The Sailor, The Wizard and Rock and Roll!
The weather outside is warmer and the snow has started to melt. The sun spent some time out and hinted at the coming of Spring. I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee and I’m waking refreshed. My mind has been full of numbers and reports and lacking creative. But the foundation of business always has to established first before you start to build the creative. That creative that is the rare air we breathe. I know all artists feel those urges to create, perform, write and collaborate. Artists aren’t normally financed like many jobs they survive endeavor by endeavor. When the storms of life roll around you it is easy to feel at the mercy of the elements. A sailor on the sea of fates. But the word sailor is the key. He knows the winds and when to raise and lower the sails. He knows to sail into or against the winds. He knows his ship, his crew and how to manipulate the elements to get to his or her destination. They don’t fear the adventure they crave it. If you want safe you stay land bound by the fire. But that is not what ships are meant for.
“You’re a wizard Harry!” A simple statement from a famous franchise of books and films. To be an artist/filmmaker you must remember that you don’t just allow things to happen to you. You visualize a goal in the imagination, hold the vision strong by faith and force it into being with will-power. Will-power also includes the hard work needed to inject that will into the chaotic storm of life. I’ve pondered what has made me successful after all these years and this is what came to me as an answer. If you find your self floating in doubt, unfocused you will not be able to generate the will power required for success. Having done what is required is what gives faith in the process. You cannot just work hard but you must work smart.
Yesterday on the Hallmark day of love remembrance I released the 30th Anniversary CDI reel and PR. I noted again in this day and age where many don’t read beyond the headline, a weakness we have. People need to slow down but the pace of life and energy tries to force us into a frantic state when slow and deliberate is needed. Here is the PR link and the reel link is within it.
READ AND WATCH HERE: https://www.prlog.org/13127348-collective-development-inc-celebrates-30-years-of-independent-filmmaking-with-highlight-reel.html
I want to thank everyone who took the time to give thanks. It was a beautiful tribute video edited together by Adam Towner. Let’s look at some of the CDI updates.
- Wild Faith Christmas is being delivered to our home video distributor and will be planning for additional theatrical showings before the Q4 streaming and DVD release.
- Rom Coms Must Die is finished and we have it being reviewed by home and theatrical distribution. We will be having a marketing meeting on Monday to plan a premiere. We are actively looking for a few festivals that would be fun to attend and promote. A theatrical poster is being worked on and I think people will enjoy this parody of our film industry. We are looking to have it in theaters this Spring and Q3 streaming and DVD.
- AI Jesus: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip is in the music and sound studio having dialogue polished, sound design and musical score. The name for some will leave an odd feeling as it should. This was taken and fictionalized from a real event. AI already dominates dialog and is not slowing up. I think the film will create an immense amount of conversation. I’m very excited for this film to release into theaters this Summer and to streaming and DVD Q4.
- The CDI website has been updated and is where you can find other CDI films to watch. http://www.cdiproductions.com please do take a look and watch the other films in the CDI catalog. Thank you David Gries for the updates.
- CDI’s Youtube Channel is growing and I want to give it some added attention this year. Search it out to watch some great content related to the CDI films. WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@TribeCDI
- This blog – if you are one of the many around the world who read this every Sunday do me these two little favors A) Subscribe and B) Invite someone else to subscribe
DEVELOPMENT: I’m going to be returning to some of my screenwriting. I have several that I develop between the paid writing gigs. I am very happy with the film scripts in the works. I’m excited about the high and low concept projects in development. High and Low could be applied to the budget required to do justice to the story. And some of these scripts have been in development for years. These projects happen because of financial backers. There is no trick to it. Often it is just good planning, good track record and good reputation. I’ve had many tell me that being part of these CDI films are some of the best endeavors they’ve ever been part of. I agree. But I’m biased. But you cannot NOT do the work and just sit in hope that something will happen. I’ve had conversations recently whereas the desire is there but the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly work to move towards production is just not being done. I live and breathe these stories.
WRAP UP: The eye appointment I had this past week reminded me that the years indeed are clicking by. I’ve been a touch mentally tired by the current heavy lifting I’m doing to try and launch a few larger endeavors. The rough seas that I talked about in our opening intro. But I had to slow myself and take a few deep breaths and remind myself that I am a sailor. I am a wizard. I am an artists not afraid to do the hard work needed to make things happen. I respect doers. But talk to any of them and if they are being straight with you they will tell you it is not easy.
In the wake of our 30 year PR I had a handful of screenplay writers reach out. A bit of research will show that we don’t require screenplays. But a funded screenplay is always a different story. It doesn’t mean we will automatically do it but it is what makes it worth looking at. The script is the blue print as we’ve discussed. If it is not up to par it will not translate to a strong film. This is often a hard conversation when you like/love and respect the artist. But even with one of our current projects close to green light the writer felt the 2nd draft was perfect yet now we are working with draft 5 and it is much stronger. Most of my own scripts end up being a 5th to 7th draft.
I’m feeling the power of Spring myself. The emotions that hinder us start to melt under our own confidence. But it is good for others to know that we all have those moments where the stone feels heavy to push. But we have a tribe at CDI and the more hands that push the resistance gives and the rock starts to roll. Rock and Roll my friends! Let’s talk next week and I hope we all have made progress with our endeavors. Coffee Cheers! DJ
Thoughts On Casting and December Updates.
So with the weather change in Michigan from bitter cold to wet and warm, my sinuses were bugging me this morning. I also had to play ref for doggie wrestle-mania. Also with the snow melting I had to do some puppy proofing in the yard. Little Finn is starting to explore, dig, patrol and eat sticks, bark, mud. I had to harvest up the remaining wild grapes because grapes can cause kidney failure. He started some puppy classes and Daphne, our older dog has been teaching him good and bad. Before Luke got sick Daphne and he use to play fight every day. She is a touch out of shape but Finn is making her exercise daily. They are quickly becoming good siblings. Our only regret is that Luke did not get to take on a parenting role with a new little one.
In between playing referee and doing work we’ve had TCM playing and I’ve enjoyed watching the many classic films. It is funny now how we can watch the credits and so many names are lost to me. I’m a lover of film and I still don’t recognize certain names that I’m sure were common household names at one time. But that is why we seek to make a few classic films that stand the test of time. To create those few roles that people will talk about for decades to come. I feel like I’m just coming into my prime as a storyteller both as an actor and producer. I also feel like my writing is finally being acknowledged and that’s a gift. But all the recent success is built upon many years of hard work.
The symbol of the KNIGHT CHILLS franchise.
I think 2019 is finally the year to do the EARLY YEARS OF COLLECTIVE DEVELOPMENT which will be part film education. I would like to include the four first CDI films and the BTS and maybe a few retrospective interviews which might go on the social media. But before Michigan had a film boom it was truly a barren landscape with just a few filmmakers making a go at it. But KNIGHT CHILLS, FROM VENUS, HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS and FIGURE IN THE FOREST were our learning years and we paid close attention to the business. I would like to package them up into a definitive collection.
Signing for fans at the 15th anniversary showing of IN THE WOODS
Another area that I want to focus on is merchandise with our films. It’s something that I truly enjoyed throughout my life and I would like to be part of that tradition. I’ve had big ideas but like most filmmakers I’ve always been under financed. That is changing and I would love to put some of those plans in action. So feel free to drop a note here about any ideas for merchandise that you would like to see.
This week many projects were taken to the next level. In 2019 we’re going to see three CDI films move out strongly into the marketplace. We’re now on the front lines of a new theatrical partnership our distributor has put together. I’m awaiting the home video dates on WILD FAITH that has been delivered to the distributor. Tomorrow the re-mastered theatrical version of WILD FAITH will go to the theatrical partners. I’m in hopes to have a much more detailed announcement next week. We are still putting the final touches on a few deal points. But it will be all worth the wait.
MBF has had a good showing at the first film markets. The feedback I received was commenting on the professional quality and strength of the story. Our first trailer was put together somewhat in haste due to a sudden demand for a first look after Mipcom. It was decided to spruce up the AFM teaser and release it as a first trailer. I’ve had many people reach out who support our military and/or dogs to comment on the story. This will be a wonderful film with a strong message and we look forward to bringing it to everyone. There is an initial interest in a limited theatrical release – more to be discussed once we get the film further done the line.
THE CHRIST SLAYER – If you’ve watched FORTY NIGHTS and traveled into King Herod’s lands in CHASING THE STAR, the next journey is coming. The Quest Trilogy will be complete with part 3. We’ve been working hard in the studio and the film is now sounding great! The picture is just epic and now the music is matching. Sound design is so much fun adding wind, animals, crowds, creaks, sails, swords and the list goes on. We’re adjusting dialog where it’s needed to create great from good. Post is a serious process that really seperates the professional from the amateur. It takes time to get there and those watching our films would notice a steady progression. Now when we sit in the IMAX watching it on the big screen I’m always taken back to those early days. Keep moving forward.
LOST HEART is the film that is slated to be on deck for Spring 2019. A funny heart-warming drama that also deals with a few serious topics. Add a large dose of Michigan charm and I think we’ll have another great film. It will again be distributed under our deal with BMG. I’m also looking at Summer and Fall films and I know it will be a productive year ahead. I think we’ve found a few of our actors and some are returning favorites. We’ll be posting on this film as we enter the new year.
I’m going to also use the winter to finish a few of my other scripts including my Sci-Fi script. I’ve had a few people talk to me about commercial and non-commercial projects in the new year. Again if your script is good. You’re financed and compensating your talent, and you think I fit something, run it by me. I know, I’ve offended a few people with passes on projects in the past, but it was done politely. We are defined by what we say NO too. When I say YES, I put my all into it. I’ve got a few projects that I put a lot of myself into and they never got finished. A couple were well compensated projects but still the art is buried. So I look for quality and people who can finish.
Speaking on this. I recently saw a project that looked interesting but before someone rearranges their day or even does a read, especially as a co-star or major role, I think signing a non-disclosure to read a script is in order. If I have not worked with the group before, I do ask that the project be funded. Because reading, really reading can take 1-2 hours and if that time is spent, it should be worth it. There are exceptions, but I’m talking cold auditions for unknown parties. The response of “compensation is pending role and will be discussed if role offered” or “script provided only if cast”…whoa! What if the talent dislikes the script. Hours driving, memorizing, reading only to drop out after a read because of a poor script/blueprint. I don’t like my time wasted or to waste other’s time but will often do a quick “sketch” off sides if the story interests me. If they like the sketch the next step is to read the entire script if the film is funded. Nothing like those inexperienced filmmakers trying to raise 3.2 mil to do their first film. That’s like me and a few buddies building a spaceship out of lumber and junk to fly to Mars. Not likely. So, I’m going to remain open to working with some new folks but if you approach please do have your ducks in a row. I’m happy to see that happening with some of the Michigan groups. I’m beyond happy to see the success both in business and storytelling.
And with that…I’m going to make some lunch and do a few things around the house ands get ready for another great week. It has been a great mix of business and catching up with family and friends. I hope you also enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 