The journey. The adventure. The wins. The setbacks. The Growth!
I’m sipping the hot hazelnut coffee on a snowy Michigan morning. I’m feeling much better this weekend from last. I was under the weather last week which in part I feel was due to my gut being off from antibiotics. I had my first of two upper wisdom teeth removed and I think the meds threw my balance off. But a few probiotics and I’m feeling much better. It is odd how so much is tied to health. It has been a theme so many times that health is wealth. I stand by that. They say the coloring of the mood is controlled by the gut. And the gut can be greatly influenced by what you eat and dental health. I talk to my young people all the time about staying on top of that. It can easily be one of the things that gets overlooked when times are tough financially. But I’m a person who tries to really keep up on all that.
I have to say while I was still slightly below par last week it was still a very productive week. I’ve been working to streamline things and prepare for the next five years and beyond. Accountants, bankers, legal are all important parts of the filmmaking process. If your start up organization lacks these things it might be part of what is holding your growth back. Filmmaking is so much more than just playing with a camera. Those production skills are very important but what will lead you to the bigger projects is good business.
FILM UPDATES:
- Today I will be meeting with one of my oldest collaborators Lynn (David) Drzick from Katharsys Pictures. They manage the literary part of CDI. We are publishing scripts/making of’s and novels of CDI films where it applies. Next up is the re-release of the Ghost Town novel. And I’ll be handing materials off for the beginning layout of the Making of KNIGHT CHILLS including the script. This movie has had the book by David Hayes released and is now available on BluRay and streaming! It was CDI’s first film. We will be discussing more literary endeavors because I truly do LOVE books.
- I will also note that we’ve been developing a few films with Lynn and Katharsys Pictures with one being IN THE WOODS 2. We are a few drafts deep and some early development is being done on that. It is always fun to talk films and Alex, Wayne and Al just may be fighting monsters again in the near future.
- I was talking about books and one of the books we are really wanting to do this year is THE QUEST TRILOGY coffee table book full of great pictures and interviews with key production members. I have 1 of the 3 director interviews and need to push for the other two.
- The last three films in the CDI Classic Collection are being evaluated for restoration and I feel fairly confident that we will have some success with these films. You become a guardian of these stories and keeping them in the public is work. But I want to see these stories live on as they are part of the CDI history.
- Rom Coms Must Die is completed and this past week we entered several film festivals that might embrace this film. I will be having talks this week over theatrical and we are actively working to set up a premiere showing. A new theatrical poster is being worked on by Adam Towner and this dark comedy will be releasing wide to streaming and DVD in Q3! You can check out a Making of on IMDB and look for promo clips coming soon.
- AI Jesus: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip is having all the dialog worked on plus music and sound design. We’ll start hearing parts of this very soon. Based off some initial concept art our theatrical poster is being polished up. The plan is to be in theaters this Summer and Q4 home video. A BTS is being planned and the trailer is getting more eyes weekly. We are raising the last little bit of marketing money on this unique film and cannot wait to share it with the world.
- Wild Faith Christmas is entering thew second half of its festival run. We just found out we were nominated for BEST PICTURE at a great awards show. We’ll be announcing that soon but you heard it here first. We are waiting to hear on several more festivals and at the end of Summer/fall this film will reenter the theatrical market before a Q4 home video release. Home video artwork is underway and this will be a great gift to the fans of the first film. It was very well received in theaters thus far and we have plans to try and launch the TV series again.
- I have been doing some writing on two different scripts both follow ups to popular CDI films. I had the goal of finishing at least two films this year and I’m on track to do just that. I’ve dropped hints on which scripts in past blogs. One is the most requested sequel of all the CDI films. It is always fun to be in the world with these characters beloved to so many people. Do you have any guesses? Or do you have CDI films you would like to see follow up’s on?
DEVELOPMENT: Technically the about update on scripts is considered development but I will leave it up there. We have one film that could launch this year but it is time sensitive. We have a few weeks to tie everything up or else it will be pushed into the next year. These are hard talks when you want something so bad but it also makes sure you have the amply time to do a great job. I want this to happen this year but that is all up to a few moves on the chessboard. We will see very soon.
We have a project that was developed quite a bit before we switched gears to AI Jesus due to the timeliness of the story and subject matter. I also have a script to read this week that we’ve been asked to consider co-producing. Before I get a slew of scripts sent to me, it is funded. But that isn’t an automatic in for us. But we really like this group of filmmakers and we are experienced in this genre. So I’m looking to have a good read and see what happens with the other project that has verbal interest but has not yet gone to contract and deposit. Both could be done pending filming timelines. I believe that I’m led to do the projects I’m meant to do.
WRAP UP:
I am looking to sit down with a filmmaker I recently worked with on a short film shot on 16mm. It was fun to go back to my early film days and the day we shot was truly special. And what a great group of passionate folks looking to carve their own name in filmmaking. I had it hard. All us early Michigan filmmakers had it hard. Lynn Drzicks, Mike Kallio, Rich Brauer, Charles Cirgenski, Jim Bonner, …the short list could go on but go back and read the old MICHIGAN VUE magazines. We didn’t all love each other’s projects and occasionally you might encounter competition over the scarce resources. But that was a respect that we were all going through hardships. Some were better funded versus others and it was still always a challenge with money only being part of it. Now with social media and brash attitudes filmmakers are brutal to one another. We also had our TROLLS who were born when the internet arose. You could now be rude without any real consequences. That has become worse in that many don’t hide their identity but they just blast one another. Some may deserve it partially but my philosophy has also been to just let them burn their own bridges. It doesn’t take long to figure out who the BS’ers are and who is stand up. Sadly, when some burn their own bridges they cause damage to a region which with social media can spill out everywhere. Investors, location owners and such who get burned can hurt many. Because not all filmmakers are alike. But the owner of a nice location doesn’t always know one from another.
I try to be grateful for every opportunity I’m given. In turn, try to give opportunity where it is earned. People who really know me have said at times I’m too nice. But I do have limits and boundaries to be sure. There are a handful who know this to be true. Even in some of those cases I just don’t believe this is that path for them. Or if it is they need to mature and develop on their dime. I’m not writing this with anyone in mind so if you felt it, you might want to self examine. But as sad as I am anytime someone is left to follow their own path it always means a new opportunity for someone. A chance to step up whereas perhaps their appreciation will run deeper. I really do mourn those whose attitudes hold them back and celebrate those who rejoice in being given an opportunity. I am good at turning the cheek as they say a first time but the second strike will be met with redirecting force, out the door. So try to be your best self. Don’t let your negativity isolate you and set bridges ablaze. Enjoy the collaborations. Understand the accountability of others. Flow like water. (Thank you Bruce Lee)
I’m going to go get ready for my meeting with an old friend. One who I did part ways with at one time long ago. I won’t say one of us was more wrong than the other it just was what it was. Call it creative differences to be fair but I’m also pleased to have rekindled that friendship and the work between us. So the beautiful thing is that if everyone keeps growing in a positive direction maybe nothing is permanent. I’m always considering the friendship first but I will be direct to action on business. As I’ve noted prior, sometimes the friendship leaves when the opportunities dry up. You can feel used and unappreciated but I don’t let that jade me. I recharge when new opportunities are given and appreciation flows from them. New friendships can be formed over collaborating on art. That again is the real key. The journey. The adventure. The wins. The setbacks. The Growth!
Keep moving forward. Coffee Cheers!
DJ
Birthdays, Premieres and Battle Plans
Jerome the Birthday Gnome sending birthday wishes!
Hazelnut Cheers! I want to again welcome all our readers from around the world. I’m pleased to see readers from a new country Curacao. Come to find out it is a Dutch Caribbean Island. So I bet you have some great views while sipping your coffee or rum drink and reading these updates. I have been to the islands a few times and have always enjoyed it. Imagine all the great stories to be told on that island. Everywhere has great stories worthy of being told and you all are the storytellers. It has been another whirlwind week of personal and professional. I want to take a moment to wish a few of our beloved tribe members a happy birthday. My relative Doug Emerson to start with. CDI long time collaborator and master of all things music mister Dennis Therrian aka Tricky T. Ian Griffin another CDI talent on both sides of the camera is also celebrating another candle on the cake. Fellow filmmaker Rich Brauer. And the immensely talented actress and businesswoman Melissa Anschutz. The last on that list I get the pleasure of working with again this Fall on WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS as Ben and Hester ride the trails again. The original script had Hester being the sidekick but anyone who has seen the first movie knows that Ben is the sidekick.
WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS is knocking off the things on the TO DO list daily. We have a read coming in today for one of the two main castings still open and I’ve got my fingers crossed. More props found including my original Ben Lily harmonica. Wardrobe is fun and that continues to come together. The official first script and schedule was posted for our key crew. Which this week I’ll be starting to put cast and crew paperwork together. I’m a week behind on that due to some construction work here on the property. I’m still working on a few sponsors for the film. We have to work out catering and a few final logistics but things are coming together great.
Harsens Island Revenge – This upcoming week we’re going to be focusing some energy on the Alpena premiere which is targeting November 1st. We are having some of the same initial issues we had with Silent Night in Algona’s premiere. The one theater of modest size questions the selling power of the film. Fridley did as well in Alpena before it starting blazing sales and expended in number of screens, locations and kept adding weeks. It outsold many if not most of the studio competition. We might have to explore a one night screening at the college campus but in Algona it was them not having the right equipment. If the Alpena tries to give us just the small screen it won’t even seat our sponsors, investors, cast and crew. In Algona we had to do multiple premiere night screenings (Like 3 shows in two theaters) for nine showings total opening night. We will do the very best with the cards we have. That is the hard part in trying to do a screening in the beautiful small towns we shot in. Too cold likely in November to plan an outside showing. We tried that with LOST HEART and it had to move inside due to winds in the small town there. The films finished first draft is targeting an Oct 1st date. My plan is to deliver that so we can start planning around a solid date. This will give the post team a few more weeks to mix and polish and we can replace the files the week before when we are up there prepping Wild Faith Christmas. We have sponsor friends waiting to get involved but much of that will have to do with how negotiations go next week. The plan is to have official announcements at the end of the month. Just know that we are doing the best we can to bring this film first to the community we filmed in. Screenings for the public will be out of our control but again we will do our best. Next week I’m working to put our theatrical rep in play. The film is looking and sounding great and I’m so proud of everyone’s work. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP OUR EFFORTS IS TO CALL YOUR THEATER ESPECIALLY IN ALPENA AND REQUEST THE FILM. The previous film shot and released in Algona flooded the theater with calls and show it did for weeks on end.
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA is on home video to rent or buy including the DVD. I think we might work an event screening in theaters into the meeting with the theatrical reps. I know many in Iowa would love to have the film run a weekend/week on the run up to Christmas. The film is selling quite well on the home video market and next year will enjoy even more success when it moves to ad based video on demand. That is free with ads where filmmakers are paid by advertisers. But right now it is available on broadcast and transactional (rent/buy) platforms. This beautiful ‘based on a true events’ has put this film right into the spotlight for the world to watch. In this time of division perhaps this film is just what we need to remember united to stand.
CDI CLASSICS-
This week we’ll start to deliver KNIGHT CHILLS to Twin Engines Global/Deskpop for streaming release. I won’t have dates until they get everything but you all will be the first to know. In additional to Knight Chills, An Ordinary Killer HD DVD is looking like an October release with streaming in December. Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town is already streaming and by popular demand we’ll be starting to sell the Ghost Town in the Sky Collectors DVD that was sold at the actually park. The new CDI merchandise site will be hosted on EBAY and this week started with several overstock items being prepped for sale. CDI will also be doing charity % on every purchase. We will be focusing on military/veterans and animal shelters in need. We’ll have a few bundles also being offered and some free give aways with purchases. We’ll also be listening to all of you on what you might want to see for sale. Some great artwork is being adapted for the re-release of the KNIGHT CHILLS novel which will be followed by the Making of/Script. This is the new poster art for the new Knight Chills release. It was built by our talented Adam Towner who also cut the new HD trailer!
WRAP UP –
I’m going to wrap this up soon as we have a flea market again down the road and I want to go prop hunting. I’ve been finding some great stuff for sure. This coming week will be the finishing of the deck improvements. I want to thank Bart, Towner, Curran, G$ and Shane for helping clean up and stacking the old planks which will be repurposed. To recap-
- Happy Bday to all you wonderful people born on this day especially the CDI folks.
- Thank you to all the efforts already put into the prep of Wild Faith Christmas.
- Start calling the Alpena theaters and requesting the Harsens Island Revenge film.
- Enjoy some of the CDI films you haven’t seen or enjoy your favorites again!
- Get ready to enjoy An Ordinary Killer in HD as well as steaming Knight Chills!
- Have a great weekend!
Yes. I want to give a big congrats to my step bro Shane and his new wife Jordan. We have a nice day celebrating that on Friday. I want to encourage you all to find your own tribe in your corner of the world and create. You’ll be surprised what even two people with a dream can achieve. And that energy can attract other dreamers and more dreamers and soon…you get the picture. I was just an artistic dreamer from what many considered backwoods Michigan. This was way before we had any of the industry we have now. And for folks that say we don’t have any you should have been here in the 1990’s if you want to take about few opportunities. I know several people telling stories as we speak! It is a great time to be alive and telling stories. No excuses. If you want to do it just do it. Until next week my friends!
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 