FREE4ALL, Mother’s Day, Roger Corman and NEW Project Development Updates!
Coffee Cheers! Welcome new readers from Saudi Arabia, Philippines, UK and more! I’ve said it before but I love how our readers are from all over the world. I want to start by saying Happy Mother’s Day! I don’t know if the entire world participates in this day but they should. Happy Mother’s Day to mine. She is getting over from a cold she caught in Las Vegas and so a raincheck on a grill out. I also wanted to recognize the loss of an icon filmmaker with the passing of Roger Corman at age 98. He helped launch so many careers and stories into the world. I aspire to be such a force for storytelling and giving people opportunities. Development is one of our main phases we are in right now. It is a tricky phase and the hardest part for many filmmakers. Financing is part of the phase but it is so much more. Incoming checks on the films are starting to arrive and once they are all here we process them through our internal accounting to payout to our investors. That is coming up in the next few weeks. The amount received is always an ebb and flow by time of year, holidays and movie watching trends.
When speaking on development we’ve got projects at four different budget levels. What effects the budget level is number of shoot days, number of actors, locations and travel/lodging considerations. We currently have some funds committed to our film budgeted at the 3rd level. This is due to actors and crew from different places who would be flown in and lodged. These costs with also catering are major costs to a production. Many smaller films shoot at locations where actors and crew can drive in and work and drive home. But getting all your cast and crew from the same small area is an issue at small budgets. We are going to keep pushing on our level 3 film but if the mountain is too steep we will look at one of 2-3 smaller scope projects. We are having some good ground work come together on Level 4 films or budgets quite a bit larger due to the scope. But those level 4 films are being planned for 2025.
(The DVD Double Feature from the CDI Classic Collection)
Additional development has been underway on a music video which I’m helping to produce and will shoot this week. We are also putting the ground work together on a series of documentary films. A good amount of energy has also been directed at the restoration, remastering and resetting of distribution on the CDI Classic Collection. KNIGHT CHILLS has new streaming poster and trailer work being done. FROM VENUS has new poster artwork being worked on. Restoration tests on HEAVENS NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST are underway. Both of these have issues in format or with the ‘film look’ that was all the rage in those early days of video filmmaking. AN ORDINARY KILLER is part of a fundraising campaign with The Red, White and Blue Project a non-profit for Veterans and their family members. A Remastered HD DVD Special Release is being done with Two Average Joes the powerful podcast that deals with true crime. GHOST TOWN, our smoky mountain western is being put back out into the marketplace this Summer! For fans of the now closed down theme park Ghost Town in the Sky this movie will be a treat. As you wait you can enjoy this new trailer cut for the new 2024 release! The film is an exciting story and we’re excited to bring it back out to you!
WATCH IT HERE: https://youtu.be/Z1eubAgHvOY?si=nTwcBSHJiUNBth-P
Speaking of cool promo videos- our distributor of many of the films TWIN ENGINES GLOBAL which is the home of Encourage TV for all your family films now has launched FREE4ALL/Deskpop if you enjoy the edgier films. Here is a promo for their new channel and BESTSELLER is right out front. Also BEST YEARS GONE can be watched free with ads. WATCH THE PROMO and subscribe to their channel!
WATCH HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/tbA3t1Uu2rvaPYxd/?mibextid=WC7FNe
We are planning many new promotional events and interviews to get the word out on the films to new audiences. It is a year of streamlining and organizing that is needed every few years as we continue to grow. I have a great team around me and that is what makes it all possible.
Harsens Island Revenge – I’m happy to report that music is being composed and a new theatrical poster is being worked on. As if that wasn’t exciting enough we have the first official trailer preview being worked on also. GW Burns, our production designer did a great ‘Making of’ poster that showcases some exciting and dramatic moments. We will take a temp on our post process in July and try to set some premiere dates but we have to get closer. We have to be able to see the light at the end of the post production tunnel.
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA – Our true story WW2 drama boasted one of our largest theatricals and marketing campaigns to date. The home video flow is showing us that we’re making good strides. Mainly just off our DVD sales, we’ve paid off our marketing costs and will start directing returns back to our investors. From here on out we’re entitled to a greater return having allowed the marketing campaign. Those efforts are going to be reflected in the streaming and we hope foreign licensing. Starting next quarter we’ll start seeing the licensing returns from an on-going TV deal. As I said before, I was in hopes this TV licensing would be a lump sum payout but this deal will give a good payback floor every quarter for several quarters to come. Add on top the ongoing DVD, streaming and foreign and we think we’ve got a strong horse in the race. Now that the home video is launched we want to remaster the theatrical file for the 2024 Christmas season. A common question we get is – will CDI be filming again in Iowa? The answer is we are working towards that end with two projects in development there!
WRAP UP: This week will be the continued push to finish post work and the prep of past CDI films to reenter the market. Last week saw the great steps. It’s all one step at a time. I spent the weekend outlining a new script story that is based on one of our most popular films. I’m in the process of creating a few follow ups to some of the favorite CDI films. I’m in a good habit and flow of screenwriting and I want to keep at that while I do have the time. I love when I return to previously created worlds and working with now beloved characters. What CDI films would you love to see a second installment of? Speaking on that- I know for a while I was talking about the RE-RELEASE of IN THE WOODS, including the new director’s edit. I’ve been waiting for Terror Vision to release some info about it. But I did have conversations this past week with Mr. Drzick and the sequel script for IN THE WOODS 2 is underway.
CDI is also partnering with Mr. Drzick and his new company over the CDI literary properties. Next up will be the KNIGHT CHILLS script and making of and also the novelization. All this to go with the streaming release I’m targeting for this fall. We’ve agreed upon the deal and we’ll put pen to paper this coming week and get that part of CDI officially rolling. Several books and scripts will be releasing with great interviews from the artists who brought these films to life.
I’m going to wrap this up and go have myself a few eggs. I’m also going to hit the local flea market and see what treasures I might find. Last week I found two great old promo cards for the old King Kong and Bela Lugosi’s Dracula. I also recently got some studio promo stills from the old KUNG FU TV show which was/is one of my favorites. I love to find gifts and little treasures many that end up being props in films. I got the yard looking good after the major rains but it is growing daily so I’m working to keep up with it. I love all the plants growing and when not chained to the desk I love being out in nature. I’ll leave you with a beautiful pic from Dean Teaster‘s property of the Northern Lights.
Until next week be good to one another!
DJ
Focus and Persistence While Working Your Personal Puzzle
Hazelnut Coffee Cheers! A happy Sunday to you all out there. It is a warm yet rainy day in the Michigan. I got the lawn mowed and to kick off May did several things in the yard. The life is springing up everywhere for Spring! Dandelions are everywhere and a powerful plant they are indeed. Don’t poison them or any of the plants unless using vinegar or something natural. Everything eats something and that food chain can be affected including beloved pets. Dandelion is a powerful plant that is edible. It has many powerful compounds in it and can be made into several things medicinal or enjoyable. Culinary herbs add taste to food but they too possess many powerful compounds and that has been my study for many years. But at 50 years old I made the choice to focus my studies even more. A good many of the first 50 years were learning to be a warrior and now I’m focusing on being a healer. I maintain my warrior practice to unify and keep mind, body and spirit in flow with one another. I’m happy to say that on the soccer grid we’ve started our season. A beautiful day whereas everyone was happy to be out doing what we love. My running was in good shape but early second half my legs felt a tad heavy. The last week days have been great as my whole body is tight. You get such a complete workout with soccer because of all the directional changes. Our goalkeeper almost broke a finger but after an X ray it was just a bad sprain. At the end of the day it is a battle with rules. I’m already excited for next Thursday to battle once again.
I also had a great dad day whereas we went out to MSU (Michigan State University) our alumni school to look at discarded items for sale. After a few estate and garage sales and lunch. I often find wardrobe and prop pieces for the movies and often discover classic movies and books at a great price. I even occasionally find our own movies out there and that always makes me smile. The balance of the week was desk work on the films. I’m finishing up a script that might get a green light on funding soon versus later. That is the real trick any filmmaker will tell you. It is about budgets and momentum. But also it is not always about just sales it is collections during a certain quarter. We want strong returns to help us fund new endeavors. I usually distribute funds every two quarters to allow it to build up slightly because it is a lot of check writing. I have new checks coming in this week and we’ll look to process those over the next couple weeks. Before these distributions I like to give update reports to our backers. Again our business is hard because there is often riskier but better places to put your money to get bigger or faster returns. But faceless stocks that rise or fall or even bottom out don’t match the beauty of a film that can bring a story to life. That story could keep something from disappearing or bring a new literary classic to life. I’ve been enjoying the reading of Sherlock Holmes myself. What an iconic character.
We’ve also been working on funding several upcoming projects. We still have a ways to go with HOT ROD LOVE which lost its place in the line last year to Harsens Island Revenge which funded itself faster. We could end up in that situation again this year pending some developments in the next few weeks. HOT ROD LOVE might turn that corner and complete funding but we have another project that could jump in front of it. We also have several projects gaining momentum to shoot next year and so we’ll see what is the fastest horses in the race. Speaking of that what an exciting Kentucky Derby yesterday!
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA – This film had a strong independent push by us on the theatrical scene. Now we’re just starting to roll into the home video. DVD and streaming is moving well and just off the DVD sales we’ve flown past our marketing costs. In the future our streaming revenue will kick in and we’ve got a good TV license ahead of us for this Summertime. The momentum from all these sales could be useful now but with so many platform and different billing cycles it all comes in at different quarters. We just had another great screening at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando FL where the film was recognized with nominations for Best Actress Cassie Dean, Best Supporting Actor Shane Hagedorn and Best Score by Dennis Therrian. The SVP executive there said the movie played to a great buzz and was well received. This will push additional people to seek out of story. I think we’ll be creating a new version of the final film to do some theatrical event showing this forthcoming Christmas. This film is showing the potential for a long and strong run and perhaps cement itself as a classic of Christmas viewing. It is also just a Great War time drama to be enjoyed at any time of the year. If you haven’t seen it I encourage you to do so and if you have seen it – enjoy it again.
Harsens Island Revenge – The film officially was picture locked and music, dialog and sound design work has begun. We even watched some exciting first draft music for a few scenes. Some early teaser poster work is now underway and scenes for the film trailer have been pulled and just need to be edited together. This story adapted from Karl Manke‘s book of the same name is just wonderful. It has such a great message to it. Also taken from a great piece of history in our own state. I think this film will be unique as all CDI films are and should take audiences on an exciting journey. I was just so moved by all the performances and the hard work of all our artists. IF you want to see another film made by CDI, directed by Shane Hagedorn -from a Karl Manke book HOPE FROM HEAVEN watch BEST YEARS GONE here: https://youtu.be/U4lxhZ2CQkc?si=eI9uDVwgC50UVoln
Mother’s Day is approaching and we might suggest LOST HEART or The Quest Trilogy (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star and The Christ Slayer) or even THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ.
Memorial Day is approaching and several of our films deal with military themes such as MAN’S BEST FRIEND, WILD FAITH, WICKED SPRING or FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH.
Soon I’m happy to announce that The Red, White and Blue Project a non-profit that raises money for veterans and their families will be raising money by offering a new HD DVD of AN ORDINARY KILLER thanks to Two Average Joes a podcast that works on true crime cases. Sales will directly benefit military family needs and bring this film back out in a remastered version for a good cause. We might also explore other ways to use the film to raise money for veteran affairs but to begin with this DVD will be something you will not want to miss.
The entire CDI Classic Collection is undergoing test remastering to try and bring you the best versions of these films. We have technology available to us now that was unheard of all those years ago. KNIGHT CHILLS was already remastered and released on Blu Ray. BUY HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ5WBSZR?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_S8VVQGSK0SGEMD085ZGJ&language=en_US&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1ezSQmyVp55OyHIm-Wg6SxYlI1McptQ-3jPPjefpWB5ptMEBLYVAUr-7U_aem_AQRqoW18ZuONMJ7L8KTJ9uSR1DzxalcJZaVSVso_GL2Kz1oQqBXq2Hh5BOOZXRZFfyU4frqOqQWVoYOo5SCkZf6P
We are working to cut a new trailer and some fresh poster art for a streaming release this Fall! Beware as I think I hear Sir Kallio coming! To the land of shadows I will ride…
So please have some patience as we try to figure out the best way to move these films into the HD realm. GHOST TOWN our Smoky Mountain western is also being prepped to return to the marketplace. A new trailer is cut and soon we’ll start making some announcements about this exciting story. Being that the film is returning after 15 years is creating a lot of work on my end but I keep telling myself it will be worth it in the end. I have more meetings over it this week. A new generation will enjoy this powerful story. As we prepare this new release campaign enjoy this music video from the very talent Paul Proios. WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/ixEmKwLwg1U?si=LhV3JYMCbGioijdf
WRAP UP:
I’m rolling with the momentum and while I have things I want to happen faster I have to keep that patience state-of-mind as I flow. Often it would be easier to do nothing in certain situations but the payoff for taking action is often greater. Trying to do things that others would not or could not because of the numerous steps. I’m grateful to have a tribe of artists who are all willing to work towards the same goals. I’m going to keep working at our goals daily and because of the consistent work things get done. Every project is thousands of steps. A 5000 piece-puzzle plus that requires focus and persistence. Keep working on your own personal puzzles. Make the time to step away and breath in life and a good dose of nature. When you sit back down you just might find your focus sharper and your clarity better. Thank you all for spending a few moments with me and I hope within these words are something that will inspire or help you on your own path. Until next week. Be good to one another!
DJ
Eventful Week – Production Ahead (Updates)
Hello friends. It has been a whirlwind week of negotiations and talks on the home video deal for WILD FAITH. The film will be playing in three cities this week – Grand Haven, Holland and Florida. (See below) 
This is also the last of the off location pre-production on MBF. Our prep team starts in on Thursday and a week from that date cameras roll. We’re incorporating many new elements into this shoot. Some by way of new crew, new location (somewhat) and new cast in certain roles. We have a few exciting announcements coming this week. One is the addition of a co-star that will be well-known to some. He was a co-star on one of prime time TV’s biggest hits. We had a nice character talk yesterday and I’m beyond excited because he’s the right talent for the right role.
Becoming a character is serious business especially when representing…
Our schedule has caused a few switches in our casting but that always happens. By the time you get to the premiere you could never imagine anyone else in those roles. I’m trying to keep my TO DO list updated. I’ve been very happy with the time I’ve spent with ‘Paul’ my new character in MBF. To say he has been a challenge would be an understatement. My study of wounded warriors both physical and mental has been extensive. My appreciation and respect elevated as one fully recognizes the sacrifices made. I’m excited to see this story told and I hope that it changes minds and hearts.
Home video sales continue on “Forty Nights,” “Chasing the Star,” “Wicked Spring,” and “Ashes of Eden” which can all be watched on Amazon Prime. I’m touched by the beautiful emails that I’ve received from viewers of these films. If you have not watched any of them please do take a watch. You can recommend it to others on the Amazon site. DVD’s can also be purchased from the Amazon site. All our artists deeply appreciate your support.
Aside from these distribution, pre-production and actor work – we’ve been in development for our fall film. I think working with our distributor we might have landed on the right property. But I don’t want to go too far off on this direction.
If the WILD FAITH home video deal can get settled here in the upcoming weeks the distributor might get involved with expanded and marketing our theatrical a bit more. If the home video release is strong we will get a sequel or TV series moving behind it. There are a lot of moving parts with this deal and I’m doing my best to stay on top of it. I think everyone will be very happy with the final results.
I want to take these last few lines to celebrate my Mother and all those who give as mother’s do. I got to spend the morning with my beloved momma. She has always been supportive even when my dreams seemed unrealistic and far-fetched. I know many out there have been through this phase. Some have that support and others do not. But that is one of the reasons this blog exists. It is proof that you can follow your own path and create. It is not easy and if you can be happy and do something other than be an artist – I recommend it. But for the others – keep at it. Work smarter. Learn daily. Value your character in your dealings. Defend the artistic process and muster the courage to keep walking. One step after another – steady as you go and after a while – turn around and see how far you’ve come. My mother nurtured me to believe in my imagination and motivation – to achieve when you believe. Thank you momma. I love you.
I’m going to finish up here because I have some additional MBF work to finish. So far I’ve packed sock and underwear so I’ve got that going on. A busy but exciting week as we head towards onset pre-production. I’ll give you another update soon. You can also follow https://www.facebook.com/MBFthemovie/
I hope you all have a wonderful week. Be good to one another.
DJ
Mother’s Day and More Updates
Welcome Poland, France and Australia. They’ve been following the blog and even readers are now hailing from China. I’m excited that so many artistic individuals are finding a community around ‘Clawing my way to the Middle’ blog. I’ve just gotten back in from running around including visiting my mom which has been fighting a cold. Actually many around me have been sick from my sister-in-law, niece, nephew and the list goes on. A party for my step-sister who just became a doctor MD was shortened due to illness. I just try to keep moving past it all and so far (knock on wood) only slight sniffle or cough first thing in the morning and fine after that. No soccer today because of Mother’s Day. I’m going to get to see an old friend of mine who flew in today but only because his mom is sick. So I’m going to finish this up and I think go till the garden. This week we worked on finishing the flashing and chimney cap on the office/fort plus some wood trim in the bath. It has been somewhat cold and wet the last few weeks but sunshine is on the way this week. I hope those of you able to- shared a few moments with your mothers or took time out to think about them. Let’s look at some of the week updates.
Forty Nights
The big news on this front was the winning of ‘Most Inspirational’ at the ICFF in Orlando, FL. This is a great nod to all the cast and crew and as storytellers we could not ask for more. If you’ve seen the film and it did indeed inspire you in some way please do go to http://www.imdb.com (40 Nights/Forty Nights) Vote and leave your own story. I do know that foreign sales lie ahead.
PR Link
Chasing the Star
This film has just concluded the last run in Michigan (For now) at the Celebration Cinema in Grand Rapids, MI so thank you very much! We’ll be discussing taking the film out of state prior to the Sept 5th national release on DVD/streaming/VOD with Bridgestone. We’ll be announcing the new DVD artwork soon that BMG developed.
The Christ Slayer
Editing continues as we close in on a rough cut. As I’ve noted before we’ll be working on the poster and first trailer.
Wild Faith
The sound design and dialog clean up continues. I hope to meet this week over the poster art.
Development – I’ve been writing and working hard on setting the slate for the upcoming CDI projects. I’ve also been pondering what acting role I might enjoy next. I’m also in talks on a few possible work-for-hire writing endeavors. I’m always open to discussions on writing, acting and such. Just please make sure you’re funded:) I feel like I had a topic I wanted to discuss but for some reason I can’t recall it. I’m remember it half way through tilling the garden up.
Be good to one another and have a great day and week ahead!
DJ
Private & Public BESTSELLER Showings & More…
BESTSELLER Premiere info
The heat arrived in Michigan this week and I actually had the first mowing of the yard for the season. Also friend/associate Dean Teaster has been working his chain saw art so I have a nice pair of benches next to the outside fireplace and a tiki totem pole in one of the garden beds. The hops from last year have started growing and this week coming I need to prep the garden to plant. I had many great phone calls this past week including director friends like Larry Simmons (Locked in a Room), Jon Osman (The Terrorist), Shane Hagedorn (Ashes of Eden) to name a few. It’s exciting as everyone is starting to talk new film ventures. Planting seeds of creativity and growing new stories. I had many other business discussions and as many of you know we are in for many exciting updates in the weeks ahead.
Before we get into these exciting updates let’s take a moment to put something out there for thought, discussion, change?
I had an actor friend contact me and he has had some great work moving out into the market. As it is for many – he could still be ready for more and sooner vs later. This passion has to be controlled and not allowed to become desperation. It is sad because agency’s locally are not vetting projects hard enough. These crowd funded dreams are moving people into action well before they are possible. Casting calls, table reads and making people drive, spend gas and take time out of their life only to find they have a crowd fund with $25 bucks in it. That might buy pizza for a small table read. But why do agencies roll with these? To appear busy? To give their talent something to do? If you got a call once a month or every two months but it was real that seems better than a dozen BS auditions for pipe dreams. And I see self-proclaiming official film organizations promoting these social funding efforts. Why? It seems they should be hosting business workshops to educate filmmakers. Not promoting hobby handouts that almost never come to be. I know these are harsh words and only those engaging in this behavior will be angry with me BUT others of you know it to be true. I can scroll right past or unfollow something (true) but the content brands your organization. Your agency. I see people using a cause to try to get money from social funding but still no business accountability. You want to help? Do the work. Start a non-profit. So I had no answers for this friend – just “it is what it is…” I would have them contact your agent with a script and offer when fully funded. Stay home and eat pizza.
Onto business…
TODAY is a special invite showing for a few dozen people associated with the film BESTSELLER. The film is DONE:) That almost sounds odd to say. The project had a lot of issues prior to CDI getting involved but now that seems to melt away as the project is ready to show the public in two weeks (May 23rd). These two showings are being done in Christopher Knight aka Jonathan Rand’s home town and at a beautiful historic theater. We will be announcing some other play dates on the 23rd but also DVD’s will be for sale from Misery Bay starting on the 23rd of May. I’m happy that this film got the professional finish it deserved. We have long-term plans with Misery Bay and that is built on solid business. That is something I talk about here often. When good business is done it creates job opportunity for a lot of people. When bad business is done – just the opposite. Poison too many wells and you cannot support an industry. I will say it again here – We make errors in our business BUT we are sincerely trying 110% to do things the right way. And I see others that don’t even make the attempt – hard work will win the day over and over again. That is TRUTH. So a great heartfelt thank you to all the hard-working cast and crew of BESTSELLER. It is time to share your artistry with the world.
THE TERRORIST is a NYC based thriller that I co-starred in and helped produce. I got to watch the final film this week and it was great. It also has had quite the journey and is now ready to be seen by audiences worldwide. We are starting to show distributors who have been waiting – this month.
I actually have to turn quite a bit of attention back over to distributors – I’ve been focused on BESTSELLER in these final weeks. I also got a some feedback from a TV licensor and it looks like finally next week we will start to close on a few new TV deals.
“40 Nights” is creating lots of buzz. I released the 1st interview for the film here
http://www.examiner.com/article/michigan-s-own-dj-perry-talks-about-biblical-40-nights
the film is in editing and moving right along. I’ve also started releasing some stills as pencil drawings on the “40 Nights” Facebook site. I think it introduces several elements from the movie without giving you the full on epic look…YET:) I’ve also started my research on my next biblical that we have to do for Lightworx Entertainment and so that has been fun. I’ve also been finishing up a couple other scripts and in talks with some production groups on others. By this I mean, they work in association with CDI to produce a script from our vaults that has distribution.
I’m going to cut this short as I have to prepare to go up North today and share BESTSELLER. I just ask that the technology gremlins stay far away:) I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends and enjoying the show as an audience member. I hope to see some of you on the 23rd for the first public showing!
Have a great weekend and Happy Mother’s Day! (On Sunday)
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 