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
The news is full of the tragedy caused by one individual. I guess you can conversely look at the good each of us could do if we set our mind to it. I think that is why I like telling these stories so that you can first entertain and then educate. You can sometimes illustrate such important life lessons in a way that really touches folks. It is one of the reasons I so enjoy what I do. I’ve spent some time on the last few blogs discussing some of the issues facing folks working in the entertainment field in the smaller markets. As you all know I’m acting in a project for Grand Valley University that puts seasoned vets with students. Their project’s working title was “Realizism” which was totally confusing and really missed the mark. As someone who often deals with distributors and marketing folks I can tell you it was just a bad title. Well, a better title was agreed upon and that was “Strippers” a bit of a tease to the dirty minded. Actually the script has NOTHING to do with pole swinging ladies. It is about a Robin Hood like gang who strips foreclosed houses of valuable resale items. Some university person is giving the director a hard time over the title which has already gone out in PR releases and such. WHY? That would be like someone saying they need to change the name of the toy cowboy “Woody” in TOY STORY because it makes people think of hard penis’. So I think the college needs to police their own to make sure no locker room buggery if being covered up and not worry about a film title that could have a “naughty” meaning if taken out of context. Maybe they should stop RUSHING because that could also mean a sniffing drug or illegal running in the school halls. Or how about TA (Teaching assistant) because that could mean tits and ass. Or School Spirit could be about occult, dark magic and ghosts, better lose that. HIGH SCHOOL – a place of getting buzzed or high…I think whomever is complaining has an issue of sitting around waiting for any trigger to distract them from their work and flood them with images of “NEXT UP ON STAGE, IT’S CANDY!” (Cue Motley Crews “Girls, Girls, Girls”) So whomever it is I would call them out in a heartbeat in front of the largest college body I could. This is college and the arts – so please. Just get your dollars and go contribute to some dancing girl college funds you misguided fool.
OK. Freedom 35! Anyone who knows me well knows that “The Trailer Park Boys” is one of my absolute favorite comedy shows. It is from Canada and not for minors. The long short is I’ve taken DVD’s of them to many film sets and converted many into fans of this little show that became the #1 comedy in Canada. I communicated with the director and got permission for my character to wear a logo sweatshirt in the “STRIPPERS” film. It was a very cool gesture on Mike’s (Director) part and I thank him sincerely. To me the TPB are the 3 Stooges of our era. Check them out and prepare to laugh!
Many other deals still underway which could have several projects filming over the next few months. I’ve been in talks on a few other acting gigs including the one in France. I heard yesterday they are attaching me so if the business can come together I could be Paris bound. I also have a meeting coming up where CDI with their GPI partners will produce a pilot for a TV series in the Philippines that is in the vein of “American Horror Story”. The pilot has been greenlit and they want me to play the antagonist shooting a couple of days when I’m there at year’s end to promote “Darkest Night” into Philippine theaters. I’m waiting on the script but it sounds great. They would shoot 13 shows back to back in Feb. 2013 or so for broadcast.
We have been gearing up hard for “Deadly Renovations” heading to Netflix (save it now) and other retailers in late August. Some get the film on the 21st and others the 27th. I’ve been told VOD will be in September. We also might have a forthcoming announcement on the 1st foreign sale.
I think I will leave you all with this info to chew on. I report to location tomorrow and I have packing to still do. I’m ready to have a great time filming “STRIPPERS!” I said it! “STRIPPERS!” Some people just need to pull their head out of their backside just enough so they can see where they are going. I think I owe Dave Borowicz’s dad a royalty dollar for using his line:)
Have a great weekend.
DJ
July 21, 2012 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: acting, film, France, freedom 35, Paris, Philippines, trailer park boys, university | 1 Comment
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 