Artists Helping Artists- Updates and Insights
Good morning!
Happy Chinese New Year of the Dragon! Happy Super Bowl Sunday or whatever you want to attribute the day too. I just will say Happy Sunday! I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee which is really tasting nice this morning. I’ve had a good week and I hope to give you a few updates to our projects and endeavors. I want to thank everyone once again for joining me here. This format here helps me to summarize my progress on projects and to plan ahead. It also serves to update the interested parties and for other artists it can help, artists helping artists. Where to begin- I had a great talk this past week with an author John Farkis doing a book on Old Tuscan/Mescal studios in Benson AZ. If you do your research it is where countless great films were shot. TOMBSTONE being one of the most famous. I was privileged to have worked there myself. A producer Thadd Turner, well known for his passion of westerns was doing a new film there. His son who was young at the time loved Civil War films and WICKED SPRING (You can watch free w/ ads on Encourage TV) was his favorite film. And his favorite character was mine. So what a cool father to reach out to hire me as an actor. He knew I had experience in producing and I wanted to really study how others produce. I had not yet produced Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town or Wild Faith yet but they would require more wrangling of horses. So I jumped at the opportunity to produce the behind the scenes for the film. We ended up with an epic hour and a half or more of content that was shown at the Lone Pine Film Festival. (Another famous place for filming western TV series) I was thankful to be able to be on set and meet some many talented and wonderful people on both sides of the camera. It is the set where I met Rance Howard, who would become my mentor and co-star in another four of our films. One of my childhood heroes David Carradine (Kung Fu) whom I got to know quite well. Wes Studi, Irene Bedard, Mark Rolston, Buck Taylor, Michael Parks, Francine York, Brian Libby – and the list goes on. The film’s lead Tim Abell and I would forge a friendship that would lead to several collaborations like playing my dad in MAN’S BEST FRIEND. It was fun to bring back all these good memories. That is what each film is like. The experiences of making the film. Tommy Dippel was always a hoot and took time to really explain the wrangling aspect. Jon Proudstar coordinating in the office but was happy to see him acting in Reservation Dogs recently. Wes Studi on Finding Your Roots. Watching TV and film becomes a different experience when they are your friends and co-workers up there. John the author and I had a great talk and now he’s another to add to the circle. He enjoyed watching WILD FAITH and will be doing a review for which I’m honored to have.
(Lone Pine me, Tony Hornus, John Saxon, Thadd Turner, David Borowicz)
Speaking on literary – recently I talked about the new campaign for my first starring film IN THE WOODS. A cult film that was the resulting passion of a couple young filmmakers trying to earn their way into the industry. So soon they’ll be announcing info on the remastered film and the new director’s cut. End of this week I’ll get my first watch on the new director’s cut and we’ll be capturing commentary. To prep for this new campaign a making of book (Now also in hardcover) filled with the story of the struggle and original script released late last year - PURCHASE HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Woods-Lynn-Drzick/dp/B0BXMTJS9C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36RJZKN42LZ5G&keywords=In+the+Woods+movie+lynn+Drzick&qid=1707660674&s=books&sprefix=in+the+woods+movie+lynn+drzick%2Cstripbooks%2C85&sr=1-1
Coming soon is the new special edition In the Woods novelization by Nancy Gideon. I had penned a prequel script the told the full story of the creatures in the movie. An epic sword and sorcery tale that sheds light and answers all the questions viewers of the film had. We cut some of the flashbacks from the film due to budgetary issues as we discussed previously. But if you read this you will get the full story. I was proud to add to the world created by Lynn Drzick and if you enjoy a good story of warring kingdoms this might be just for you! PURCHASE HERE: https://www.amazon.com/panDEMONium-Woods-Origin-DJ-Perry/dp/B0CV8F73D6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WENU3ERCKDAR&keywords=In+the+Woods+DJ+Perry&qid=1707661064&s=books&sprefix=in+the+woods+dj+perry%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-1
All this is preparing for the new release of the classic and new version of IN THE WOODS on Blu Ray! The question that lingers in the aftermath is SEQUEL? PREQUEL? Only time will tell but I will say that there is an interest by all parties. Wayne Higley? Al Fargo? Alex Kerwood? Or Prince Freeacus? Lentar? Captain Hur? We will have to wait and see what is to unfold in the forthcoming-
LITERARY –
Staying on the subject of literary with books being a close second in my favorite medium next to motion picture/TV. We are looking to release several books/screenplay combos where the materials exist. Plus cool interviews with key folks about the making of that particular film. One such book I’m exciting about is THE QUEST TRILOGY, our 3 films (Forty Nights, Chasing the Star, The Christ Slayer) * Also on Encourage TV – all in the biblical realm. A coffee table book with the three scripts and essays by the three directors and key members of the production. I have to get after the essays as that can be like wrangling cats.
Re-Issues: All the CDI films are now being loaded onto the backup CDI RAID which I’ll name HAL. Once there we’ll be digitally remastering some and creating new DCP files (For theatrical) as some films like GHOST TOWN and AN ORDINARY KILLER will be getting a special new release into theaters as a first step. Blu-Ray deals are being looked at for all the films as a superior way to preserve and view physical media and lastly streaming. From the CDI Classic Collection – FROM VENUS is going to be pushed behind CDI’s first film KNIGHT CHILLS, which released in Oct. 2023 on Blu Ray BUY HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Knight-Chills-Tim-Jeffrey/dp/B0CJ5WBSZR/ref=asc_df_B0CJ5WBSZR/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=680424942453&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10081684957020523845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019404&hvtargid=pla-2260223998064&psc=1&mcid=399dd8121370380c8b97cdbf876e05c6&gad_source=1
Knight Chills streaming in Oct 2024 is a goal and we’ll be talking to various horror streaming sites. FROM VENUS Blu Ray in Oct. 2024 would be great also. But things sometimes move at their own speed. But we keep pushing forward.
All of these CDI library films getting new life in the HD age is exciting but we have many films living in that world now.
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA – PR will be forthcoming but as always you get the news here first. While the film continues to be available on DVD or play on a growing number of transactional platforms available to rent or buy like on Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, Youtube and Amazon Prime– WATCH HERE: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CN1KYNNT/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r - The film will be going to subscription video of demand on the UP Family & Faith tv this Summer! Our distributor will continue to work hard to bring it to the various countries around the globe! Thank you to all you have enjoyed this movie and if you have some positive feedback feel free to leave it on our http://www.imdb.com page!
Harsens Island Revenge – Our director Carl Weyant is back this week from Brazil. The following week we’ll be looking to have a sit down and watch the film minus the opening scene yet to be shot. We’ll be discussing music with composer Dennis Therrian who has been “sketching” musical beds to play for Carl. We’ll also be discussing the first teaser trailer which scenes are being pulled for. And the theatrical poster plus by the end of the month we plan to release a behind the scenes video by our own Adam Towner. To say I’m excited to sit back and see the flow is an understatement.
DEVELOPMENT:
HOT ROD LOVE– Our next Shane Hagedorn directed comedy drama set in the 70’s made some more steps this week in funding and sponsorship. If we can lock up funding in the next 6-8 weeks we’ll be looking at July/August timeframe to prep and film. Schedule could slide if funding takes any longer but we’re in talks with several parties and have faith we can keep our timeline.
We have another feature in development that I cannot speak on until development paperwork is signed but that should happen this week. It is another historical drama based upon a real person. We’re very excited about this project which the goal is to fund in 2024 and shoot in 2025.
SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE is another true event film in development. It is the state story of Iowa’s early days and will be a great story to preserve the history.
WILD FAITH: HASTINGS– We keep putting piece after piece into place on this TV series that would be the spin off from the pilot feature seen by tens of millions around the world. Step by step!
SCRIPTWRITING: I’m also 1/3 of the way through a script that could film next winter. Smaller in scope but a great piece of acting full of intrigue and interesting characters. The script is the blueprint as I like to say so it is important to have a tight script.
WRAP UP: You can see that various projects are underway. This past week we the help of a few amigos we got the remaining logs cut up into kindling for the wood stove so we’ll be ready for the next snow and…the first podcast “Fireside Chat with DJ Perry” which we hope to do the 1st one this week. I’m happy to report that our chickens are starting to produce eggs and even some of the plants and herbs are getting a head start with the warm front we’ve had. My cousin handy Bart gave my newly acquired wood chipper a once over and so stick clean up will be more productive. The end result will be much needed wood chips. I’ve been still immersed in my study of herbs and I’m looking forward to a good growing season. More clover will be going down in the yard that is loved by both the chickens and leprechauns. We’ll see if things align for the new patio deck this year. I also want to look at better privacy fencing in places but one thing at a time. It is all a work in progress. Just like we are. I hope you all have a great week. Keep those 2024 goals firmly in mind and work towards them. I’m exciting that soccer is right around the corner and I’m ready to lace up my cleats! Until next week-
Be good to one another!
DJ
PS: I lost a few pics and all my tags trying to upload and I luckily had my recent draft so I’m just going to upload “as is” as I’m out of time.
New Distribution, Updates and Observations
In the upcoming “Dead Quiet”
Hello everyone! I want to welcome our new readership from Greece. It has been a busy week here in the good old USA. I’m not going to touch the powder keg that is Michael Brown/police relations but I can say I’ve been a smart ass to the police as a teenager. I’ve been roughly questioned and searched BUT I’ve never hit or tried to take a gun away from a law enforcement officer. All actions have consequences some tragic and some with wonderful outcomes. Other high points this week – the new Star Wars trailer. I was an absolute Star Wars fanatic and I’ve said in many interviews that I got into acting largely because I wanted to be Han Solo when I was seven years old. I’m excited to play my 1st role this December in a Sci-Fi western “Wasteland” playing a shady space pirate type. I flatly refuse to accept the three prequels in my mythology of Star Wars. I think they were mostly poorly casted and some of the plot holes were too far for me to jump. A jedi-knight in my mind would have never left a poor women enslaved to a flying worm. Period. But I’m personally a fan off JJ (the new director) and with the old cast back I feel the excitement from when I was a child.
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I have great respect for Native American rights and therefore can’t fully attach myself to the traditional meaning of thanksgiving. You don’t accept help from your neighbor and one day decide to take his house. But the Natives have figured out the white man’s greed and casinos are a great revenge. Plus you can see Tom Jones sing:) I do like the idea of family, friends and being thankful – reflecting upon all that is good in our lives. As Americans we do have it better than many who struggle each and every day for basic rights and necessities. We went up North and feasted with family and watched our Michigan Detroit Lions win. Today we are having more family over and yet another feast. We are doing two turkeys and I’ve been smoking one which was started at 4 am this morning. Tomorrow we are getting the Christmas tree so we will be flowing right into the next holiday. I do love having a fresh tree in the house. I also planted a new tree in the yard. My brother gifted me a red wood tree “RED” which we had for several years. That ice storm last year put the kill on poor Red who is now a Harry Potter-like wand hanging in the office fort. My brother bought me a Giant Sequoia. It should survive in Michigan better and so it took the spot where “Red” once was. This week I also tried my hand at venison jerky and from all reports it was a success. I’m going to fire up a beer batch this coming week to share with my amigos.
Movie Biz
This week I address a question to the social media public about social funding. More specific the type that accepts donations in exchange for perks and allows you to keep said funds even if the goal amount is not reached. In doing this the campaign people default in the perks because most are tied to having a finished project. Give A in exchange for B once C is completed. But if C is never completed B cannot be given yet A is kept. By logic it sounds like fraud. Or another way – I’m hosting an event and selling signage sponsorships. I take that money for said promotional signage and never hold the event. I posted asking for failed campaign people (Lots of them around) to give me their thoughts. The post was read by hundreds and not one comment or LIKE. An associate also shared or re-posted this posed question and only one filmmaker liked it. It was a director we’ve worked with and my guess is that he has never engaged in that social funding fraud and so felt comfortable posting. Now this only pertains to these ENTERTAINMENT properties. If you are raising money to offset funeral costs of Uncle Sal’s passing and you raise 1k of the 5k campaign and use it to offset the costs – great! That is a different story. So all I can say is that a lot of guilty filmmakers or weak spine filmmakers afraid to rock the boat because they have friends/associates engaging in this type of campaign. Bottom line is use that energy more wisely and do yourself a favor and learn some business along the way. I’ve said the same thing about enterprising criminals that if they put the same energy into legit business they would be successful. As a joke I am going to create some goofball campaign in the near future to showcase this but I just can’t believe nobody has ever pointed this out. Someone will end up one day with 25 group action in small claims court. I think that is the protection for these people. Who is gonna chase $50 or $100? Instead they brand filmmakers as hucksters and investment opportunities dry up. So next time you have trouble getting something financed maybe blame the never produced social media crowd. Let’s get to some real business.
Movie News
It was announced that “Wicked Spring” our Civil War drama is going to get a reboot this spring with the Winters Film Group. We’re targeting a wider audience and I’m excited to get this film out there on PPV, VOD and a new version of DVD and maybe Blu Ray. The hour-long making of when be included amongst the extras.
“Donors” the horror/thriller will also be releasing this 2015 also signed to the Winters Film Group. This creepy film examines the dark seedy underbelly of kidnapping and organ stealing.
“Dead Quiet” is starting to make some noise as they head towards the finish line for a 2015 release.
“The Terrorist” also is wrapping up post-work for a 2015 release.
“Ashes of Eden” is being prepped for its release and should announce a release date by years end. Also some foreign sales are underway.
“Bestseller” is being worked on with the score, sound and visual FX all coming together. This will have a premiere early in 2015 and I’m very excited from what I’ve seen/heard thus far.
Other re-releases are being looked at including a deal that should have several of our CDI films releasing in India. Many know I co-starred in a film “Karma, Crime, Passion, Reincarnation” that released wide in theaters there in 2009. I’m excited that a bridge to our product is being constructed.
The announcement of the novel being written off the “Knight Chills” script has sparked some interest in the sequel. The prequel to “The 8th Plague” is also in talks with a new director. A few other (for now secret) projects are getting very close to launching. Some major business talks begin again 1st week of December to see if we can lock up a few things before the year ends. I’ve been in talks with my management over a few high-profile projects. I’ve been in talks on a few other new independent projects and so I’m excited to see what projects/stories I end up doing. Well, I need to go refill the water pan in the smoker. I hope you all enjoy your weekend.
DJ
New Distribution & New Projects – Full Steam Ahead
The cold is creeping into Michigan and our bodies fight to adjust to the biting chill. The cold rain will soon become something else – snow. I’m sipping at the coffee trying to get the sinus pressure to let go of the vice grip on my head. It has been a very busy time for me as I try to wrap up business for the year and manage lots of new business that is emerging for the year ahead. I’ve been doing some heavy training prepping to play my role in December. I’m giving myself that physical edge that one would require to live and survive in a harsh alien world. WASTELAND shoots just before the week of Christmas and I’m looking forward to that change of pace. Let’s take a moment to look at some of the developments this past week. I’m glad many of you survived the ghosts and goblins of Halloween.
ASHES OF EDEN – I think our last festival play is over and I’m happy to be moving on to distribution. We announced our deal with the Winters Film Group to release the film nationally on DVD, VOD, PPV, TV. The distributor in our meeting this week praised the marketing as the buzz is out there. He already had a PPV (Pay Per View) faith company reach out to license the film. This film walks a great edge that will appeal to audiences who enjoy faith and non-faith films. We’ve got several more reviewers watching the film to release ahead of the film. I’ve also been in talks with several foreign territories and we will get this film out to all of you also.
BESTSELLER – This film has been in transition as we prepare to build the music and sound FX. We had a great meeting with much of the post team. We went through the entire film and plotted what and where each of these audio elements would go. We talked about the FX which has already begun. Some amazing work already created and next week we should have the opening credits done. What I love about this film so much ties into my watching of PSYCHO this past Halloween. The film has elements of the classic thrillers of days gone by. A true stylistic edge that will help the film stand apart from the same old, same old that can tend to be the norm. This film has some new team members working on it and so getting these folks up to speed and on the same page workflow wise can be an effort. But you are molding a team for future work. The key is to look at it less as an individual piece by piece and more like a group of runners passing the baton. The key is to be ultra focused as you pass the baton to the next person. The clean up and organizing of files can make it easier for the next runner who has to take the baton. That said, I think we are getting into a groove and communication is going good. That is the key to all of this. In this new age of technology text messages or emails do not or should not replace phone calls or face to face meetings. The baton is passed much smoother between the “runners” and so your run times get better. Communication is the key to good leadership and so if you are a key out there make sure to communicate well. You will become valuable and find much more success.
WASTELAND – Prop building is underway and also some key decisions on equipment. This coming week we are doing a read through with the director and key cast. I’m looking forward to it. A Sci-Fi western is going to be great fun. I’m awaiting some concept art on one of the space craft. Exciting stuff for sure.
DONORS another thriller of ours has an offer forthcoming. WICKED SPRING also has interest to get a Special Edition out this spring and so we will be discussing that this week. We actually have a few distributors taking interest in the CDI library.
Our legal team finally got our domestic rights back on a pair of CDI films that got stuck. Long story but now that we have them back one I can get those film back out to market. I also have wanted to release a collection of the early CDI films together. Now with this deal that is possible.
We also have some possible reboots, sequels, prequels and new films launching. I’m beyond excited about a few of them and once the ink dries we will be discussing. Of course, all of you who follow the blog here will get some early updates.
On the acting front – I was informed that two films I was slated to be in have been green lit and will be moving forward. Both are quite large projects and will be great fun to play. I think I will be back in action with Ray and some of the “Book of Ruth” team in 2015. There are lots of projects closing their deals that will allow them to shoot in 2015. I’m excited to participating in them. 2015 will see the release of several films while we film those that will come to you in 2016. That is the way of the business. Develop. Produce. Post. Release. – Repeat often:)
Enjoy your weekend and the coming holidays –
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 