‘RED LETTER AWARD’ WINS AND MORE!
CONGRATS TO ‘WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS’
I’m smiling as I sip my hazelnut coffee even with the soft rain that has fallen all morning. I just had a great call with a childhood buddy from kindergarten after a week or so of phone tag. It is always a joy for me to catch up with those friends. I’ve been dealing with heavy pre-production work on our next film and also dealing with some health issues with a family member. I think we are finally getting the right answers so some treatment can begin. I know having my parents is a blessing and not something everyone still has. It has been a balancing act as this next film is my one big project for this year. I will be away for the prep week and two weeks of filming. So I’ve been trying to be as helpful as I can prior and I’ve been navigating that the best I can.
The plants are all drinking in this water and the cool night weather as we slowly start moving towards the fall. I’ve already been harvesting some herbal teas and such. I successfully have my hops growing again. I will want to arrange for another good mow before I have to be off filming. We’ve been enjoying the new deck immensely. The hammock gives a few quiet moments to reset the mind. The gazebo covered rug is perfect for my stretching and roll outs for my back with a CHIRP WHEEL. They work look them up.
I’m going to move onto some film updates!
- ROM COMS MUST DIE – We had an intimate showing at the Studio 414 which was us giving everyone an opportunity to see the film before it goes to home video on 10/2/26 on DVD and streaming! We surprised everyone by removing the cover charge and just making it a little celebration. They even had a special drink made for the film called the FINAL DATE. We might try to keep bringing films there as a nice mixer to meet other artists. So mark this on your calendars and BUY the DVD for your CDI collection. It is pre-order on Amazon right now!
- AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip – I don’t have any word on theatrical dates which will run until Jan. 2027 but the home video release will be 10/30/2026. The topic of AI is everywhere and this film looks at the topic from all sides. This is my SciFi spin on events taking from the real news headlines. I hope you will all check this film out in theaters and on home video!
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS – This film is still working through awards events as we move towards the 11/3/26 home video release on DVD and streaming. I just got word this morning from director Shane Hagedorn in Nashville, TN that last night at the RED LETTER AWARDS we won Best Actor Shane Hagedorn. Adasyn won Best Supporting Actress, Teyton won Best Actor and was there with his family. I heard he gave a great acceptance speech. And I want to note our dear friend Ronnie Lee whom both Shane and I have served as narrators for his audio books, won Best Children’s author! We want to also give congrats to all the other nominated artists and winners. NEXT up will be the WILL ROGERS AWARDS in October.
- DEVIL’S PASS – We are closing in on our on-set pre-production week and two weeks of filming. It has been a slow and steady build up as each department handles its business. It is going to be so much fun. I’ve been slowly morphing into the new role. The big beard is gone replaced with a stylized mustache and I’ve been assembling all my props and wardrobe. We are getting close to go time and that is always exciting. I think with Mondays being my day off (Right:)…I may do my blog on Monday for those few weeks away filming.
DEVELOPMENT – I am working on the funding commits for RETURN TO ALGONA the follow up to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA. We are closing in on the 2/3 funded and will be soon opening it up to other investors. We gave an exclusive opportunity to the initial funders and will open up from there. I’ve also been doing some work on the WILD FAITH 3 script and the MBF2. I will be devoting more time on all this Q4.
WRAP UP: I’m appreciative to be able to do all these wonderful creative endeavors. The stories are collectively told and put out there for many generations to enjoy. I want to do a nice push on THE QUEST TRILOGY this holiday season. I’m going to keep just knocking down the TO DO’s every day. I’ve been keeping myself level and focused and I’m going to enjoy watching audiences enjoy these new films. I hope each and every one of you are enjoying your final days of Summer and preparing for a wonderful Fall. It will soon by the harvest, time to reap the rewards from the seeds planted and the nurturing that took place. Nurture yourselves and keep pushing forward. I wish you all a wonderful Sunday and a productive week. – Coffee Cheers! DJ
Happy 4th! Crazy 8 Updates (NEW Trailer)
(Gil Gilles and Sylvia say have a Happy 4th and don’t drink light beer!)
Good morning and Happy 4th to you all! I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee as the morning started chilly but is suppose to get warm today. This day is about the Independence of the ole USA. A pretty incredible nation has been created but it was messy and not an easy task. The trials and tribulations continue but I will say having traveled many places in the world that we have it good. I didn’t say ‘perfect’ but good is something many of us have been able to build upon. This past week we had some storms bad enough with tornado sightings that many took to their basements. I’ve been studying WW2 for our upcoming Nov film and can’t imagine dealing with air raid warnings and yet many countries still do. The great thing is that anyone can grow up to make a change. That opportunity, not promised but it can be earned, found, imagined. I have to admit to liking the competitive space race amongst the private sectors. Add a dash of national space race and I really think I might get to enjoy space travel in my life time. Instead of just sitting on their earnings they are pioneering and that is exciting. The UFO report was released minus the national security aspects given to congress. That is also promoting much talk and speculation but I think the good thing is that the mystery objects could now provide recognition vs ridicule for scientist.
It has been good to be engaging in family and friend get togethers again. Catching up on missed birthdays and such gatherings. I hope all of you have enjoyed some of these gatherings and better appreciated the company of one another. Our own property has hosted a few gatherings and I enjoy keeping it rustically groomed and harvest the bounty of berries and such found on the property. But the other day after mowing 1/3 the yard the mower and I got caught in one of those downpours of rain. It just did not want to start after that and I tried all kinds of “online” tricks and such. I literally pulled the start cord 300 times trying to get it started. I got a little obsessed followed by #@!#^%$ which had my arm feeling like I had down super sets in the gym with one arm. That morning after a few sips of coffee the challenge set in again. I marched out and with my left arm (fresh and strong) but 50 increasing pulls yanking the rope out of the machine with a roar. Mechanics and technology are not my strong suit. Apparently wrecking shit is. The long short was a decommissioned mower whereas maybe the motor kept for a go-cart but a new mower was ordered. It is sitting here and I’ll be putting that together. It is an electric vs gas after going that direction with my weed whipper. The gas one always had be tinkering vs whipping weeds.
Let’s look at some of the top ten updates from the films here at CDI
- Plans might be soon underway to have ASHES OF EDEN joining BESTSELLER with a new BMG Global campaign. This was the first CDI collaboration with Shane Hagedorn who recently directed the upcoming BEST YEARS GONE. Did you see the trailer? Did it grab you? Make you laugh? Join us and follow us here at the FB site and watch the trailer. https://www.facebook.com/Bestyearsgone/videos/942523879863374
- More WW2 casting sand crewing choices and we will look to start putting agreements under folks end of July/start of Aug because we have an Aug scout trip to Algona coming together. We met over the agreements because film projects are really a web of interconnecting agreements. SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA follow along on Facebook for all the new updates.
- BEST YEARS GONE premiere events are forming up and I have theatrical talks in the next couple weeks. We are going to do a badass spectator drag race and outdoor screening of the film SEPT 11th you are getting advanced notice. A theatrical premiere will also happen in Owosso, MI at the NCG and I will let you know on dates soon but it will also be in Sept maybe the 18th, 25th? Not sure yet. Stay tuned! We plan to film and broadcast this all out at a later date like we did with the LOST HEART premiere at the Double JJ Resort.
- BIGFOOT, UFOS and JESUS – A fun title for a fun film that also includes some serious drama. That said, it will leave you feeling uplifted by the time the credits roll. Take a look for yourself because seeing is believing:)
- MANS BEST FRIEND the surprise awards at the ICVM were talked about last week but yesterday at a family gathering I was sitting with a just retired motorcycle mechanic. Nearly 7 feet tall (really) and use to be with a biker club and is polite as you get. Often quiet and soft spoken he told me he saw my movie MBF. Now his best friend is his dog who hangs in his garage as he creates and fixes. He said it really got to him and that he thought I did a really excellent job as Paul. I told him while the law might often regard dogs as property, dog owners know better. They are family that make each and everyone of us better. To be frank, that one kind comment letting me know our story had touched his heart was better than any award. The awards do tell me that many have enjoyed our story and been touched enough to recognize it. We are thankful and for those unaware, the next WW2 film in Nov will be directed my MBF director Anthony Hornus. I know once again we will create something special with a small army of artists and supporters.
- SMOKE & MIRRORS VFX should be almost complete. I hope to see something final soon. I’ve also been finding some time to work on this feature. After doing the short I broke apart the feature script and I’m reworking it based on some things I saw while filming the short derivative.
- FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH – Some of you know my life long love and practice of the martial arts. Inspired by my education of Catch-Can by Curran Jacobs we set out to trace the origins of the art. And to showcase the branches of the art as it extended into college wrestling and professional wrestling. Also the doc showcases the colorful factions that are reviving the art because of their love of it. Today at 1:00 pm the 1st trailer will be released to the public. It will release on the ‘For the Love of Catch’ Facebook site and Curran Jacobs (our director) social media sites. It will go PUBLIC at 1:00pm is my understanding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkISvIrv4hU&list=FLDu-wRzCwru4EOPLvW0HClg&index=2 I’m very proud of the work that our team has done on this documentary. So enjoy the sneak peek.
- WILD FAITH / HASTINGS – So I watched this film for the first time in a while as I polished up the coverages of the TV series. I was reminded of the beautiful camera work and music and the wonderful world we created with the Murphy family and friends at the heart of it. The TV series brings many of those beloved characters out more while introducing new ones. I’ve set up and had a few great conversations that has brought things closer. I have continued talks this week but I think my goal of having the series green light by the end of the year just might happen.
There you go – your Crazy Eight Updates! I have a new mower to assemble and I’m going to do a few yard things. Okay maybe nap in a hammock. I hope you all continue to have a good time with family and friends. Be thankful for being able to spend time with them again. Relax. Laugh. And after a good rest get back to your tasks with a renewed focus. Just keep walking your path and you just might surprise yourself with how far you travel.
Until next time.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 