Forward Without Fear – Moving Forward to the Future! (March 2025)
(Walk forth without fear which can be like a cage)
Hazelnut coffee cheers! I was just about to write what a dark, cold and gloomy morning it had been and the sun burst out. We had a very remarkable end of week with some beautiful weather that did not require a coat and on one day nothing more than a tee-shirt. They say it was 30 degrees above normal. Now we have a small call for light rain and even snow as the air swirls around picking up some Canada cold. I had a very productive week and while not hitting every benchmark some great progress was made.
This week around the property I started some clean up from the dogs and started to move stuff out of storage. Bird baths, sun dials, shepherds hooks and statues. It is only the first steps of many prepping the yard to become the zen nature space it becomes each year. I blame the beautiful weather for not fully having the upstairs of the office where I wanted it to be. That said I did get the new storage shelf built with is L shape for in a corner. I had to move four shelf units around to make room for this one. That meant taking stuff off and shuffling stuff. I also had to build it in a few small space. It took three days because I would work until my patience was getting tried. On two different days I realized shelves had been installed in the wrong way and had to dismantle them and redo it. So it took three days but now they are almost filled and it is force a spring clean and reorganizing of all these shelves.
I’ve started to slowly prepare the wood shed to be dismantled and I’m not sure what I will put there. Maybe a little greenhouse. Maybe a wood gazebo or pergola? I have a new wood rack to assemble. I need a new chopping block as the old one is many years old and it giving way to decay. The deck will need to be sanded and stained this year. A new retaining wall built to help prepare the under deck area. Still not sure how that will all come together but it is nice…and safe. The old deck was not safe any longer and had to go. The chickens are kicking out eggs and I’m sure there will be several improvements to that area. I see a few of the raised garden beds have sunk a touch in places and might need to be leveled. Always things to do and I love that tinkering. I also plan to have a pro chimney sweep for the fort stove at the end of the season. What blog is this you ask? Home fix it? Get to the movies you say! Okay I’m getting there.
MOVIE UPDATES:
- Our Ghost Town movie has been uprez’d to 4k HD and will be going up on HistoryFix as I’ll be signing that deal today or tomorrow. That will be the best version of the film every seen to date.
- Dialog and sound design/music is starting on Wild Faith Christmas. Also director Shane Hagedorn and Dean Teaster will start color correcting on the film. Dean has been a photographer and done extensive restoration work on old photos and film. He and Shane have decided to spend the time to get the exact look that is wanted for the movie. This weekend the software is getting in place and the work flow established. The film is on track for our November theatrical release.
- We had a great meeting over Harsens Island Revenge theatrical and the paperwork will be signed up here soon. The theatrical film is being tested and we should have word any day now and we’ll set the first premiere and run in stone. This movie is really an exciting achievement in scope and magnitude. We plan to run it all over the state before we expand outwards to the whole country.
- Going with what I’ve announced up top we have a second of several Harsens Island Revenge trailer that we’ll release to audiences to prepare for the films arrival in theaters. We need to decide what the release date for the trailer will be. maybe April 1st. Am I joking or not? Haha! It will give audiences additional peeks at this exciting film.
- I’m trying to set day and time for for our one planned pick up scene for ROM COMS MUST DIE. We needed a different season depicting an early date. I also plan to do my VO for the film maybe this week. We are getting close to a locked picture but already with some limited sound design and temp music it is very entertaining. My return to the horror (comedy) genre will be a fun one. I do want to get us started on some poster art and a first trailer.
- This is the second week in a row that I wrote an entire paragraph only to have it disappear. TAKE 2! So I said with Easter approaching I’ve been promoting our trilogy of desert filmed biblical adventures. THE QUEST TRILOGY includes three films Forty Nights, Chasing the Star and The Christ Slayer. I’m asking you again to watch these films and send me your comments on them here.
- I told you all I was highly inspired to write a loose 4th film in this series with the working title THE KINGDOM CHIP. I’m almost 1/3 of the way through the script and I really love the story. It has a lot to say on spiritual matters and technology. It might also be a possible return to our Yuma area/network to film this one. I will see once it is completed.
- I was suppose to have another writing project come over to me last week but it has been delayed so I’ll stay the course and try to finish up this current project. But I might be rolling right into a new writing project which is just fine with me.
- One of the development projects GOTCH was moved along for evaluation for funding. I really love this story and have since the first reading of his biopic. If you want to know about this man Frank Gotch please watch our doc film FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH. (On Several Platforms)
- Several other CDI projects are being evaluated to be put into the funding pipeline. I wanted to get through end of the year taxes and such before moving onto this phase. That work has been completed the paying the accountants. I will be doing some check writing this week for sure.
WRAP UP: This week I will try to finish my office organizing which is always in progress. I might be able to focus more on writing and desk work when it is chilly. St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and in my days gone by I’ve had a few wild ones. This one will likely be more chill maybe some corn beef and cabbage. I have a meeting with legal over some business reorganizing which will be fun.
I’ll keep moving forward with yard clean up and put in some training for upcoming soccer season. I’m really looking forward to kicking the ball around soon. I’m happy to report that my back strain from when I was deconstructing the old deck has healed. I just had to have patience and give it time not something I’m great at always. I actually just had a few eggs scrambled so I might go organize in the office for a while and get ready for tonight. I will be having the stove roaring as we’re suppose to get some cold chill maybe even snow. DOH!
I hope you all are enjoying our slow transition to spring. I’m very appreciative and enjoying the turning of the seasonal wheel. Move steadily towards your goals and work smart. Don’t be discouraged if things are a little off schedule as that is the way of the world. I just know that this year will reveal some wonderful things. It already has done that. I’ve already enjoyed the companionship of family and fellow artists. Never stop dreaming. Never stop moving ahead and don’t let fear freeze you. Even setbacks are important lessons. All part of the education. Until next week my friends I thank you so much for your support and the few moments you spent here.
Coffee Cheers!
DJ
Coffee Cheers – Wine Making, Lost Heart, Best Years Gone…and more
Welcome new readers from France, China and South India – welcome to our circle of artists. I’ve got my hazelnut coffee here beside me and I’m ready to discuss some activities from the week. For starts I’ve been exploring an upgrade to my account so that I can have some control over the ads. If they are going to be here they might as well be things that pertain to what we all do. I’m also looking at reviewing a few items here and there and such. But let’s look at some of the highlights of the week.
NATURE – This is something that most artists already know but a healthy connect to nature is a secret. The property is a natural garden of sorts. We are prepping to start the garden up with strawberries and rhubarb already showing. Apple blossoms and mulberry buds starting. I planted a hill of beans and some onions. I see the first of the ink tip mushrooms but no morels as of yet. Last night I did my first cooking of dandelions. If you read up they are all edible and full of nutrition. I cold washed and in a pan cooked them down in red cooking wine and garlic. I stirred in a few almond slices also and…bitter. I ate a few good bites and you could get use to it and I think longer cooking could reduce bitterness. Also different spices may help.
I harvested the roots that I like for tea but I will need to work on my cooking of the greens. I’m reading on the wine process. I’ve drank dandelion wine but never made it. I might try dandelion, rhubarb and black raspberry wine. Add a little home grown hops which is already going gangbusters. The last wine the GRAPE APE was well received so I’m planning the next wine. Same with beer as I’ve got a new Irish Porter I think to try and make. The beer always goes fast (vikings:) but the wine does also pending the company. So my days find balance with some yard work. Try it and you will find that your days will be much more balanced.
NEW ADDITION TO THE OFFICE – WHO IS HE?
OFFICE ZEN – I’ve been using this time to deep clean and organize the office fort. It’s been great fun to walk down the lane remembering all the trials and tribulations of the artistic journey. I’ve noted that our endeavors have paid out millions to artists on both sides of the camera and the support industries. I’ve found great pictures and promotion from films past.
I think in light of everything in the world virus-like – I will be adding an outdoor pergola and seating/meeting area to the office. I’ve been looking for a while. A few more tree trims and maybe an improved property fence. For my fellow producers I will likely be installing a boost, extender…to enhance office internet. I like it low tech as that is where minds meet before going off into our tech-ridden world. I’ve been having lots of phone meetings and much has been getting done. We have some exciting projects in development and others about to be completed. Let’s talk movies.
The fan mail keeps coming and the films continue to sell deeper and deeper into the world market. Mexico, Brazil and much of Latin America has gone on a ‘quest’ watching THE QUEST TRILOGY.
Audiences young and old are traveling to 1870’s Michigan with Emmett, Haddie, Grace, Henry and Uncle McKinney in WILD FAITH.
Viewers have cried and cheered with Paul Landings in MAN’S BEST FRIEND. And the cautionary tale of ASHES OF EDEN pushes out an important message.
During these times our artists are proud to give you inspiration, hope, distraction and direction. Thank you so very much!
LOST HEART – VFX, Color Correction, Credits and sound design are underway. The music is nearly done and marketing with the distributor is being conducted. Long time collaborator Dennis Therrian is again composing a wonderful soundtrack. We might have a few guests joining the band Roanoke. DVD artwork is almost complete and we’re all very excited to share this story with you.
I will discuss one thing I’ve seen a ‘trend’ with and that is minimizing front credits. I’ve had multiple directors push to get to the story unhindered by credits. I don’t agree. While directors have gotten more powerful in Hollywood and can push for such things we play in the indie world where I stand by the fact that I’ve never paid an artist what they are truly worth. I can’t because some of them, most of them are beyond a price tag. What we can do is honor some of the main artists contributing and complete that journey with end credits. I don’t like on TV when they speed those end credits up but networks are dealing with time slots only. I see the opening of the film as a slow slip into our created world. The kudos of credits that slide across the screen give added appreciation. So my taste in music, my style of dress and my general interests may never be ‘trending’ or trendy but I am okay with that. I’m a touch old school and I admit it. I love the slower pacing of classic films. I enjoy black and white classic Hollywood films that played at my grandma’s pretty much 24/7 save when Law and Order was on:) Maybe one day those like me holding onto a non-trendy, through-back storytelling will be GONE WITH THE WIND (My other grandma’s favorite) but until that point – stay classy.
BEST YEARS GONE – I’ve had some interesting talks with our next project. This week we chatted with actress Cindy Williams who did a small bit for LOST HEART. We were looking to bring her in a bit more to the CDI family and will if scheduling permits. Once the storm lifts and productions can move ahead it might be like the wagons in the gold rush. Or some endeavors may have suffered from the economic hardships. Luckily, our ship sits in the harbor stocked up and ready to sail. STORM: 45 is what we’ve been calling this operation. Someone suggested it was a good name for a WW2 film. Simply it means that 45 days from the storm of regulation passing we’ll move forward with a safe game plan. Like many we’ve already been focusing on all this as well as doing prep work. Scheduling, shot lists and soon zoom actor reads will be enacted.
NEW CAST ANNOUNCEMENT
This week we’ll be announcing a few more of our actors. We’ve got a pair of twins co-starring in the story. For those roles we’ve looked at reads from across the country. I’m happy to say that we found our twins and they are going to be wonderful collaborators in our film. You can see them up above. To find out who they are join our BEST YEARS GONE Facebook page tomorrow.
and remember to ‘Subscribe to the Tribe’
at http://www.cdiproductions.com
It is funny that someone mentioned WW2 film in reference to STORM 45. The big 2021 film is going to be a WW2 film directed by Anthony Hornus. It will be his follow up to MAN’S BEST FRIEND. We’re about to launch a national casting for the young lead in the film. We’ve been putting the business together behind the project and it looks like the first half of the financing is about to fall into place. I’m looking forward to storytelling in this time period. Maybe our secret code word will be Storm 45. Ok. That’s already taken so for now ‘Untitled Anthony Hornus WW2 film‘ will just have to work. We are also looking for German actors and actors capable of speaking German. Be honest with those resumes and special skills;)
This TV series is gaining momentum. We had talks with our distributor and a few 3rd parties either about finance or licensing. Every month our fans of the Murphy family and the zany characters of ‘Hastings’ grows. Some of the larger licensors of WILD FAITH will be approached on pre-licensing commits but I think it will only be a matter of time. In a perfect world this would land after BEST YEARS GONE and before the WW2 film. This is not a perfect world but we have a lot of creative folks and will adapt as needed. The first season will be 8 shows. I think audiences will really love to learn more about these deeply evolving characters in a changing world.
We have development on animated features, documentary films and several features in development. I personally am also excited that I’ve gotten to do some writing on my SciFi script. We’ve got a few great ‘space/technology’ consultants and some concept art is being working upon. Merchandise of various sorts and expanding services will be developing as more artist join the CDI Tribe. I’ve been using this time to plan the next 10 years for CDI. We have a clear path and I’m excited to see what is produced under the flag. I’m going to wrap this up and get to some outdoor tasks.
Be good to one another! Coffee Cheers.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 