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
Fall Welcome! Gifts, Premieres, Development Updates – the Art of Visualization
I’m sipping on the hazelnut coffee on this chilly Michigan morning. Thank you to all our international friends stopping by to join us. The journey of an artist is not always easy but it is fulfilling for the heart. I had many great meetings this past week. Things have been so busy I’ve been purposely trying to stagger some of the PR announcements.
SMOKE & MIRRORS – As a gift to our #TribeCDI loyal we’ve released our short film to kick off the fall season. If you like old creepy houses, seances and ghosts – this might be of interest. It is a free watch and will also allow you to subscribe and also watch some of the other CDI behind the scenes, teasers, trailers, interviews and other fun stuff. Read about it and watch free here – https://www.prlog.org/12933702-collective-development-inc-gifts-smoke-mirrors-to-open-the-fallhalloween-season.html?fbclid=IwAR1lkaiYFTtMYzztYdZcrSABPo7QSgy9OILLH3h1w5ihU1iDn2ctPJaGFCs
You can go to the http://www.imdb.com page for this film and leave us your thoughts. We will turn it into a feature one of these winters.
PREMIERE!
CDI’s 4th release of the year is upon us with our feature length documentary film, FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH. It is playing two shows one night only at the Owosso, NCG theatre at 6pm and 8:15pm with an afterglow at Romas restaurant next door, following the 6pm show. It will release to home video via Deskpop Entertainment on 10/4/2022 on Amazon Prime and several other streaming platforms.
This is in director/host Curran Jacobs home town of Owosso, MI and we’ll be there to meet and greet. After I would advise adding this DVD to your collection. Also feel free to go to the http://www.imdb.com page and leave your thoughts.
SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA – We’ve been working hard to set up the premiere and following theatrical runs starting in December. We are going to have the first showing in Algona and have been working to land the right place. The local theaters would be the best showing and we’re working on that avenue after the largest seating venue was shown to be lacking in the proper equipment to screen it. We want to have a nice night for those involved and after the general public will start getting their first look.
Music and sound design is fully engaged and this week will be checking on the German subtext and VFX progress. A theatrical trailer is being worked on and should be complete mid October in time to start playing some theaters and to screen at AFM in November. So many things to pull together and luckily we have great help and support from our friends in Iowa. COMING SOON!
HARSENS ISLAND REVENGE – This is the film that I delayed PR on but you’ll get your fill soon enough. We’re meeting weekly on this next film shooting in Fall 2023. We’re planning some scouting trips and we’ll be sitting down with various keys in the coming months. It is nice to have this extra time to plan and we’ll be using it. The roaring 20’s in Michigan is about to get the CDI treatment.
SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE – Included in the forthcoming PR is the announcement of my new script assignment. This story again focuses on a real event in 1800’s Iowa history. FADE IN – the script is underway and I’ll be completed by the years end. I’ll have a first draft before that but I like to really polish a story up. This is looking to film likely in 2023/2024 timeframe after the filming of Harsens mentioned above.
As the cold settles in, more film watching will happen. As the holiday season looms more CDI films will expand into new networks. The Quest Trilogy, MBF, Lost Heart, Wild Faith and now Bestseller, Best Years Gone…how many have you seen? A favorite? How many times have you watched it? Thank you for all the fan mail. Keep it coming. We love to hear from you, the audiences.
I can say with CDI taking a break from production to get all these films released proper – I am missing in front of the camera. Doing a few days or a week here or there might be fun but the role has to connect. I turned down a few roles this year. It is important that I connect with the character and I want the quality of the project to be there. So, my energy will be focused on finishing, pre-production, development and screenwriting. But it does have me thinking on agents and managers. I’ve had several over the years from the top agencies to the smaller boutique agency. Results and understanding you as an artists makes all the difference. We’ll see said the wise man.
I did have a good talk last week that could have me helping to produce a few new music videos. We had a few that we did this year (Vertical Bridge – Off to the Races & Deepfall – Revolution) check them out on Youtube! I still want to explore releasing LP albums on some of the soundtracks. I just bought another one yesterday at a sale – CASINO ROYALE (James Bond).
Visualization – I meditate and practice visualization of goals or guidance. One of the fun things I collect is HAI KARATE aftershave and such from the 70’s. It is what Gil Gilles splashes on his face before trying to get his Sylvia back in BEST YEARS GONE. Anyway, I’m at an estate sale where I like to seek props. I came up from a basement that was like a time capsule. I ‘felt’ something and was drawn to the back of the house. There in a bath was a brand new Hai Karate 3 piece gift pack! I need to visualize on something greater perhaps but what JOY I had. I love to visualize with fire, be it a candle or a fire in the stove. Tonight. There will be fire!
Another HUGE update was dear friend Dane who took a day and helped install a new bath floor, toilet and vanity with new sink and fixtures. We were about to do all this when Covid hit and we started to try our luck but…electricity and water are two things I don’t like to mess with. One day with a Shepherds Pie lunch and that bath got done. A foresee a little something extra special for Dane this year at Christmastime. Here is my public thanks to Dane. We all have skills and handyman is not my strongest.
I’ve got some business underway in Yuma, AZ area as the first of the CDI library is being prepped for 2023 release. Ghost Town, is being digitally enhanced and we’re prepping for a very special release with Deskpop Entertainment in the near future. But we also had several conversations about some collaborative projects to shoot once again in AZ.
Knight Chills is the other film about to be digitally enhanced for a special Blu-ray release and a streaming release again with Desktop Entertainment. FIGURE IN THE FOREST and AN ORDINARY KILLER will be on the list to enhance and re-release to new audiences.
There you have it. Some of the weeks best updates. I’m excited by the week ahead. My alumni MSU made a poor showing yesterday in football. My hope is the LIONS can pull another win today. Some more great meetings this week including friend/co-star Taylor Nichols. Come Sat of next week I’ll be watching FOR THE LOVE OF CATCH on the big screen followed by a tall Killian’s Red. But for now, coffee cheers! I’m going to get a refill and get some things done on this wonderful Sunday.
Until next week, be good to one another.
DJ
Growth – Visualize the Harvest Now
Good morning everyone. Get your hot coffee beside you and settle in to discuss a few updates. Again as always I’m proud of all our readers from the world over. India, China, Sweden and more all joining us here to discuss life and art. Where to even begin? So I’ve just returned from a whirlwind trip to AZ for a business lunch and to discuss the future endeavors of Collective Development Inc. (CDI) moving forward.
Some of the talks involved WILD FAITH which as you know is performing quite well in the theatrical market for just a small grassroots operation. The Goodrich Quality Theaters has expanded our release. Wild Faith now coming to HOLLAND AND GRAND HAVEN and FLORIDA! Please click the links and invite your friends and family!
HOLLAND:
https://www.facebook.com/events/244440026119489/?ti=icl
GRAND HAVEN:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1962675287380657/?ti=icl
GIBSONTON FL:
https://www.facebook.com/events/292497647953384/?ti=icl
Next weekend WILD FAITH and CHASING THE STAR will go head to head at the International Christian Film Festival. CDI will be well represented by EP Rebecca Lawlor and our duel nominated leads in WILD FAITH and our director Mr. Jesse Low. CHASING THE STAR was also nominated for soundtrack, Best lead actor, best screenplay and most inspirational. Both are up for Best Film so it should be interesting.
We are working hard to get the film into other areas where the demand is high. Keep contacting your theaters and requesting the film and also getting us a contact to management speeds up the process. I’m very appreciative that the audiences are receiving the film so well.
Part of my AZ meeting was over WILD FAITH and the home video roll out. I will have to wait to make any final announcements on the future of the film but it looks very good. Not only for the feature film but for telling the ongoing stories of this group of beloved characters.
CDI will also be moving forward with a production deal. They like our ability to put the right team behind a script and to execute on schedule, budget and with quality. We’re in talks now to identify the slate of films that we’ll be doing over the next couple years. The first film under this deal will likely shoot this fall/winter with development starting soon after MBF (Man’s Best Friend) goes into post.
MBF is coming together great. Cast and Crew are being brought on boards and we’ll start filming later next month. I’m very excited about the power of this story. I’ve almost got a firm hand on my character that I’ll be playing in the film. We have a powerful cast that will participating on this movie. I’m excited to “play” with these talented folks.
The meeting also talked about THE CHRIST SLAYER That will move fully into sound and music next month. The final tweaks are being done and we’ll be releasing the Official trailer this Summer. Maybe targeting my Bday month (June) as the release of the trailer. Along with Forty Nights and Chasing the Star – the trilogy will be complete. I’m excited to see where this all leads. We’ve been steadily recouping against our advances and this year will start even more TV/Foreign play. I’ve been getting lots of fan (e)mail on Forty Nights and I’m humbled by the kind words.
All these smaller films have been directed at team building. Getting the right cast and crew in place around a certain script. I’ve noticed that many people struggle in this industry because they play the short game vs the long game. You have to invest with your time, do so with people going somewhere. By this I mean making the effort to grow and improve their game.
Our budgets will be climbing slow and steady over the next couple years. We’re working to develop loyal tribal members who want to be part of good art and business. We’ve got deep contacts nationwide but we’re trying to develop our Michigan crew base best we can. We hire on accountability and we do vet people. Having a great attitude with a strong skill set is what we look for. I’m still amazed at how some step out of line wanting/waiting for something better to come along and allow others to step into their spot. Maybe they step out for better art? Maybe they hope for a better paying gig to come along. I would say the latter is more likely why some people step out of line. But a few paid weeks out of ones year to stay with a team constantly moving forward seems like a smart move. I’m just from a different time and have a unique way of thinking about these matters but it’s helped me survive all these years while watching many fall. Choose wisely.
IN OTHER NEWS…
ASHES OF EDEN – This Shane Hagedorn directed piece is trending upwards nicely on Amazon Prime as people discover this little gem.
WICKED SPRING – This old gem is being discovered by a new audience online – also playing Amazon Prime.
Before my biz trip I recorded a commercial narration for a director amigo – so if you occasionally start hearing my voice in the commercial arena you’ll know why. I’ve enjoyed doing these little gigs. Far easier commitment-wise versus the feature film work. So as I’ve said before – if you think I fit something make me an offer. Pending my schedule and your offer I just might say yes.
I’ve got many things to do today including our second soccer match. We lost our first game 2-1 having only half as many players. That is our fault not theirs but we did good even with those numbers. Today should be much better and either way I love being out there kicking it again. The work in the yard continues. Might till the garden this week and the hops have already started to grow. I’m looking for my favorite mushrooms but they’ve not yet appeared.
Have a great Sunday and rest of your week.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 