CDI is welcoming the new year with the final steps to kick production for WILD MICHIGAN into gear. We’re waiting for official word from our Executive Producers to start the engine.

We enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting a few new ones at the 2008 CDI Holiday Party and look forward to growing the CDI network in 2009.

Snowy WILD MICHIGAN

The holiday season is upon us, and tonight in Michigan we’re anticipating a winter storm to hit as we sleep. Whether or not we like to shovel it, scrape it off our windshields or slide around in it, it’s hard to argue against snow’s beauty. It’s been a cold and snow-covered December here as we’ve moved forward in our preproduction for WILD MICHIGAN. This extra time has allowed for broader casting choices, and has provided an unexpected new opportunity…

The chance to film TIMBERWOLF and WILD MICHIGAN back-to-back.

A first draft of the script is completed and undergoing a budget analysis. Concept art and project summaries are in the works. Here at CDI, we’re excited at the prospect of three Westerns in a row. Looks like Santa’s got CDI on his “nice” list this year!

But even with all that we have to be grateful and joyful for, there is no denying that this is a somber holiday season. With the economic recession, layoffs, shaky ground under the Big 3, bailouts and financial scandals it’s hard not to pause a little longer this year when appreciating the year behind us and looking toward the year ahead.

Best wishes for a holiday season filled with peace, joy, laughter and love. Here’s to a new year of new beginnings and new opportunities for friends old and new…

The art department had the sets prepped and ready, but everything’s now in storage until January. Never fear–WILD MICHIGAN is still a go, but crews were sent home until mid-January for a February shoot. Pre-production was well underway when the decision was made to delay production until after the holiday season. We’re excited about the work that’s been done–including some great CGI work–but even more excited to have this reprieve to take some additional time with star casting.

We wish everyone a season filled with holiday joy and send many thanks to everyone who’s already been working on WILD MICHIGAN as well as those who will be here in the new year! We’re grateful for all of your hard work and support.

With financing secured, we are in full pre-production for WILD MICHIGAN. We’ve brought a line producer, production coordinator and special effects supervisor onto the team. We’re currently working on contracts, including attaching star talent. While we can’t say more about that yet, we can say that we are excited about this wonderful next step for CDI.

Take a peek inside WILD MICHIGAN…

The last days of summer are bringing hurricanes to the coast, and movies to Michigan. It is a turbulent time, both bad and good. For CDI, the path to WILD MICHIGAN has been a long and winding one.

But we’re pleased to announce that we have found our locations for the shoot, and having just received our state approval, are preparing to enter actual pre-production. This means we will soon be able to finalize various contracts needed to move the machine forward.

Official poster from Lionsgate

On a related note, type-setting for the novelization of WILD MICHIGAN, written by Lansing author Dee Freeman, will soon begin. The book will be released through Alexander Books, who also released Teaster, based on the screenplay for Dean Teaster’s GHOST TOWN THE MOVIE.

Pre-sales have begun in advance of GHOST TOWN’s October 28th release. And while GHOST TOWN co-director Jeff Kennedy prepares for WILD MICHIGAN, Dean Teaster is laying the foundation for his next project, TIMBERWOLF. For more info, see the official release that went out today.

DJ Perry and Dean Teaster on the set of Ghost Town

If one thing’s clear, it’s that CDI has got more stories in the pipeline…