DEVIL’S PASS Prepping to Sail and Other CDI Film Updates!
Good morning. I’m sitting here and sipping my coffee and trying a sweet cream versus my hazelnut. I occasionally change it up but always come back to my favorite. I’ve been enjoying the wonderful Summer weather and especially with the new deck. Nice to sit out there and make business calls. A rest in the hammock is always peaceful. I’ve been doing some tree trimming and herb harvesting, mainly sage and mint. The eggs have been coming every day as the raptors love looking for food on the property. So I’ve been keeping up with all the work. My soccer season came to an end after a hard fought round one of the playoffs. We have many injuries and were missing many others with obligations. I can say the last two games I had no heavy soreness day one or day two and alas the season is over. So I’m in great shape and happy no injuries especially with our next film shooting next month.
Speaking of DEVIL’s PASS – I’ve been unpacking and preparing to move props, prop guns and wardrobe. I need to take pictures and inventory the latter this week. I’m also going to start working on agreements for our artists as the boat is almost full. I’m excited by the cast and crew we have. EVERY shoot where artists get together to create is special. I have fond memories of each and every one. The trick is good communication and to keep it flowing along the proper lines. I had a great transportation meeting last week and the week after next I am having an art meeting. So this week we will focus on the last few flights, lodging and start looking at catering. We usually get some great sponsors involved. I want to thank Mark Balko and his THUNDER BAY RIVER Sanctuary & Resort for his sponsorship of craft service supplies. Also we want to thank Dennis LeRoux and Prentiss Searles for their sponsorships. We appreciate each and every person helping to make this story happen.
WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS – The Red Letter Awards is growing closer where we are up for ten awards I believe. Our director Shane Hagedorn is going to attend and we know he will have a good time celebrating our film. I was happy last week to have the film spotlighted for the Will Rogers Awards with is at the end of October. We might do a few final theatrical events but everyone is excited about the 11/3/26 streaming release.
ROM COMS MUST DIE – Ole Clem and Amos are hosting a BREW N VIEW at The Studio at 414 in Lansing, MI on August 28th, a Friday! Doors and bar opens at 6:30 and movie at 7:30 and the cost is $10 at the door. Come watch this comedy horror film before it rolls to home video.
AI JESUS – This film is being prepped for theatrical release with Dreamscape Productions. It has been delivered to home video but we do not have dates yet. We are hoping to have a premiere in Owosso at the NCG if we can get a run there.
- I just took a time out to run down to an estate sale in hopes of getting a heavy duty wheel-barrel at an estate sale. It was taken as we walked up. Early bird get the worm. But we did get a few cement blocks for a chicken roost and a retaining wall. But I just had an early morning work out.
DEVELOPMENT: I did get some writing done on WILD FAITH 3. I do hope to keep working a scene here and there. Also making moves on RETURN TO ALGONA and I’ve sent a first right of refusal out to previous investors. I’ll soon be opening that up to other funders. This is the sequel to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA and I’m excited to film this follow up. Preserving history is a beautiful thing. MBF2 is close to being done also but I’m pondering a few scenes that need to be fleshed out more.
WRAP UP: I’m going to finish up here soon and get cleaned up to go walk the flea market across town. I love going to these especially when looking for props, wardrobe and such. I’m really happy how the year has gone so far minus a few deep loses of friends and family. I just posted about losing Dawn Butler a wonderful hair and make up artist we worked with on 7 STONES and SMOKE & MIRRORS. Cancer is an awful disease and I hope they find a way to prevent that in the near future.
I want to try and do a new marketing campaign for THE QUEST TRILOGY. We’ve been working on a making of book and I hope to get my reflections done this Fall. I also have to write one for the MAKING OF KNIGHT CHILLS. Have you seen these films? If not, you should. They can be watched FREE with ads streaming on different platforms. The KNIGHT CHILLS Blu Ray is pretty awesome with lots of extras included.
I’m going to sign off here and go get cleaned up and maybe eat a few eggs. I might work on a retaining wall but likely wait until later in the week. I hope all of you are having a great Summer. I’m looking forward to the LIONS football season ahead. Also watching MSU can be fun we will see how their team looks very soon. I’ve been behind on some phone calls but I’ve been working hard to keep up. I want to thank Dean and Josh for getting my software prepped for the upcoming film shoot. I hope everyone has a great week ahead. Coffee Cheers! – DJ
Welcome August! CDI Film Updates- Screenings, Releases, Development
CDI has had many great sponsors and product partners!
I bet you know what I’m sipping on. Hazelnut coffee and with the wet cool weather it is hitting the spot just perfect. I want to say that I’ve been enjoying the Summer. The rain has brought out all the shades of green. Sunflowers and butterfly attracting milkweed in abundance. The mulberries have taken a season off on my main trees due to the trimming I did. The apples are doing well but those are mainly for the squirrels. I’ve been harvesting mint and other herbs for use in the cold season. The raptors have been gifting about 5 eggs a day and that is appreciated. I had our last regular season soccer match and lost 4-3 but it was a great game and a great night to play. Our team has several injuries so subs have been near non-existent but that provides one heck of a work out.
I don’t have any great lessons to speak on this week. As always communication is the factor that makes things happen. I’ve been working hard to try and do that as we finish projects and begin new ones. So we can get onto some of the updates as they pertain to film and artistic endeavors. It has been a very busy year with some great wins and personal losses. I got together with a school buddy this past week and attended a farmers market. After we enjoyed a beverage and remembered some of our old friends and adventures. We tried to ring a few up but people are busy with their lives. But I do make an effort to reach out weekly to different folks just to say hello and catch up on life.
CDI UPDATES
- ROM COMS MUST DIE – I will let you know here that while we await the Summer theater schedule to clear we are taking the advice of some and doing a BREW N VIEW at The Studio at 414 on Friday August 28th with doors opening at 6:30 and the film will start at 7:30. Cost will be $10 and there will be some great drink specials and we look forward to meeting some of you. This is the first in a CDI film series we are planning. You heard it here first! More soon…Shane Hagedorn is working some additional theater showings and the film will roll out nationally to home video in October.
- AI JESUS – This super unique film is soon to start booking for theaters with our friends at Dreamscape Productions leading that charge. We’ve finally delivered everything to our home video distributor and will get those dates soon. We are also looking at a premiere likely in the town of Owosso, MI where the film was shot. More on that soon. We do still have BTS video that will be rolling out from our own Adam Towner. To prepare yourself for this movie introduce yourself or rewatch THE QUEST TRILOGY (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star, The Christ Slayer) streaming free with ads.
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS – This month our director Shane Hagedorn will be representing us at the RED LETTER AWARDS where we have several nominations. We are looking to do a handful of theatricals before we are streaming/DVD in November. This film might also play at The Studio at 414 if all goes well with the kick off showing. To prepare for this film watch or rewatch the original WILD FAITH streaming on many platforms.
- DEVIL’S PASS – We are roughly six weeks from cameras rolling and we are looking great. Next week we have two production meetings one with our directors and AD staff and one over transportation and extras. Casting and crewing only have a few slots open but as mentioned we’ll be registering extras to be townsfolk. I’m also working with the art department and have been gathering specialty props. It is something I love. The TO DO’s will keep getting smaller week by week as we knock things down. You can follow the FB page for this film for fun updates almost daily. On the personal, I’ve about got my personal wardrobe where it needs to be. And my facial hair is grown to wear soon I can have it groomed as needed. I do love creating the characters to bring forth.
DEVELOPMENT – We have several projects at various states of development but the one that is leading the charge is RETURN TO ALGONA. This is the follow up to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA our WW2 drama. Have you seen it? If not you should and it is a real story. I’ve been approaching sponsors with our team and soon we’ll give an opportunity for previous investors in the first film and after open it up. This next chapter takes place in 1968 and again is a true story.
I’ve been approached on several fronts about new films and I’ve been working on the few follow up scripts to a couple popular CDI films. Both are very appealing to me. It is fun to create a new world and also enjoyable to expand and play in existing worlds.
WRAP UP: This week was full of good surprises. Dean Teaster was called out of the blue and asked if he was the same person behind the GHOST TOWN movie. (Watch Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town on ROKU, TUBI and AMAZON) He said he was one of many. Apparently this lady worked at a museum in Montana I believe it was. He was told the historic group there absolutely love our film. You don’t always hear those direct responses so that was a beautiful thing to hear. That film is 20 years old now I do believe. WICKED SPRING 26 years old. KNIGHT CHILLS, our first looming at about the 30 year mark. I’m so happy that audiences are still enjoying all these films. Stop by http://www.cdiproductions.com to see some of the other films or look them up on IMDB.
I’m happy to be getting so many of these films off my plate from a production stand point and primed for release. I’m finally able to relish in some of the artistic side of things and prepare to have fun “playing” just like we did as children but with bigger and better toys. I’ve been also bringing on sponsors for our upcoming western. That is going to kick into high gear this month. So if you want to support independent storytelling with your company, brand or even yourself – please reach out.
I’m going to pull some things out of storage today as we start to move items to their proper departments. August is upon us and I cannot believe Lions football is around the corner. We start our soccer playoffs this week which will be enjoyable. I hope all of you are having a great Summer and enjoy your transition to Fall. Fall is my favorite season and I love the activities that go along with it. I’m going to wrap things up here and get on with my Sunday. Coffee Cheers to you all! – DJ
Movies, Life and Everything In-Between- CDI Updates!
Ah…the sip of the hazelnut coffee. It was actually a chilly morning. That means fire season is not too far behind. Today is also my furry son Finn’s 7th bday. It is hard to believe that since he still acts like a puppy often. I’m sipping the coffee and thinking back on my week. We’ll get into the movie biz developments soon enough. In the yard the berries are finally coming to an end so I’ll be trimming back those trees. The apples are getting ripe but most are squirrel food. We are still harvesting veggies and herbs. Today should be the last day of stain and seal on the deck. I did the touch ups and now a finally coat on the steps and we can call it done. The new gazebo will be going up once we find an outdoor rug we like. The chickens have been kicking out the eggs which is always good. The outdoor zen has been in full effect.
We had our first play off soccer match and won 1-0 in another epic match. The other team fought right to the last seconds. I was a tad stiff in the legs yesterday but I’ll be ready for our next match on Thursday. I love the intense workout and I’m in really good shape here at the end of the season. I really do love the game and so happy I am still able to play at the level I am. My next big work out will be log splitting, moving, stacking and such. I’m also looking into having the outdoor rafters at the fort enclosed to keep birds out and finish it off properly. Okay, now onto movie updates!
- Harsens Island Revenge (HIR) is now playing both the Emagine Macomb after they had some first night tech issue but that has been resolved. And the Riverside Cinemas where those from in and around the actual Harsens Island can watch this throwback in time movie of the Purple Gang trying to put their thumb on a group of WW1 vets. We hope that Emagine will move it around to other theaters in September we will see.
- Home video release for Harsens Island Revenge will be 10/6/25 and we have a marketing meeting this week. Also in the planning are a few event showings w/ dinner and mixer after the home video release. We will have some cast on hand to sign DVD’s posters and such. These will be fun to put together. We will keep you posted on when and where.
- HIR will be playing one night only at the Forest City, Iowa location on September 19th where part of SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA was filmed. We are still trying to lock down a booking for Algona at Fridley’s so CALL the theater and request Harsens Island Revenge. If you did see the film please feel welcome to go to our http://www.imdb.com page and VOTE (10 is best) and leave a review of what you enjoyed in the film. This helps us overall.
- Wild Faith Christmas is in the final polishing stage and once we do a big screen check we’ll master it for the theaters. We are looking to start rolling it out in November starting in Lansing, MI and up to Alpena, Owosso and across the state before expanding to other states. The film is exciting and heartfelt and it just might be the jump start we need to produce the eight shows for season 1 already written. Again we will see.
- ROM COMS MUST DIE the dark comedy about filmmaking has headed into the studio in the pines to start work on the musical score. I think we might do an end of the year premiere or two before we start rolling to theaters first of the new year. This film is a true joy to watch and I think it will be well received. The trailer was meant to be out by now but the last few tweaks are being done on the preview trailer.
- We are in pre-production for THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM CHIP. We are still assigning the final investment units and bringing on board sponsors. We have some great brands joining us in telling this story. Many are following the FB page and watching the art team developments and the addition of cast and crew. We just added a great talent after she read and loved the script and that would be Mary Badham, nominated for an Academy Award for playing ‘Scout’ in the classic To Kill a Mockingbird. I enjoyed our conversation over the story which is unique and powerful. I loved when she compared my writing to Rod Sterling of The Twilight Zone. So this week will be more follow up as we pull all the resources together to film later next month. If you want to explore getting involved as a sponsor or backer please do reach out. Beyond production there is always marketing and various ways to assist.
- I love to write especially in the winter time but I did get inspired and I’ve been working on a first draft to the sequel to MAN’S BEST FRIEND. I get asked about this film often and what happened to Paul the lead. It is probably the most requested sequel behind Wild Faith, which fans will get in a few short months. I don’t have any immediate plans to film MBF2 but I’ve had the story for a while and so I’m getting it out of my head. I have some other writing projects looming for the winter.
(Inside Emagine Macomb sent by one of my cousins)
WRAP UP: I want to thank all of you who help support these film endeavors. Funding is not easy. Production is not easy. Delivery is not easy. Promotion is not easy. But if it was easy everyone would do it. A phrase we’ve used and I recently had told to me. I have to keep seeking storytellers at heart to help us move these stories along. We have a few remaining weeks to hit it hard and pull everything together for The Secret of the Kingdom Chip. We’ll be positioning Wild Faith Christmas to follow HIR into theaters right after HIR has moved into streaming and DVD. It is a wheel or creating art and keeping it moving. I was having a day where I wasn’t happy with the productivity for the day and I realized how well we are truly doing. Three films moving down the pipeline with another soon to film. Everyone of them a handcrafted story made with love and care.
Today I’ll do a bit of work on the film stuff along with some property work. Tomorrow I’ll be hitting it first thing and ready to have a great week ahead. I do have a funeral to attend for someone in our family circle who went too early to a horrible disease. That is why I don’t take any of it for granted. It can all change fast and for now I’m doing what I love and what is in my heart. I hope I can do it for many more years. But do use the losses in life to help yourself be fearless. Don’t fear failing fear never trying. I love our tribe of people and we’ll keep on telling the stories. I hope you keep after your dreams as well. As these last days of summer draw to a close embrace them. Soon the leaves will fall (some already are) and the cooler weather will be upon us. Until next week, be productive and be kind to one another.
DJ
Stepping Stones, Casting Success and Summer Endings!
(Music is the main focus right now on ‘Harsens Island Revenge’ CDI’s Next Major Release!)
Another beautiful morning where you can literally feel autumn in the air. I’m sipping my favorite morning beverage which is hazelnut coffee. I see that we’ve had some record number of readers stopping by to join us. Subscribe and never miss an update. I love how many various countries are represented and we’ve got a lot of new ones. I love shaping the journey on here with all of you. One of my keys to happiness I often speak of on here is staying connected to nature. I’ve really enjoyed the passing of the humidity and the shift. I can see it in the plants and the cooler nights. This week on the property I did some harvesting and upkeep. We have a possum that has been around at night but is leaving the chickens alone. The squirrels are busy building up their nests for the coming winter and getting fat. The inchworms got heavy into my hops but I allowed it as the hops and old deck will soon be coming down. I did some landscaping to the entrance into the fort/office and that is looking much better.
(Wild Faith Christmas is a stepping stone to Wild Faith: Hastings)
Speaking on nature and the turning of the wheel we lost a CDI supporter with Irene Hosking at age 106. You can read on the CDI Facebook site about all her adventures but it was on her property we shot the WILD FAITH Civil War flashback scenes. Kids are returning to school and I remember those days well. Part of me feels like that was just a few weeks ago. Other times I add up the years and I’m stunned. We tied our last regular season soccer match and this coming week we start the playoffs. Anyhow it goes I can say I love the workout it provides. The league is ultra competitive and we always leave it all out on the field. I’m thankful that it has been an injury-free season and I hope to finish the season that way. Of course at our age it is never the major event that gets us it is the minor. Like lifting something too far out from your body or picking something up that fell into a nook.
(All great endeavors takes building – here is the mine set under construction for Wild Faith Christmas)
Maybe we’ll do a bullet point listing of updates.
- I had another successful wardrobe find for my role in ROM COMS MUST DIE. It is a comedy that we’ll film shortly into the new year. We have all our backing and I just got the paperwork to review and so this great quirky story is second film up. We have a few more roles to cast still.
- The next film up to film is WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS. I must say that I’m starting to see ole Ben Lily again when I stare in the mirror. Sets are being built and the crew is almost all in place. The casting is going great and we just landed three main roles last week. We’ll be announcing via postcards on social media so join our Facebook page. I have the legal paperwork to review and pass forward this week. Also I’ll be opening a new bank account for the project.
- Along these same lines it was decided to retool the TV series WILD FAITH: HASTINGS to go after the two movies. It was originally written to go after the first film but it is fitting so nice into this third slot. We really would love to see this series go as it would put many more of our artists to work on both sides of the camera.
- AN ORDINARY KILLER 4k passed quality control on the first go which made me very happy. This film is being released in a special HD DVD by months end. I was a guest on the TWO AVERAGE JOES podcast talking about the release. The new release will entirely benefit The Red White and Blue Project that is a non profit for veterans and their families and the above Two Average Joes Media dedicated to bringing closure to cold case files. It is by their efforts that this film is getting a second life to help these two important causes. A new trailer is still looking to be cut by own own Adam Towner fresh off the Knight Chills trailer cut. We have a few more deliverables but this film will go streaming in December 2024.
- KNIGHT CHILLS has seen an epic release on Blu Ray and I love the job Saturn Core did. The film has gotten a new trailer and new poster art is being worked on. If you love the genre, role playing games, etc…you want to own this Blu Ray. The doc on the “panic” back in the day is awesome. I think 2025 could be the year that Sir Kallio rides again with a sequel!
- RESTORATION WORK– We are continuing to work on the remaining CDI films for restoration and re-release. I’m very interested in the idea of possibly doing a version of FROM VENUS where it is animated once inside the comic book. FIGURE IN THE FOREST and HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS are being tested on DE-NOISE to resharpen pixels softened to achieve a primitive film look back in the bay. Once sharped we will try the UP-Rez again to try and get a better end result.
- Collective Development Inc. (www.cdiproductions.com) is now on INSTAGRAM tribecdi so please follow us. I’ve been listing the films in order starting with our 1st and working our way forward. I’ll also be doing the associated projects as well.
- This week I received by new Blu-ray of IN THE WOODS and I’m looking forward to a watch of both versions with and without the commentary. Available via TerrorVision and their participating retailers! I’m also looking forward to reading the sequel script that director Lynn Drzick has been working hard on.
- I have a sit down soon on another project that would include a script adaptation and the film shot. I love the time period and the proposed film would be fun to make. In the meantime I will finish my WILD FAITH: HASTINGS show adaptation and I might even finish a few of the other partial scripts I have in the works. A SciFi script. A martial arts comedy. I really do enjoying writing and it luckily has always come naturally.
- Funding on several developing features continues. I love the SMOKE & MIRRORS feature. SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE, GOTCH…so many great stories to tell.
(Robert Bradley will serve as Art Director on Wild Faith Christmas under GW Burns, Prod. Designer)
WRAP UP: I could continue to bullet point all the various things on my revolving TO DO list. I’m going to finish up here and make some breakfast. After I’m going to hop on down to the flea market again in search of props. I’ve found some real treasures over that last few months. For WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS I found a great period lantern, mining pan and more. I was happy to see that Art Director Robert Bradley had a wonderful vintage medical bag to use. It is going to be a great time putting all this together. I’m really looking forward to seeing some of the returning artists and meeting some new ones as well. We’ll be meeting this week over the schedule and trying to fine tune that. Lodging has been a main focus of our efforts and we’ve been gaining some headway. Also adding some new sponsors onto Wild Faith Christmas joining our current ones. That is something else I need to do this coming week. Thank you for spending some time here with us and I hope it helps to motivate you towards your own endeavors.
Until next week, coffee cheers!
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 