Happy Easter! Every Great Film Started as a Conversation
I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee on a day where the rain has finally stopped but we have a touch of icy snowflakes. But it is Easter and you can see the signs of Spring everywhere. Last night I watched our 3rd film in The Quest Trilogy film series called The Christ Slayer. The film is a fine parable, a mix of scripture and legend as one reviewer put it. It is the final chapter in the overall story. It was influenced by films like Ben Hur which we watched 1/2 of last night at almost four hours long. And also obscure films like Circle of Iron written by Bruce Lee. There are so many beautiful moments in our film. I can see places where we could have done better perhaps if we had more resources. And when I say resources, I mean money. But we did so much right and I love see friends and fellow actors tell such a powerful tale in the deserts of Yuma, AZ. Part one was Forty Nights and part two was Chasing the Star and of course part three is The Christ Slayer. I’m proud of what we created and love that millions of people have put eyes on the three films. We’ve been working to pull a book together about making the three films. It is getting there but lots to do including writing I need to do. To do three films that interconnect was just an awesome experience. I want to see the three go out on BluRay also but that is a whole different endeavor. But a loose follow up film four will be AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip heading to theaters this late Summer/Fall before home video release. The film is having a wonderful score done by our talented friend Dennis Therrian.
OTHER FILM UPDATES:
- Read about our upcoming dark comedy ROM COMS MUST DIE here: https://www.prlog.org/13137307-rom-coms-must-die-unveils-bold-first-poster-and-trailer-flipping-the-script-on-rom-coms.html
- We are looking at a ROM COMS MUST DIE premiere showing soon and we’ll start booking theater chains for it very soon. It will release to home video after the theatrical run looking at Q3 around Halloween. Read the PR, watching the trailer and take a look at our poster art.
- ROM COMS MUST DIE has been entered into several festivals and so we’ll see how it does with the targeted audience.
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS is going to home video streaming on 11/3/2026 and we’re excited about that. We are looking at several additional events and festivals this year. This follow up is really exciting for us and the fans. I will say on the development front we have a season 1 TV Series WILD FAITH: Hastings consisting of eight shows. Additionally I’ve started work on a stand alone WILD FAITH 3 (working title). This franchise has a lot more to give it is just about the funding. It is always about the funding.
- Staying on the subject of westerns DEAN TEASTER’S GHOST TOWN is the Smoky Mountain western CDI produced several years ago in Maggie Valley, NC and Cherokee. You can watch the film on several platforms but here is the novelization plus a great intro by Dean Teaster with pictures on how the film was developed. You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Town-Bob-Terrell/dp/B0GVSN16T9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18CAPTHDM5PHE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3-DEdK9206G55ho-k3pz8ZvcMOD-buVphhn-hmOq_Be7eZ9dcbL-tYiGZKzRvuUvSMusbh3IgNITRgm7sXBUHKOn7GxbD2KiXqYdZbUOa7n4qr9Oaeyn5HG6DfFz_DTVdQcT1Fh3TpSiJSon_GqXMQ.D1I-TP2no2-hqJyYFortH20F240JSwNQ88Nfn8ROWI8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Bob+Terrell+Ghost+Town&qid=1775397295&sprefix=bob+terrell+ghost+town+%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1
- Speaking on the older films we are still doing some restoration work on three of the early CDI films from the Classic Collection. The idea is to get them into HD so we can release them back into the market.
- We have a few film slates that are being prepared for targeted financing. Either of these could create years of work for our CDI tribe. If you have interest in getting your company, brand or personally involved in helping launch these stories reach out and let’s talk. Every great film started as a conversation. We’ve had so many great partners over the years and we are thankful to each and everyone of them.
- Speaking to the bullet point above at CDI we have opportunities both for investors and those that wish to help launch a project with a tax write off. We have a few non-profits we’ve worked with on several projects and so if investing isn’t your thing but giving to a great cause for a write off is, again let’s talk.
- Both of the above bullet points tie into the fact that we’ve almost caught up on productions and we’ve been leaning more into development. I’ve been working on budgets for two features inside CDI and also writing on several developing scripts. But one script in particular is front and center and I will have a strong draft by the end of the month. We will be releasing PR on it soon but RETURN TO ALGONA is a follow up to our Iowa-based SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA. I’ve been so happy with the way the script is turning out. I’ve loved doing all the deep dive into the history of 1968. It is truly a beautiful story and I think it will be a great follow up film.
- Thanks to a dear friend I should have a 2026 acting reel in a few weeks. I do like to participate in the right outside film projects. I’m not one to chase too much but it will be nice to having something from a few of the previous films. The issue often is so many films, character and powerful scenes which is a good issue to have I’m told. I kicked off the year playing a small part in a short that was shot on 16mm this year. I do consider projects that I connect with the character and/or material but I also don’t need the IMDB credit. It does need to come with a pay check.
WRAP UP: This month starts Q2 and we I’m going to be doing some transitional business which started last year. It is all working to streamline CDI business and prepare us for decades of more business. I’ve had many talks recently that once again points out the difference between playing with storytelling and having it all legally cleared so it can monetize in the marketplace. I’m still exploring the literary agent path again since I do have a few properties I don’t plan to produce and I’m very timely on work-for-hire writing gigs.
Film releases, promotions and development all underway to try and make 2026 a great year. It has already come with loss but also gain. Some of the losses have really hit me hard and I know life will continue to hit but I’m going to keep finding the strength to keep moving forward. I’ve said it before, I’m going to keep living forward with laughter and love for those no longer here. I’m going to try and keep being an inspiration to those people.
On this day, no matter your walk or beliefs, reflect on the renewal of faith. For some that will be in God and others in oneself, family connections and the blessings of love that tie you all together. As the weather gets warmer and plants start to grow and animals start to build nests and raise young, take in the beauty of it all. Don’t be afraid to fail. Try new things but do give it your all. Look to find what you share in common and not differences in strangers. I do love that perspective that the astronauts have looking down upon us, that we are all one race on this planet. We fight amongst one another for things here that are all just temporary.
Until we talk again next week, be happy in April. I’ve been balancing my film work with trimming trees and shrubs. The chickens are kicking out eggs. I’m planning improvements to the property and soon will be planting the clover. My BERRY KAPOW Chuck Norris Tribute Wine (It should have a kick!) has been racked once now and I’ve added roasted barley, chocolate and such to the must to add hints of flavor. A Summertime beverage over business talk and corn hole or darts. I’m looking forward to another turn of the wheel and I want to again thank all of you for joining me each week.
Coffee Cheers!
DJ
‘BEST YEARS GONE’ Races Into Their First Festival with a Checkered Flag! Plus 10 CDI Updates
Happy Sunday! I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee and happy that we did not get hit by that huge east coast storm. It went under us meaning we got the cold and a few snow flakes but not 20+ inches of snow. This past week flew by with me attacking the gathering of info for our accounting firm. This coming week the 1099’s will go out and I’ve been prepping things for end of year taxes also. We had one day this week we chose as “Viking Thursday” to cut firewood. We actually damaged the axes breaking one handle and losing the head on another. That means I’m in Axe fix mode this week but we got the job done using sledge hammers, wedges and a splitting ring. A splitting ring is a device that you place the log inside resting on a blade and hammer it down to split it. That day we worked was bitter but we got enough split for the next week or two.
The next CDI feature film is looking to be HOT ROD LOVE. The script is getting some amazing feedback and this week I’ll be breaking down more of the business aspects. We are looking at trying to hit an April/May shoot in Michigan. We’ll be announcing more on this property as we go. Now wait, didn’t CDI just do a race theme film? Yes. But that was circle track racing and this is drag racing. The CDI Race Trilogy? Haha, not really, maybe. The film is a comedy with some nice life lessons attached but it could be our biggest comedy to date.
BREAKING NEWS! So BEST YEARS GONE is prepping for its home video premiere run in June-Sept and in the meantime we’ll keep playing some theaters and also a few select film events. I will say that I’m not a fan of virtual events but with all these festivals going remote one thing stands out to me. Often the filmmakers that show up at the event and smoke have a better chance of winning because the fest gets a good acceptance speech (sometimes). So to me the one positive is that the films are really being evaluated on the content vs the political ‘schmooze’ factor. Our director Shane Hagedorn submitted us to a few select festivals. We announced that we had our first official acceptance into –
We found our yesterday that we were nominated for the following categories and actually won a few award. I’m so proud of this film and the cast and crew involved. First the SCREENPLAY was Nominated as one of the best. I appreciate this nomination greatly as I love writing and believe it is the foundation of every great film. Without a good battle plan you don’t have a real chance. I also think that having such strong source material from Karl Manke (book Hope From Heaven) also helped.
I feel our entire cast could have been nominated for the rich roles they brought to the story but this organization nominated three actors for awards. Melissa Anschutz and Randy Spence for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS and ACTOR. It is only due to all these supporting performances especially by my costar Erika Hoveland that allowed me to be nominated and actually win BEST ACTOR for my work as ‘Gil Gilles’. But that’s not all-
As we all know the technical people behind the scenes help create and capture the world/story. I again believe that many of the crew were nomination worthy but Mr. Travis Hayward was nominated and WON for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY. And finally, my favorite nomination and WIN…
This award represents the TRIBE! We all made this picture what it is and again I’m just so proud of our cast and crew and excited for the world audience to see this film. Here is a great statement from our director Shane Hagedorn. But first a quote from a legend.
What we do come up with has no special right to call itself better. It’s just different. No, if there’s any excuse for us at all, it’s that we’re simply following the old American tradition of the maverick”.
-Orson Welles
And from our director-
“I am thrilled for our cast and crew on these major wins and nominations from Maverick Movie Awards. Although we filmed through the height of the pandemic of 2020, our tribe of artists and crafts folk banded together to create something unique and special–all the while overcoming many obstacles while doing so. Thanks to the team at Maverick for recognizing our art and best efforts”.
-Shane Hagedorn
Our release dates can be found on our IMDB.com page and updates are flowing out to our FB page also. I also want to take a moment to give congrats to my fellow local filmmaker/actor Michael McCallum, who was also nominated in the shorts division for ‘Best Actor’ and I believe had a few other nominations between two (?) shorts they had represented. I’m not 100% sure on all the nominations but I wanted to tip my hat. Two filmmaker groups from Lansing, Michigan getting noticed in London, England, nice.
Let me see if I can do a bullet point of some of the weeks activities-
- More “Silent Night in Algona” stills are being released on FB and soon (Feb) we’ll release a BTS video. Editing is underway with a first cut expected by mid-March.
- “SMOKE & MIRRORS” the short proof of concept short cut from the feature script is uploaded to film freeway and a few choice festivals will be chosen for this steampunk, spooky short starring David Gries and Melissa Anschutz.
- We are moving closer to a deal on FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH, our doc on the history of grappling/wrestling directed by our own Curran Jacobs.
- A verbal agreement has been made on moving forward with an app video game based on CDI’s first feature film from the 90’s KNIGHT CHILLS. The film is a cautionary tale about bullying woven into the awesome realm of role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Paperwork will follow this week.
- Look on Facebook ENCOURAGE TV for my buddy Josh “Ponceman” Perry promoting BIGFOOT, UFO’S & JESUS. If you haven’t seen the film you should. It is a fun romp and ‘Chip’ Josh Perry is a show stealer. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4724060584352381&id=124174114296086&ref=sharing&_rdr
- In the wake of THE QUEST TRILOGY push that will continue through Easter has brought up discussions on a couple other possible films set in the time of sand and sandals. These films come from a unique perspective different from most biblical adventures. So even if organized religion is not your thing, you might enjoy these three films which purposely shoot in a ‘Star Wars‘ original trilogy style.
- WILD FAITH and the developing WILD FAITH: Hastings TV series are growing stronger. As millions view the feature each year, enjoy the storytelling, the eight show series is getting closer. Now as people are getting back to work I hope to move some major pieces on the chessboard with this TV series.
- BESTSELLER is finally getting the home video release it deserves. I cannot wait to see the new artwork and such. It goes to digital rental I believe same day as BEST YEARS GONE (Sept 1st, 2022) This script is adapted from the book of the same name written by Michigan’s own Christopher Wright.
- I hope to do a follow up meeting soon to see what the evaluation of some of the old CDI library films yields at BMG. Some would need to be uprezed and conformed but that would be cool to see! Are you hoping for any one film in particular to come to the market in HD?
- WICKED SPRING is being introduced to new audiences and old audiences are getting to stream the film in HD. I want to try and do some collectors merchandise on this film in 2022. I’m thinking about a collectors poster. If you enjoy merchandise we have several items up from various films at the http://www.cdiproductions.com site.
I’m going to wrap this up and get on some bacon and eggs. Our chickens are doing well even with the frigid cold they are still kicking out eggs. I might look into my axe situation. This week ahead will be productive. I’m doing some more writing and have two other potential script writing projects. I do enjoy that writing time especially when it is freezing outdoors. If I missed anything – forgive me. This week I wish you all well and remember to have patience and be good to one another.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 