Good Things are not Easy! CDI Updates
(On the genre front CDI makes a development deal on three films) * See bullet point #5
On a rather mild morning in Michigan I have my hazelnut coffee beside me and I’m sitting down to chat with all you fine folks from around the world. The buds and the spouts are starting and soon will be the mushrooms. I did trim the prime mulberry tree when it was still cold. Speaking of the berries on the property, I took the 20 lbs of 2025 season raspberry, mulberry and rhubarb and made BERRY KA-POW: Chuck Norris Tribute Wine! The yeast got added this morning and soon we’ll have the magic bubbles that start the process. I’ve been doing some other property clean up and I’m looking forward to all the Spring projects. I love seeing all the birds at work and I soon I plan to once again seed the property with the clover. Our hens are producing 4-5 eggs a day and have been loving having the snow gone.
On the personal front I’ve been adapting to my new glasses and I will get to pick a second pair on Monday. It is an amazing technology to adjust everyone’s sight. Now at a distance things don’t look like an abstract painting. I can see faces before they are right upon me. If you saw me in the last couple years in a room or store and I did not say hello it was because you were a painting to me. So being able to read all these signs and see faces has opened my world back up. I like glasses and got use to them over the last few years with readers. I don’t like anything poking or touching my eyeballs like contacts. I remember filming in Otty, India and they kept trying to put these brown contacts in my eyes over my baby blues. After a half an hour they got them in and I smiled for a continuity photo and one popped out. Finally the director Shah just said, “you just stay the blue eyed devil”.
I’ve been doing a bit of PR to try and bring more artists to this blog. If you know someone who might enjoy our weekly visits pass the word and blog address along. I’ve had several people say the official title of CLAWING MY WAY TO THE MIDDLE should change since I am past the middle. What ideas do you have? Comment your ideas. I might engage to put a 2026 acting highlight reel together but right now other priorities in front of that. I LOVE the 30 Years of CDI video that Adam Towner did. Right now I’m working with him on a Making of AI Jesus video. I’ve been trying to get the IMDB site updated with all our making of’s and BTS as they are awesome projects made by some very talented folks. We try to preserve the adventure and experience of filming a movie to have many years later. JOIN the CDI Youtube and you can see many of these videos. I need to upload more videos but I am getting there.
FILM UPDATES:
- I mentioned the Making of AI Jesus video. AI Jesus movie has the first solid round of dialog clean up and sound design done. Soon the music composing will start in earnest. Also we’ll start the end credits. This film has one investment unit still open and I’ plan to assign that so we can start on the next film adventure development. We are awaiting the AI Jesus poster being done by TEG that will serve as both theatrical and home video. We are all very excited to see what this film does in the general marketplace.
- ROM COMS MUST DIE had a great meeting this week with the theatrical hub that will assist in delivery of the film to theater chains. Those that know Adam Towner know how funny of a fella he is and this first co-starring role really showcases that. IF you have a podcast or want a written interview please do let us know. We are looking at several festival showings along with some limited theatrical and home video Q3. Have you seen the trailer or BTS video?
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS gave a small taste of theatrical being finished at last year’s end but will do a final theatrical push this Fall before rolling out on streaming and DVD Q4 before the holidays. The film just got selected by an IndieFest and we’ll know nominations soon. Same with the Red Letter Awards, it is up for Best Film and individual nominations to come. ICFF has the film up for several awards including BEST PICTURE. My schedule is allowing my to attend my first ICFF which has been recognizing our work since FORTY NIGHTS in 2017. The Will Rogers Award event that asked for the film will have more announcements in June but said it was an absolutely wonderful movie. I think so too. I always say the best Christmas film since SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA.
- I’m asking everyone who previously loved watching THE QUEST TRILOGY or CDI’s three biblical adventures to watch them again and invite others. Forty Nights, Chasing the Star and The Christ Slayer because they will prepare you better to watch AI JESUS this Summer.
- I did release some PR this week on a three picture development deal with Lynn Drzick and Katharsys Pictures. He was once a biz partner pre-CDI and directed my first starring role in IN THE WOODS as Alex Kerwood, master fighter. The film was released around the world and put me on the map. I remember when we had only the trailer and I played it for Wes Craven when I auditioned for SCREAM 2. The film can be gotten on Blu Ray now with two versions of the film and many extras. We will work to get it to streaming this year. But we have agreed to work together to launch three genre films. READ HERE: https://www.prlog.org/13134408-collective-development-inc-and-katharsys-pictures-announce-multi-film-development-deal.html
- I’m holding off on some official PR until some ink is dry but an agreement has been made developing a sequel to a CDI film. Now I’d already spoken about a MBF2 and WF3 that I’ve been working on. But a follow up to another beautiful film is in active development. The screenplay is underway and I’ll be announcing something in the next two weeks. It comes with a chuck of financing and the other half might come on the board very soon. How soon will determine if we film this year or next. I’m open to either one you just have to follow the process. More soon. Sorry for the tease.
- On the literary front I’m working with Shane Hagedorn on the layout for Making of THE QUEST TRILOGY book. I need to send some artwork and intro for the script and making of book of KNIGHT CHILLS to Katharsys Media overseeing our literary. Dean Teaster did an updated intro for the re-release of the GHOST TOWN novel also heading back out to market very soon. We will keep building this division over the next several years.
WRAP UP: This coming week will be some Bday adventures celebrating my better half and also a few meetings and some writing. Two out of town adventures and some solid Spring prep as well. At the end of the week I will likely be doing the 1st rack of the Chuck Norris Tribute Wine. I do have ingredients to make two different beer runs. Maybe end of Summer intake for Fall. Or I believe I have a lighter and darker beer so maybe one Summer and one Fall. I don’t drink much these days but when hosting meetings where they want something we enjoy it.
Business-wise I have the business taxes about all done and will be settling up with that. I just am trying to get some face time with our legal to make sure I’m following the right next steps. My personal taxes are almost done. It always costs me to have them done as they are too complex for me to do solo. But looks like I might be paying in some this year. Death and Taxes they say. It is funny that sometimes after someone passes away I get sad, slightly mad and then motivated. Like you are still alive so get things done. I wanted week before last to finish a few deals but they were not ready. Sometimes you have to settle for movement on the chessboard vs a checkmate. So I’ve been working right along and just letting things happen naturally.
Everyone wants to know when we start the next adventure and I’m still just wrapping up the last piece of business on AI Jesus and after I will put my full attention forward. We will have a great year of premiere showings and awards events. Doors of opportunity always open because the work has been done. Yes. I too want it to happen faster and struggle occasionally with patience. But sometimes you have to left the soup simmer. We have also had a few disappointments as a project or two with great promise lost some momentum. But a better path will be found, and when it’s found, it will happen. All projects at CDI happen like that. You mainly hear of the success but the setbacks are there too. That is normal so keep on pushing. Great things are not easy.
Until next week be good top one another! Coffee Cheers!
DJ
A Tragic Story & TV Releases
Welcome to Feb. everyone. We are past the holidays and off to a great start. Before I get into some of the exciting updates I wanted to share a story. Many years ago when I was just starting this journey I knew this young girl. I knew her from the acting workshop that ultimately led to my 1st starring film role. The years that followed opened more doors but she was having trouble getting her first footholds. She was a blonde bombshell type that you might find on BAYWATCH or such. The girl could really act and really sing but her appearance made most see that first. I remember telling her over a game of pool that she would have to work twice as hard to get people to see past her boobs. It was true. I saw Bruce Campbell at an event climb over a table to come meet this young lady who arrived with a few friends. She had that appeal but still could not land that dramatic role she needed to showcase herself. She decided she wanted to go to Hollywood. I told her as hard as it was she should really try to get her experience in secondary markets before going Hollywood. She had her heart set on going and so I told her she had to be focused. Hollywood is like a full time spring break for young people. It is where wanna-be actors from around the world come with dreams in hand. They have what I call actor ghettos out there. Basically it is expensive out there and so aspiring actors live in certain areas. They usually party and talk about finding agents, finding a gig, blah, blah. The point is more talk than action. My 1st trip to LA I was invited. I went to read for Wes Craven and I stayed in one of these areas. In two weeks people were amazed because I had done more in two weeks than they did in two years. I don’t think I am more special than anyone I just have a focused way about me. I think that is from martial arts. So I told this girl don’t get caught into these traps. The trap of young people putting play before work. All night parties that lead to late wake ups that lead to day long hang overs that lead to food, coffee and where is the next party. They bitch about the unfair system that keeps a person down. I can’t get an agent. I never get the role. I can’t get a break because of…. never was there accountability. So I fill this girl up with as much common sense wisdom my immature self can muster. She heads out to grab her dream. Three weeks into her move I get a call and she was now dating some musician from a well known rock band. Long-short is that a handful of years later she is cast aside for a younger rock groupie. She has not done a single film but she has done every destructive drug possible. Her “glow” had faded and while she is still pretty she is now older and cannot compete with the better resumes. She moved back and spent more time here chasing cocaine and the next party. She ruined her image at a company party by asking around for “meth”. She moved here and there and I would occasionally get the call asking if there was any acting parts. Yes. I want to risk investor money on a worn out looking girl showing wear and tear of a woman twice her age. A flakey drug addict that may or may not show up somewhere. The last time I saw her was years ago at a local bar where I had gone to meet a few friends during the holidays. She was a hot mess and full of regret. I recall the words of encouragement I shared and wished her well. She was living in Florida but was home on holiday. Years go by and nothing from her. I finally got a phone call a few years ago saying she had moved back to Michigan and was working at her church. She said we should catch up and party a bit. I was not in that mode and surely did not want to feed that. My career path has not been easy and if you are not a hard worker you will fail. I never called her back but emailed her something to the effect that I was glad she was back in-state and getting her life together. I mentioned maybe coffee sometime but I did not follow up. I think because she was still asking about acting and I did not want to hurt her feelings – I never met up with her. I would not be hiring her anytime soon for an acting role knowing all that I knew already. Years clicked by and unfortunately the only time she sprang to mind was when I saw an AOL story on before and after of METH. Well recently I found out that she died in 2011 at age 33. They did not mention how but it had to be drugs either by accident or purposely. I found this out only this week. I was having a day of slight frustration waiting for this deal to close or that. It took me all the way back to the beginning. I wanted to tell this story on here because if it saves even one person it will have served a purpose. I see many of the same type of people looking for short cuts to stardom. So heed my words. Remember the solid words of the hard working people around you. Love yourself. Thank you for listening.
TO MOVIE NEWS.
A deal has been made for the inspirational film “Figure in the Forest” and the powerful Civil War drama “Wicked Spring” to play on the Parables Network. It should start playing later this month and I’m proud to have these films going out to new audiences. We will be working additional distribution deals on these and all our films.
We will also be announcing that “Deadly Renovations” is going to vudu VOD platform expanding the release of this film even more. The film is also opening an AZ festival by special invitation. Pre-sales on “Locked in a Room” and “Darkest Night” will be starting this month. “Benjamin” is playing the Long Island Film Festival in March also. April 19th with be the theatrical and DVD release of “Realizism” in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today I’m going out to look at “Ashes of Eden” editing work. The trailer has created a lot of buzz and it should. I think it really gives a powerful peek at what the film is about. Also we will be discussing future collaboration between our companies.
I hope you all have a fun and safe weekend. Enjoy the Superbowl with family and friends and have a great month.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 