‘RED LETTER AWARD’ WINS AND MORE!
CONGRATS TO ‘WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS’
I’m smiling as I sip my hazelnut coffee even with the soft rain that has fallen all morning. I just had a great call with a childhood buddy from kindergarten after a week or so of phone tag. It is always a joy for me to catch up with those friends. I’ve been dealing with heavy pre-production work on our next film and also dealing with some health issues with a family member. I think we are finally getting the right answers so some treatment can begin. I know having my parents is a blessing and not something everyone still has. It has been a balancing act as this next film is my one big project for this year. I will be away for the prep week and two weeks of filming. So I’ve been trying to be as helpful as I can prior and I’ve been navigating that the best I can.
The plants are all drinking in this water and the cool night weather as we slowly start moving towards the fall. I’ve already been harvesting some herbal teas and such. I successfully have my hops growing again. I will want to arrange for another good mow before I have to be off filming. We’ve been enjoying the new deck immensely. The hammock gives a few quiet moments to reset the mind. The gazebo covered rug is perfect for my stretching and roll outs for my back with a CHIRP WHEEL. They work look them up.
I’m going to move onto some film updates!
- ROM COMS MUST DIE – We had an intimate showing at the Studio 414 which was us giving everyone an opportunity to see the film before it goes to home video on 10/2/26 on DVD and streaming! We surprised everyone by removing the cover charge and just making it a little celebration. They even had a special drink made for the film called the FINAL DATE. We might try to keep bringing films there as a nice mixer to meet other artists. So mark this on your calendars and BUY the DVD for your CDI collection. It is pre-order on Amazon right now!
- AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip – I don’t have any word on theatrical dates which will run until Jan. 2027 but the home video release will be 10/30/2026. The topic of AI is everywhere and this film looks at the topic from all sides. This is my SciFi spin on events taking from the real news headlines. I hope you will all check this film out in theaters and on home video!
- WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS – This film is still working through awards events as we move towards the 11/3/26 home video release on DVD and streaming. I just got word this morning from director Shane Hagedorn in Nashville, TN that last night at the RED LETTER AWARDS we won Best Actor Shane Hagedorn. Adasyn won Best Supporting Actress, Teyton won Best Actor and was there with his family. I heard he gave a great acceptance speech. And I want to note our dear friend Ronnie Lee whom both Shane and I have served as narrators for his audio books, won Best Children’s author! We want to also give congrats to all the other nominated artists and winners. NEXT up will be the WILL ROGERS AWARDS in October.
- DEVIL’S PASS – We are closing in on our on-set pre-production week and two weeks of filming. It has been a slow and steady build up as each department handles its business. It is going to be so much fun. I’ve been slowly morphing into the new role. The big beard is gone replaced with a stylized mustache and I’ve been assembling all my props and wardrobe. We are getting close to go time and that is always exciting. I think with Mondays being my day off (Right:)…I may do my blog on Monday for those few weeks away filming.
DEVELOPMENT – I am working on the funding commits for RETURN TO ALGONA the follow up to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA. We are closing in on the 2/3 funded and will be soon opening it up to other investors. We gave an exclusive opportunity to the initial funders and will open up from there. I’ve also been doing some work on the WILD FAITH 3 script and the MBF2. I will be devoting more time on all this Q4.
WRAP UP: I’m appreciative to be able to do all these wonderful creative endeavors. The stories are collectively told and put out there for many generations to enjoy. I want to do a nice push on THE QUEST TRILOGY this holiday season. I’m going to keep just knocking down the TO DO’s every day. I’ve been keeping myself level and focused and I’m going to enjoy watching audiences enjoy these new films. I hope each and every one of you are enjoying your final days of Summer and preparing for a wonderful Fall. It will soon by the harvest, time to reap the rewards from the seeds planted and the nurturing that took place. Nurture yourselves and keep pushing forward. I wish you all a wonderful Sunday and a productive week. – Coffee Cheers! DJ
MBF Updates plus ICFF Results
The sun is out on this 5th of May and I’m sipping some hot coffee and looking forward to reviewing the week. Let’s start outside of film. I put a first mow on the yard and did several improvements including to the new garden shed. Organization up in the office with the addition of a new shelf unit which I picked up at a sale by nuns. If you think the India market hagglers are tough try negotiating with a nun, or several of them. No. It was a fun 30 min and I left with a few neat items including two shelf units. I had my first soccer match in the new 40+ league and despite the rain had fun game. We lost when our goalkeeper broke his hand early in the game. My childhood love of Chewbacca was well known and it sadden me to hear that Peter Mayhew, the actor passed away. I had him attend a screening of a comedic fan film “Unconventional” some years ago. That was more exciting for me than meeting Will Smith or any number of celebrity encounters. RIP.
Onto the film updates. I’m getting reports that THE CHRIST SLAYER which just played the ICFF in Orlando, nominated for…
WON runner up for Best Film. I’m curious what won because it must be an awesome film. But congrats to all the nominated films and winners. I wanted to win ‘Most Inspirational’ and round out the trifecta since we won that award for FORTY NIGHTS and CHASING THE STAR. I’m happy that audiences in Orlando got to watch the film – thank you to ICFF. Now I hope that you all can find a series of nights or a marathon day to watch all three films in the trilogy.
WILD FAITH – the domestic home video run is exploding. A simple google will find various sources to stream or purchase the DVD. Amazon is now taking pre-orders
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Faith-Shane-Hagedorn/dp/B07QZV2H2R
I know many of you have waiting to see this film. Make the effort to see this film and you won’t be disappointed.
MBF: Man’s Best Friend – This powerful film will be evaluated on Friday as a work in progress with our theatrical distributor. We’ve done a first pass on sound design and the dialog has all been balanced. VFX and color correction is underway and we are to deliver on June 30th. I think the screening is just a formality before their marketing team can dig in. The artists doesn’t want to show a work-in-progress but the business is that it will help the film. It speeds up the timelines and should allow for a stronger release. With both The Christ Slayer and Wild Faith, both films already had the domestic home video set up so the theatrical had to work around that. With MBF and upcoming LOST HEART we want to work them into the mix proper like.
Speaking of our next project LOST HEART, we are just three small steps from moving into official pre-production. Also my talks with one of our targeted co-stars went great and once we move into pre-production, we’ll secure her schedule with an offer. I’m so excited about the film and it looks like camera roll in July is becoming the real possibility. If we have a good week we could be moving officially into pre-production.
Other things of interest this week include on-going talks on representation for acting and writing with some production opportunities mixed in. I did get an offer recently on a film but thought it best to do a polite pass. You have to appreciate anyone who approaches wanting to secure your artistic talent. While the role could be another film and residual check, the role didn’t grab me. I don’t do projects unless I connect with the material and the role. I see people who accept things that maybe they should have said no too. You will be defined by what you say NO to. I do hope to work with this particular outfit just on a different project with a character I can truly get behind.
Today will be some prep for the week ahead. We are also going to prepare something Mexican (food) to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo day. I hope each and every one of you have a great day and productive week ahead.
Be good to one another.
DJ
DJ Perry's Official Blog 'Clawing My Way to the Middle' 