It looks like here in Lansing, MI we avoided most of the crazy weather. We had a little wind and snow but overall the sun gave us some melting. It has been a busy couple weeks and I’ve just got to keep my patience and zen as many deals move about on the chessboard. I’ve had a few projects move a touch slower than I wanted but I will be happy for what did get done versus what did not. Let’s look at some of the positive steps taken in this past week. Before we get into that I will vent off on a small issue. IF you are a university who is making your money off film students in a film program. IF you make a solid film that really showcases good production value, performances and direction. The university SHOULD invest in promoting its own program. PROMOTION = ENROLLMENT = $ for the UNIVERSITY. I’m not going to waste too much time on this topic but I’m never surprised by people’s shortsightedness.
Also I’m surprised (No I’m not) that when local media is trying to promote a city/area to inspire others how only the hobbyist get recognized. What happened to real journalism whereas you seek out the real story. In our area it use to be our local media was only interested in local community theatre and now they are focused on local hobby filmmakers. Now you can give recognition to these aspects but they do not represent the professionals. POLITICS. To be direct it is why I like the business side of things. IF your art is good it will find an audience and sell. I feel as if these organizations and projects that put equal importance on SHOW & BIZ should be highlighted. Now for a long time now I’ve been content making my home here and that is good enough for me. Michigan artists are undervalued often on the world market and much of it is because many are seen as “Community Theatre/Hobbyist filmmakers”. When the films and filmmakers that are making real business endeavors are overlooked for some social media panhandling a $500-$2,500 film that won dozens of remote festivals that never will get major distribution – it brands us. Now I consider myself MINOR LEAGUE so let’s get that straight. BUT we work hard to recreate a growing business like what Motown, Two Men & A Truck and many other business pioneers worked so hard to do. The worried parents of these starry-eyed filmmakers would be emboldened and given hope when they read of other business filmmakers making a solid go of it. I’m content living below the radar most of the time because it saves me from the constant “I’ve got a great idea for a movie” talk that follows me. So let’s get onto some business updates!
A few months ago we saw our Civil War film “Wicked Spring” release into the German, Austria and Switzerland market. Now following that we just enjoyed a Feb 21st release of “Locked in a Room” to that same market. And next month March 28th will see the release of our 1st international collaboration “Darkest Night”. Also “Darkest Night” released recently to HULU PLUS and so that will help reach hundreds of thousands of new viewers.
Our CDI sales team is working hard engaging in talks with many new foreign territories. Also many great new deals are being negotiated on new upcoming product. “Ashes of Eden” has several buyers interested and once we have our finished film we will start that process. New poster feedback is being gathered from readers who can vote on http://www.ashesofedenmovie.com . Also our premiere is being discussed and we should announce on that soon. So look for a cast and crew premiere that will happen followed by a public premiere and theatre run. We’ve got excited interest from several distributor/studios in this film and our most recent ‘Bestseller”.
“Bestseller” is about done with the rough cut. I will be calling our editor today to get an update and soon we will screen the rough edit. I’m excited about this project and I think it will be a high intensity film. Patience:)
“7 Stones” is out on the market both streaming VOD and DVD so check out this powerful little drama.
While overseeing post work and sales I’ve been engaging in some major screenwriting action. I don’t promote this aspect much but I’ve been paid multiple times to pen original scripts and adaptations from books. I’ve had projects optioned ($ against a sale price) – and I’ve had projects purchased and produced. I just finished a pet project script that I’m developing with an old school friend. Let’s just say that fans of “Book of Ruth” will be very happy. I’ve also got another script on deck to write after after that. The contracts are approved just need to be signed this coming week. I may also be taking on yet another project to write in the wake of an option/purchase agreement made with a studio in Florida. Some close to me know my furry boy Luke had knee surgery and so it has been good to hunker down from the cold and enjoy writing.
Also I’ve been doing some major internal CDI structuring with our accountant, lawyers and a film archive supervisor. All the CDI projects need to be put to digital to make it easier for delivery on all these new sales. This is again the BIZ side that has nothing to do with the artsy-fartsy aspects but it is what separates the professionals from the hobbyists. I love what I do but I don’t do it for just fun – I do it as a career. Therefore bad communicators, slackers, excuse makers will not find a home at CDI. Nothing like having your hard work and efforts wasted as something sits in limbo for years OR a film that lacks business structure leaving you with a well done home video to show family and friends. I’m happy that we have some new hardworking blood rolling with the CDI tribe. It’s quite an eye opener when they discover there is another way to do things. There is a better use of time and energy. Do we fall short and make errors? – Of course we do. But how many are really STRIVING! WANTING is NOT STRIVING. I mean really giving that extra effort at every turn that gets recognized. I’m talking about taking that pride in your work. Trust me, I know the difference by looking someone in the eyes. If it is just a JOB to you – find another industry because there is easier money to be earned elsewhere. REMEMBER actions always speak louder than words.
ACT LOUDLY!
DJ
February 22, 2014 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: Austria, Bestseller, blood, Book of Ruth, business, cafe, CDI, city, civil war, distributors, eden, film, filmmakers, Florida, Germany, Lansing, lawyers, limbo, March, Michigan, Motown, MSU, option, politics, professionals, purchase, snow, social media, students, studios, sun, Switzerland, university, zen | Leave a comment
It is the Holiday season and it really came on fast this year. I think with “Bestseller” being such a focus and picking up “Dead Quiet” at the year’s end time just moved. Luckily I am a prepared person (that producer in me) and so I stayed on top of shopping and wrapping and I’m right on schedule and budget. Does that surprise anyone? It was brought to my attention recently whereas someone wanted to know why I do my blog. It serves a few causes –
1st – Most artists are very self-absorbed into their own world and don’t realize that not everyone say outside the film business knows about or cares about what actually goes on. As I’ve said before many think it takes just a few days/weeks to do something. As a younger man I was able to take three steps back and realize that in part due to people’s interest I was always talking about what I was doing. Also, by choice I live in Michigan. When I was more actively going to industry events in Hollywood and even now I do meet/hang with stars, sports professionals and so on. To an outsider it can quickly sound like name dropping. I would get tired of repeating the same stories again and again to people. So it was first a journal of sorts on a fan site ran by an enthusiastic fan Pepper. From there I moved to the WordPress format. It is beautiful because family, friends or fans can read about my doings. At that point if people want to ask me pointed questions – cool. Otherwise I’m free to just relax and talk about life and other people and what THEY have going on. I do enjoy my trips to California or being on a film set or the office pow wow’s to talk business but my relationship with my non-industry friends has greatly improved. I also try to insert bits of advice and hard gained knowledge within the words. I try to be brutally honest and encouraging for those who MUST follow an artists path.
The week has been an interesting one in regards to many business deals closing and some moving closer to finalizing. I’ve had to oversee legal stuff on a few films. Communications with some foreign territories prepping for new 2014 licensing. “7 Stones” now on amazon DVD and soon VOD. “Darkest Night” PR as it gets ready to go to Hulu. Looking at finding a series home for ‘Supermodel Showdown” in 2014. Editing about to begin on “Bestseller” just as “Ashes of Eden” is about to be complete. “Donors” and “The Terrorist” are close to being done. A deal closing on a script/option to purchase which I will announce once the ink is dry. Updates on the HBO series development and new western project I’ve given my LOI on to star in. Additional films on a slate behind ‘Book of Ruth” look to be moving strongly forward. Some direct talks with a studio and also a few studio project discussions with my CA based agent. Overall I just have to say that I’ve got many things moving and after the holiday rest I will be ready to go full speed into 2014.
I’ll close this down with my last few thoughts on Christmas. My parents divorced many years ago and that alone has made scheduling Christmas hard. Now with my own house/family it has added another layer of scheduling difficulty and this year I’m breaking some tradition – which is very hard for me. But I’m making it a bit easier and enjoyable for myself. I’m a person who in my personal life really tries to make people happy. I like to keep an aura of good positive energy flowing around me. For years this time of year has been more rush, rush versus relax, relax but maybe this year will be more enjoyable. I had always made the sacrifice at home to help keep traditional things in place but now with my brother going to be a daddy in the spring that will be changing anyways. We are still having all our get together with the family I’m just making adjustments that give me a bit more peace.
On that note I will wish everyone peace and happiness during the holiday season.
DJ
December 21, 2013 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: actor, artists, blog, California, DVD, events, family, fans, film, friends, HBO, holiday, Hollywood, Michigan, producer, professionals, VOD | Leave a comment
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 