Hazelnut coffee cheers from your artist friend DJ Perry enjoying a cool non-humid morning. My furry boy woke me early to go do his races with his buddy Jake. A lady walks her dog daily and they meet at the fence and do a series of “bop and go” runs. That is one barks GO! And they both bop the fence with their snout and run down and back along the fence line. I was proud of him because he hates fireworks, even the word. But even after a morning barrage set by some young yahoos likely not even to bed yet, he still returned to run. Usually it was one BOOM and he’s done. Let’s follow this conversation with yahoos.
I was once a yahoo which is a young foolish, self-centered, invincible-acting youth. We use to have a massive 4th party at my buddies house whereas so many fireworks were set off. This was not a country house but in a neighborhood and I can’t imagine the amount of distress we caused homeowners pets. And now I live in the karma. Also since last Monday my week has had a sad background to it all. Dear friends of mine that I actually introduced and who celebrated 30 years together recently lost their son. I knew this young man since he was a baby on up. He was like a nephew before I had a nephew. He had a ultra loving home and he was a well mannered, kind and humorous soul. But much like myself and many other’s he occasionally sought a BUZZ to be more social. Not all buzz’s lead down a dark place and for many it is just a phase. For some it can lead to a tragic ending and that is what happened here. This new generation seems to have much more dangerous substances too readily available. I’m not saying alcohol isn’t destructive because it surely can be. It can cost friendships, marriages, health and life either in bad decisions or eating your vitality. I will mourn this loss for a lifetime because it came way too soon.
I use to drink too much in my younger days but it was by choice, boredom and to deal with some of the early setbacks and failures of trying to get ahead in the film industry. I see the battles many young actors and filmmakers are going through. I feel for them because their passion is like a disease. It can be devastating to believe you are meant to do something without the means to do it. But keeping a clear head and trying different avenues is slowly revealing a path to success. After several wrong turns through the maze you start to gain ground. Experience teaches you and prepares your emotions for rejection. I told someone recently, you know me for my 30-40% of success but not of my 60-70% of setbacks. I’ve been dealing with those setbacks even now. I get something in place and it unravels. I put a piece in place and another falls off. But that is the way.
My belated birthday trip to Greenfield Village on Friday gave me many of the same inspirational insights to success only after many failures. Henry Ford didn’t fall into success. Nor did Thomas Edison, Walt Disney or Milton Hershey. Poverty. Fires. Bankruptcy. Ridicule. The greats all faced it unless handed down the money and those individuals were usually a pale version of the visionary who suffered to create. I’m thankful to be alive with the opportunity to try to climb the mountains.
I’m ready to get back to work tomorrow and try to get the new projects on better ground. We have some amazing wins this year already but I’m trying to prepare to do that again next year. We are fighting to film more stories this year and do it proper. Let’s look at some film updates-
The first Harsens Island Revenge trailer is almost done. I’m awaiting the final version so I can upload to CDI Films Youtube site and we can premiere it. It is really good and only a reflection of the powerful film but it will be a great teaser to get folks ready. I wanted to release it on my birthday (June 23rd) but we were waiting on new voice over. And I wanted to try and have it released by week’s end or even today/now but the full audio was being remixed with the new narration. We have artists who deeply care about the story and final product and it shows. I would not be surprised to see if come across my desk today sometime and if it does we’ll all have a glorious Monday kick off! Additional trailers and poster art will follow!
This week I’ll also be sending the new HD trailer of KNIGHT CHILLS, CDI’s 1st feature film, to a few distributors. Adam Towner did a bang up edit job and it is such a joy to see the work from all those years ago being presented again. And with the popularity again of Dungeons and Dragons and fantasy role playing games I believe it will be a hit. The Blu Ray sales on the special edition were wonderful. Now we want to bring it right into people’s homes. Follow the film on Facebook for all the new updates including the new trailer!
AN ORDINARY KILLER sales link for the special edition HD DVD is still being put together. The streaming deal on this dramatic and touching film will be signed this week. It will stream in December! Now that Adam Towner has finished the new Knight Chills trailer the AOK streaming trailer might be next on deck.
Dean Teaster’s GHOST TOWN is now streaming and kudos to Brett Frame for his trailer for the new release. Go to TUBI to watch free with ads and it should start appearing some other platforms also.
Work on “De-Noise” and Up-Rez on the other classic CDI films is underway. I want to get a sales site up for the double feature DVD’s of HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST. FROM VENUS artwork is being worked on and I’ll be having more talks on that film also.
FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH the documentary on Catch-Can wrestling and the world champion Frank Gotch is being developed as a feature film biopic. We are making some ground there with UFC champion Randy Couture attached to play the famous trainer Farmer Burns, ironically related to our production designer GW Burns. We are working hard to try and align the financing on this story.
Also in development is ROM COMS MUST DIE, a parody on the state of art in this day and age. Also the much awaited and anticipated sequel to WILD FAITH is aligning its financial pieces. It is a Christmas adventure with many of your favorite characters. If all goes as planned we’ll film in November of this year.
WRAP UP: I’m sure there are a few more updates I’m missing. But with the weather so nice and cool I have a list of things I want to get down on the property. I’ve been harvesting berries, mint, sage, red clover and more. I was given as a gift a beautiful metal owl that blows in the wind. I think I’ll attach a picture of it on here. The chickens have been gifting us eggs and they’re still a joy to watch strut around looking for food.
(Bubo the Owl)
I think I have an interviewer for a book coming to the fort/office tomorrow to discuss a past project. So I’ll go do a bit of straightening up there also. As noted above, this has been a hard week for many people who knew the young man who passed away. Our time here is limited and so make the most of it. Chase dreams and help others. You unfortunately can’t help everyone but that is why I love our stories. They reach tens of millions of people and spread that positive good energy. I’ll wrap this up here but I’ll look forward to chatting again with you next week. It will be the 4th of July weekend ahead so please do be safe. Until next time we meet, coffee cheers!
The hazelnut coffee is flowing and I’m ready to sit down with all of you for a few fine moments. On our way back last night from visiting our furry brown buddy at the MSU Animal Hospital, a LUGNUT baseball game was happening. The downtown was filled with people of all colors and nationalities. I remember noting how proud of the diversity of Lansing, Michigan. We’ve got our issues like everyone else with crime stemming from poverty and bad choices. But those differences are again what makes our lives so interesting. Just like various foods, clothes and customs – all add to the spectrum of our daily lives. From Northwestern Elementary school to Otto Middle to Sexton High to LCC and MSU – diversity. Embrace it.
FILM UPDATES
One of the weekly highlights was the release of the 1st teaser trailer for “The ChristSlayer,” the third film in THE QUEST TRILOGY. Read about it here and included within is the new trailer.
Chasing the Star just played Lanett City Film Festival and I hope the people there enjoyed the showing. We’ve got a few more big screen showings in the works. More on that once we get the deals done. The film releases to DVD on September 5th with Bridgestone Multimedia Group.
PRE-ORDER DVD – https://www.christianbook.com/chasing-the-star/9781945788239/pd/889043
Forty Nights continues to give audiences a look at the first film in the trilogy. I cannot wait until all three of the films can be watched together.
On the development note I have been working on the next three films in THE CONQUEST TRILOGY.
WILD FAITH – Our post Civil War western has lots of themes that I think need to be examined. The film is having VFX work done and music. We’ll likely finish the film at the end of the year and perhaps play for cast and crew before a 2018 theatrical followed by home video. I hope to release a behind the scenes sizzle and a poster soon. Here is the trailer in case you have missed it.
If you’ve an old school fan of CDI you really need to get the book written by David Hayes on CDI’s first film “Knight Chills” which is a cautionary tale on bullying.
Our meetings on M.B.F. are very productive. We have been reviewing actors for certain roles while working other logistics. We’re working to gather our business partners to travel with us on this powerful story that centers on our military vets and shelter dogs. I’ve been enjoying the layers of exploration as I discover the new role to be played. After taking on the roles of Jesus and bearded Mountain Man Ben Lily, this clean-shaven look is taking a moment to get use to.
I’m going to top off the coffee cup and do a few things around here. I did a major mow and trim on the yard which needed it. The garden is kicking out major tomatoes and beans but with Luke sick again the yard animals chewed into my one pumpkin. The HOPS are starting to come on and today I will cut the last of the rhubarb that will become wine with the mulberries. I also have another soccer battle today and we have everything crossed that our furry boy can come home from the hospital. We were on vacation the week before and to not have him home this week has been hard. We want the pack to be whole again.
This Saturday seems clouded by vast sadness. It was so shocking for many because it was young children and it happened in a place often devoid of crime. The fact is that ugly things happen everyday. I was just thinking about how so many people are connected by social media. It can be used positively but also can be like a collective poison well. I can recall during 9-11 how the news just became a constant flow of fear and negativity. Collectively we all have tragedy in our lives. More and more tragedy is now played out on public social media. I think it can start productive conversation and for those facing heavy issues they feel maybe not so alone. There is still no stopping tragedy as it is part of our life cycle. If you don’t think that some rice farmer with ruined crops born into a world of poverty can’t or hasn’t snapped. Someone deeply angry for being born into suffering versus someone born far away in a world of plenty. Someone angry for color of skin or being female in a society that looks upon them as 2nd rate human beings. I’ve found that true beauty often lies as far away from one another as we can get. We’re not usually beautiful people in our actions. More often we are self-serving, self-centric individuals who gravitate towards those who share our priorities and shun those not aligned with us.
With all this media we have to occasionally tune OUT versus tune IN. I recall how clearly I could think in the jungles of Costa Rica. It was devoid of a mental static that we rarely recognize as we walk through massive waves of electromagnetic energy. Swimming daily in media can be like taking a sewage bath. Moderation is my recommendation.
Movie updates…
OK. ASHES OF EDEN updates!
The audio and visuals are being married and some first initial cutting has started. We are in talks on creative post and look forward to the weeks ahead. Watch for many updates concerning this powerful film. Also some talks on the next collaborations so stay tuned!
Two of our films are going to TV networks (Wait for press releases)- the cloned masters are being made. We are also awaiting national domestic release dates on two films. These are unrelated to “Darkest Night” (March 22), “Locked in a Room” (announced soon). “7 Stones” had 1st TV play on Michigan TV. “Benjamin” just had two showings in Cairo, Egypt! More releases to be announced!
We have several projects in development moving down the line. I plan to have some good announcements for 2013!
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 