIE is done and we have a meeting Monday about getting that ready for our theatrical run. We are still in talks about where the premiere will be which might tie into the first local theatrical run. We are going to try and target fewer theatrical with more precision. Also the film will be traveling to some festivals as well. More on that as we know.
- AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip – is moving down the post production line. We will be listening to the dialog mix with sound design this week. Once that is locked up the composing of music and mix will start. The home video distribution team has been already preparing and it looks like we will be tying the branding of the posters together since it is a short window of theatrical to home video. Art is always subjective but in the home video world you have seconds before someone decides to RENT/BUY by pressing play.
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS got done in time for a bit of Christmas play but we will be going back into theaters before rolling into streaming and DVD Q4 2026. We are up for a few awards at various event shows and festivals. ICFF has us up for many of them. The RED LETTER AWARDS will be announcing nominations soon. Interesting talk on the future of the franchise. The original film has been successful for us and the follow up should reach the same success even faster due to the built in audience. I do have eight shows for a TV series written and we will explore a few funding possibilities. But it needs to be done right which means creative control. The social media funding path was brought up again which I’m not a fan of. Is it my ego? Is it that I’ve been taught to pitch and partner? The path of THE CHOSEN is always used as an example but you never hear of the thousands that never make it. We will make a good go to set up the TV series. I have also been working on another stand alone feature film working title WILD FAITH 3. Any way you cut it we will be continuing the adventures of Emmett and friends.
- I’ve been also working in my free time on the sequel to MAN’S BEST FRIEND. Right now just the working title MBF2. But the script is shockingly powerful and I’m over half way through it maybe 3/4 pending how it flows. I’ve got a handful of scenes written for a LOST HEART follow up that I’m tinkering with as the mood hits me. I think as these films grow in their fanbase and people fall in love with the characters they want to see more. I’m also working on another follow up script that might have a path to production. The ink will be dry on this writing endeavor this week but writing has already started in good faith. I will be talking about that more next week and some PR will roll out.
- One of the PR announcements I’m looking to release is the CDI development with Katharsys Pictures of three genre films to be directed by Lynn Drzick. He directed the first feature film I starred in. A creature feature called IN THE WOODS. Get the Blu Ray and watch the old version and the updated version. One of the films on the slate is IN THE WOODS 2.
- Speaking of old school, I’m looking forward to seeing some restoration tests on CDI films 2, 3 AND 4. The hope is that we can release back into the marketplace at some point in time. I’ve also been playing catch up on data entry on IMDB and getting some of our short form projects listed such as Making of’s and Special Events. It all takes time.
- The development direction with GOTCH did not pan out as we had hoped. It is not fair to just share the successes without the setbacks. One of the issues on this or any project is control of the funds. As the supervising producer and manager of the project I need to know that every agreement I make has the funds locked up to support that. A couple of earlier career burns has taught me this important lesson. So even with promises of big money, if it’s not set up in a way that you can protect and assure your team of being paid, that’s a hard pass. Now we have some great things in play on this script and we really got everything tight and ready for pre-production. We just need to make the right deal. In the meantime, I want to do a follow up to FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH documentary. We will have some talks on that soon.
- As I’ve almost put the last little business piece in place on our AI JESUS we are starting to look ahead. The project it pushed was a great little comedic ‘who done it’ film set at the turn of the century. It might be what we do next with our friends and collaborators the McGraw’s. We will see once they are back from LA/Hollywood visiting family. We’ve had two great collaborations with them and we hope to make a third very soon.
WRAP UP: I covered quite a bit of development in the above list. I’m gonna send out a last few business emails and maybe do a bit of script writing. I hope the week ahead doesn’t bring any sad news like last week. I went from disbelief having just talked with him and made plans. To sad and mad at why such a great person would be taken so soon. Although he truly did pack two lifetimes into one. To now being motivated that I am still here and can keep creating. One day people may remember my doings fondly but not now. So don’t take any conversations or visits for granted. And don’t be afraid to go after your dreams. I will talk with everyone next week and I hope you have a great rest of your day.
Coffee Cheers! DJ
The ‘Artistic Perception’ and Several Updates!
(On set ‘Lost Heart’ Premiere – getting ready for ‘Best Years Gone’ as Gil Gilles) * LOVE my coat!
Good morning my friends! I’m sipping on the coffee and looking forward to again sharing a few thoughts, updates and insights. This blog has been getting even more followers as friends share the blog with others. The artistic spirit can feel like a curse when you are unable to live it fully. But know it is a spirit that can manifest in all that you do. How you write a memo. How you lay our a display. Art can manifest at any job you do and often inspire outside of work art, if you do not get to do art full time (yet). I had a great meeting with our friend Mark at Pepsi and let me tell you the man possesses an artist’s spirit. It has taken him a bit to see that but every gardener is an artist and more. Every leader who uses creative endeavors and programs to nurture the best from his employees and co-workers is an artist. Leadership is an art to be sure. Art is to feel and ultimately to care, because you have something to say. That art can cause or stimulate the artistic receptors in others like when looking at a painting or a sculpture. Thinking of you Greg Zivic. Back to Mark who we met because of good people networking starting with Graham Turner, a health and fitness trainer friend. He started sitting in on meetings and was my martial arts partner when working out the action sequences for Man’s Best Friend with John Lennox. He brought his expertise in one area to CDI’s health and hospitality. This is our expanded version of craft service. Now he’s worked up into the office as a production coordinator. He’s an artist. True artists attract other artists who can sense sincerity and intent.
(Creative meetings at the office/fort are powered by Pepsi)
Full circle to Mark Balko at Pepsi who is more than just a contact he is a tribe member. He found a group who understood his artistic urges and did not feel odd or outcast but accepted. ART is the secret to doing great things. Anyone can follow instructions and bake but those who take it to another level is art. Grilling – we can all but flame to meat but for a true grill master it becomes an art. You should look for the art in all you do and some are already fully aware of it. ART is EVERYWHERE because it is a PERCEPTION! It can make your smaller market distributor a top in the country, GO Alpena Bears! It can make melt-in-your mouth pork and cakes that are almost a shame to cut into. Sometimes you don’t have to seek out a different circle of artists sometimes it is just being the one who stimulates that in others. Thus the art of leadership. All interconnected. I hope this helps a few of you to look at things differently. But I want to thank Mark at Pepsi for their sponsorship of CDI and our films. They were a sponsor on Harsens Island Revenge and we have some fun ideas for the Alpena, MI premiere end of the year. Even more exciting is their involvement in HOT ROD LOVE that we are working hard to shoot this year. Let’s move to that film to discuss for a few.
(Thank you to Pepsi, save the Coor’s Light which is thanks to Adam Towner)
HOT ROD LOVE 2024 – We’re pushing into new talks with potential investors and sponsors on our 1970’s dramedy with drag racing at the heart of it. We had more commitments this week and have additional meetings next week. We are taking steady steps forward to get the business foundation in place. It is a 90% business and 10% creative until we get all our financial ducks in a row. That is what the producers at CDI do is work to get those things in place. This film will be a blast to produce and I cannot wait to go location scout. With nicer weather we might do that sooner vs later but again I don’t like to get to deep on all that until we are a full go. We call that a GREEN LIGHT. Ironic isn’t it with a racing movie. The official start of pre-production. I’ll keep you informed as we move forward. Right now we are focused on those two things funders and sponsors. Thank you to those who have already committed and we look forward to telling another great story.
Harsens Island Revenge (HIR) UPDATES! I had an almost two hour talk with our director Carl Weyant while he is still in Brazil. He returns Feb 14th and we’ll get together soon after. He was working on the final 20 minutes of the film edit. With end credits and the opening scene we still have to shoot we are guessing 1:45 min runtime. Once Carl has landed back here we’ll plan our final scene shoot and also do a watch on the cut before tweaks and a picture lock. The Behind-the-scenes is being worked on and I’ll get a better ETA on that but my goal is end of the month. Once our director is back we’ll be working the theatrical poster and trailer. The trailer will help us now if a 3rd party theatrical will be getting involved in booking or if our theatrical division at CDI will handle. We had a good run with our previous release and I think we can do even better second time around. So either way, it will be a successful run. More on HIR next week but exciting things ahead.
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA – The film just went back into Cherokee, Iowa’s American 3 theaters for a run last week in January. I know we’ve had some additional requests and I met with Shane Hagedorn end of week to pass along some returned DCP files for theatrical play. The home video release is still going strong and I’m just so happy that this story is growing each week. I’ll know second quarter how strong the film is doing since it released 4th quarter of 2023. It is all a process and the wheel turns. We still have broadcast TV and ad-based video on demand later in the year. Plus foreign sales should start appearing as the film travels to the film markets and gets picked up. The two museums in the town of Algona are already benefitting from the film just off our theatrical thanks to The Donald Tietz Foundation. Preserving history and helping the community! We should all strive to do such things.
(A beautiful scene from part 3 of THE QUEST TRILOGY – The Christ Slayer)
THE QUEST TRILOGY – As the sun and light starts its return and will slowly bring us out of winter we’ll soon be approaching the spring season of Easter. These three films have become a gems of the season and we’re so appreciative of all the fans who’ve made them a tradition. If you want to take some time for deep contemplation and to feel inner happiness take a watch. I watch them at least once a year and they always make my day better. Part 1 is FORTY NIGHTS, Part 2 CHASING THE STAR and Part 3 THE CHRIST SLAYER. Don’t let the title of part 3 throw you as it is a lesson unto itself that will make since once you watch the film. For you fans of Harsens Island Revenge, it stars our director Carl Weyant and he does a great job. If any of you on here watch them please do leave your comments here but also on http://www.imdb.com on the individual pages or Amazon‘s page if you rent/watch from there. They can be watched FREE with ADs on ENCOURAGE TV on YOUTUBE.
MISC: I could write a nice bit about each and every film but I will not take your time with that. But I want to thank all the fans of LOST HEART, MAN’S BEST FRIEND, BEST YEARS GONE and WILD FAITH who’ve reached out. I also want to thank all the people who reached out about my new agency for acting. I put my everything into the #tribeCDI and often neglect myself because I’m very fulfilled. I’ve been on the posters, the physical media art and so on. I really do enjoy seeing my fellow artists spotlighted.
I’m feeling good about by decision with Treasure Coast Agency because I like how they treat people. I got to experience that as the producer approaching them and dealing with them so I know first hand. So again thank you and soon I’ll be listed on their site. I’m looking into some new pics of ME not any of my numerous characters. That is hard because I’m always creating. Even now ‘Woody Jr.’ from HOT ROD LOVE is starting to form:)
In addition to my actor materials I’m trying to polish up my social media. I love the instagram mainly because of them allowing little musical snippets with your postings. So if you want to follow me there my new handle is officialdjperry so join me there. I do have two Facebook pages because the home page Richard Perry (DJ Perry) is limited two 5k and I’ve got about 2k in folks waiting so I started a DJ Perry run over page. It is also helpful when I have lots of PR that I don’t want to collide. So I’m trying to get my social media stuff up to par but I know it is lacking somewhat. I’m excited to meet this week over my FIRESIDE CHAT WITH DJ PERRY podcast that Adam Towner will be producing. We will be filming the first one this month and we’ll see how that goes. Many of you enjoyed the little video snippets I’ve done when my WordPress here was giving me trouble.
Speaking of podcasts my good buddy Dean Teaster is now working with “Two Average Joe’s” a cold case team, investigating the death of Dawn Louise Basom from Ypsilanti, MI in 1969 The link can be found here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srOWdtME-y8&feature=youtu.be
Aside from all this film and marketing work I’ve been preparing for spring. I love the nature around me and I’ve been in deeper study of my herbs and fungi and the beneficial properties. I’m looking forward to the herb gardens and we’re going to plant more clover around the yard. The chickens are slowly starting their egg laying again which for that we’re happy. This year we’ll be making several upgrades to the yard. I’m going to rebuild our compost bin and maybe add a few rain barrels. This week will probably have me do some more log splitting with the new set of axes. Last go around with Adam Towner and Graham Turner we killed two of the axes. But this warm spell will let me do a final round of splitting to be ready for the last blast of winter. Also soccer season is right around the corner and I could not be more excited.
I’m going to call it good here because I have to go eat and do some reorganizing to the office/fort after getting the new fridge in there. I’m looking forward to spending time with my brother and a few friends later in the day. Might do a run to a farm supply store to get a new snow shovel. My U shaped handle wide shovel is the best one I’ve ever had. Eliminates back pain and gives a strong arm and chest workout. It got a bit of a crunch with my cousin Bart Ketner stopped over. I should have had it in a better place. But on the positive he helped me string new lights up in the office/fort including a customized one he built. Plus he’s gonna get my yard chipper working. He’s a ‘Handy Andy’ as I like to say. I appreciate having him when my skills reach an end. But each year I get a bit better at my tinkering thanks to my handy friends. I am a work-in-progress:)
PS: RIP to Carl Weathers a great on-screen talent. I never met him but his loss felt personal having grown up loving his work.
Until next week. Be good to one another. Keep that artistic perception.
Coffee Cheers!
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 