Every Task is a Test!
Good morning all my artistic minded friends. I’m sipping the hazelnut coffee and sitting down to review the week and to look ahead. It is June 1st the first day of my birthday month. I sometimes get a little edgy during my birthday month wanting to get things done. Now I’m looking at not our 1st film of the year but film 2 and 3. And as for releasing we are releasing film 1 of 3. Lotta that number 3 floating about. We have had two soccer matches where we lost 3-2. But I have to say my recovery during week 2 here has been much better. My body has that good sore that those in sports know very well. I’m happy with my play and endurance and last Thursday I was pushed to my limit and it felt great. Sadly, one of my dear friends broke a bone in his leg and will have some recovery time. It might be a season ending injury when you count rehabilitation into the equation. I’m wishing him a speedy recovery. Others on both teams made minor injures including one guy on the opposing team took a friendly fire shot to the head. He was dazed hard and it just goes to show soccer is truly a full body battle. We don’t have people taking dives and magic mists and water bottles like on the pro stage. These are aged warriors battling it out. I love being back at it.
This last week was horrible for communication. I’m trying to excuse some of it with everyone coming off the holiday. But that is hard to do when we have individuals who are solid, regular communication. We are in an age where you can whip off an update via text or even hands free with voice command. If you have a deadline and you are going to miss it you better follow up with an explanation. Every task is a test. You might be handling a small but important part of the greater task. But you are being evaluated to see if you are ready for more. The goal for an individual is to become known as reliable, dependable and someone who always gives a best effort. These are the things that lead to major roles on feature films. These hints work for both sides of the camera. I have one individual I’ve been trying to communicate with on some business but I also had something greater in the back of my mind. But bad communication takes them off that casting or crewing list. Communication amazingly seems more regular when you are offering something versus asking. I worked some hard to build my career with professional, prompt communication. I just can’t wrap my head around it all. I know the opportunities a person had within their grasp but they lost those opportunities by painting themselves unreliable.
But in the spirit of competition everyone trying to get ahead counts on people self destructing themselves. I’m thanked often by executives at our accounting firm, distributors, etc…for my prompt response. So when people wonder why do I get opportunities that others don’t I have things like those examples to point to as an example of why. I work with a handful of the younger generation trying to teach what has worked for me. You won’t find anyone with their nose buried in a cell phone at one of our meetings. That amazing tool is a pacifier for many people. You add up your hours wasted and compare that to presentations, pitches, scripts and more that I fill that time with. Now again I’m not saying this to hold myself higher but I am suggesting to others a better use of time and communication. But again when others don’t display the same level of professionalism that is why they aren’t entrusted with capital. Ultimately that works out in our favor but I still work hard to try and streamline our work flows and communication is that key.
Let’s move into some discussion on our CDI films.
Harsens Island Revenge (HIR) is in somewhat of a holding pattern with several of the chain theaters. We are waiting for the summer glut of films to lighten so we can get some dates. We were tentatively given last Friday as a release date for HIR at Emagine in Detroit. But in the lead up the communication to solidify the run dates when quiet. So we’re looking at more mom and pop theaters while waiting on the chains. We also might open up a couple opportunities for dinner shows at a pair of event halls wanting the film. We are also doing the marketing prep for home video (DVD and streaming) that launches in October. In the meantime we hear you and want you to be able to see the film on the big screen. CDI and our theatrical partners at Dreamscape Prods are working hard to lock in those showings.
This past week Melissa Anschutz was nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ joining noms for Best Actor (David Reardon), Best Director (Carl Weyant), Best Screenplay (DJ Perry) and Best Film! More to come who knows we might receive a few more. We are grateful for the recognition.
Post Production:
Wild Faith Christmas music, VFX and color corrections are underway. This is another very exciting film that continues where Wild Faith left off. I might look at a producers rep to work with CDI on the TV series set up. We’ll be preparing this film to hit theaters in November.
Rom Coms Must Die is locking up color correction and the VFX list is being prepped. Sound design is underway and the last step will be moving this over to Dennis Therrian for the score and final mix. I was promised a look at version 2 of the trailer this weekend so we’ll see if that lands today.
Development:
The next film up looking to film this Summer is THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM CHIP. This will be the second CDI collaboration with McGraw Multimedia. The Director of Photography will again be John McGraw. We are just starting to look at key cast and director. Also we are rounding out the funding with half of the funds committed. I’ve had a few conversations and will be putting some materials together to present this coming week. The second project being looked at for Fall/Winter is looking like- (one announcement at a time:)
Writing:
I was pleased with my Harsens Island Revenge script nomination. I’ve had many and won several over the years. I do love that this part of my skillset has been so active the last decade and a half. Script-wise I am working on a few projects but one treatment/script that I’ve been working on is a sequel to a CDI favorite. I have a great story in place and I just need to work it all into script format. If you are looking for that original script or book adaptation feel free to reach out.
Misc:
- I had some great conversations this week catching up with some filmmaking amigos like Terry Jernigan and Taymour Ghazi just to name a few. I love catching up with their newest projects and talking about possibly collaborations.
- Great meeting with ‘Tiger’ this week (John Mashni) about the evolution of CDI work flow.
- Set several meetings this week to advance certain projects on several fronts.
- Setting a few PR podcasts and such which will be fun.
- I need to work with Dean Teaster and get our next literary project (Ghost Town book reissue) out to market.
- We are starting to prepare the dispersement/returns for investors on the various CDI films.
- I have to check and see when the release on the music video “Blizzard’ by Shallow Rising is due to drop.
WRAP UP: I’ve been processing wood for next winter. I’ve constructed a new wood rack and I’m slowly dismantling the old wood shed. Much like the turning of seasons you have to always be prepping for the seasons ahead. I’ve been loving working outside whereas my work breaks are business calls. The office and surrounding area are my good zen. In those quiet times with the birds and squirrels I’m able to see where I need to put my next efforts.
We ended up getting the sealant/stain for the new deck and soon that task will be up. You always have the small fix-its to do. So I’m going to wrap things up here. I want to try and get some of those fixes done. I also have a few catch up biz calls I want to make. So I’m going to thank you all for stopping through here and having a coffee, tea…whatever and share a read. I hope you have a great week ahead. Welcome to June! May it be productive for us all.
DJ
Memorial Day Weekend 2024 – TEN FILM UPDATES!
(Wounded vet Paul Landings tries to readjust to life working in an animal shelter)
Hazelnut coffee cheers! Above is a list of where some of our new readers are from. Please do invite folks and subscribe yourself. This has been a very productive week. Our soccer team dropped a match but I’m loving the work out and feel as if I’m playing good. I also got to end the week with shooting some primitive archery. Some people love guns and go to the range to blow off stress. The loud aspect and ringing ears even with protection makes shooting something for hunting or self protection but not fun. But slinging arrows is something I really enjoy. My main bow is a compact recurve made by Bear. It is a classic and shoots extremely well. It was a great time and I’m going to make that more of a regular activity. I have several others bows that I want to try out for fun.
(True story of WW2 home front soldiers watching over German PW’s)
Outside I’ve been doing lots of work keeping the mowing up. But also added a new arbor and chainsawed a lilac tree of some dead branches. I chipped up the medium sized branches and the large are cut to season for burning. I wonder if they smell good while they burn? On the full moon also did some harvesting of red clover, chive and sage blossoms for tea. Many herbs have great medicinal properties in addition to food flavoring. The hops is growing great and we’ll see how they do after the new porch build which is slated for July. It will create a much bigger deck area and create a nice under deck area as well. I need to start cleaning out the space under the deck and get it ready for the build. I have at least one tree that needs a trimming to get some branches off the house. A few tree trims might need an expert. The berries are getting ready to pop with raspberries looking like they will be a bumper crop. Today we’re having the mother’s over for a grill. Venison and buffalo burgers and chicken with mushrooms and wild onions. Okay, shall we get onto some film updates?
(Civil War veteran Emmett Murphy readjusts to life after the War of the States)
UPDATES
- I think last year I expressed my sadness at the passing of my book editor at Revel/Baker Lonnie. I had written a story that had accepted for our 4th collaboration this one on birds. The new editor Katelyn reached out and the book is moving forward. I’ll promote that when the book releases nationally.
- Staying with literary – It is time to buckle-down and get the first of the CDI books rolling out under our new publishing deal. Knight Chills and Ghost Town books will likely be the first ones up. I need to get on the artwork and create an action list.
- More literary – I’ve been doing a lot of screenwriting as of late and working on a few properties that were smaller in scope meaning fewer locations and characters. This means few company moves hence fewer shoot days and lower budget. Of the three scripts we have we might elect to shoot two of them versus the HOT ROD LOVE which has a larger cast from all over the USA. I will say that the 3rd film script that I’m closing in on is a sequel to a popular film of ours. It has been a joy to write for some of these characters in the world we previously created. My only hint is – giddy up.
- Our Dean Teaster’s GHOST TOWN has been signed with Ammo Content and can now be seen on TUBI at https://tubitv.com/movies/616519/dean-teaster-s-ghost-town (FREE with ads) and will be licensing to many other platforms. I’m also told we will be releasing in the UK so please let me know my friends if it starts to show up there. We’ll do some PR on that next week but you got the intel here first!
- The true-crime film AN ORDINARY KILLER starring myself, Terence Knox, Terry Jernigan and Dan Haggerty is now being used to help the non profit The Red, White and Blue Project thanks to a fundraising effort by Two Average Joes Media who runs a podcast on true crime. They’ve remastered the film and a special HD DVD is going to be sold. Once the purchase site is up we’ll share that. We are looking to put it into the streaming market just before Christmas. I want to cut a new trailer but we’ve remastered the old one for the time being. That will be releasing soon.
- KNIGHT CHILLS which is enjoying a remastered Blu Ray release with Saturn Core/Vinegar Syndrome will be entering the streaming market this Fall. CDI’s own Adam Towner has been working on a new poster and trailer. We’ve had several meetings and I hope to see some updates this weekend.
- I got a sneak peek at some Tom Miller artwork for FROM VENUS. He did the cool artwork for KNIGHT CHILLS used in the Blu Ray release. It is looking great! We have to discuss how we want to deal with the duel format of the film – outside the comic book is letter box and inside the comic book is full screen. Unique in concept but now we have to decide what to do in the remastering. Maybe a matte of the comic book old old school TV matte.
- Remastering tests continue on FIGURE IN THE FOREST and HEAVEN’S NEIGHBORS. I do want to get the double DVD featuring the two films for sale. Both are great films directed by CDI’s own Jeff Kennedy.
- I got to see the first cut of the music video we just did with SHALLOW RISING and it looks great. The previous video is suppose to release this month and when it is we’ll promote it on here.
- I had a great meeting with my friends at McGraw Multimedia where we are discussing some exciting collaborations. We also had a great meeting discussing pulling together various artistic companies in the Lansing area. If it all gels it could be BIG for Lansing. Stage, screen and video games all under one roof. I’m in talks with them for future supervision of production which I’ve discussed with various companies out west but I had/have no interest in leaving our state. This facility would be exactly 7 minutes from my house which makes it ideal.
(WW1 veterans deal with the Purple Gang of Detroit in the roaring 20’s)
I feel as if I have a few additional updates but I’m going to wrap it up here. I have some breakfast to get after and I have to get the grill ready. I’m looking forward to a day of friends and family. I love catching up on some of the TO DO’s around the property. This forthcoming week I’ll finish the script I’m working on and we’ll have some developmental talks. I will say that we’re discussing a return to the Alpena area to work with some of the fine folks we’ve already met and worked with on Harsens Island Revenge. SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA is preparing for it’s TV debut on UP FAMILY & FAITH channel and I’m anxious to hear if the film did some licensing in Cannes, France. Harsens Island Revenge is having sound design, dialog and musical score all worked on. We overcame the few tech issues we were having with software. The reports coming in on dialog are wonderful and I’m told will be some of the best yet. That is technology for you both in source capture and clean up. A long ways from our small DAT players. The trailer and theatrical poster are being worked on and I hope to have a first draft by end of the month. My goal would be to release a trailer on my June 23rd Bday. We will see if the team can make that happen.
(Making plans for 2024/2025 and behind with John Mashni)
I might have a Knight Chills trailer by that time also. Our 1st film and our most recent film side by side. That is growth. We’ve learned so much from set back and success. We’re excited to move into new territory. We’ve been planning some big things for 2025 production-wise. I had a great meeting with John Mashni, one of our producers and our legal consultant. We were preparing breakdowns to release $ back to investors on the current films. Additionally we’re discussing the future which has some very promising opportunities. Many more stories to tell my friends. Do me a favor and enjoy your favorite CDI film(s) with some family and friends this week. Recommend one of your favorites to someone new. I’m also told next Friday we might get some exciting news finally on IN THE WOODS, my first starring film returning as a remasters Blu Ray and even to select theaters. I’m just so grateful that I’m allowed to do what I love and that so many people are touched by the stories. Thank you for all the little notes and fan mail, it is appreciated. Have a safe and fun Memorial Day and remember those who served and died to protect our freedom and liberties. Enjoy a few of our film clips in this promo for ENCOURAGE TV– https://youtu.be/HKVI4ONZ4Dk?si=p3u50jdleuSG60HU
Until next week! Coffee Cheers!
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 