TLA Releasing has acquired the North America and United Kingdom rights to the latest film from renegade gay filmmaker Damion Dietz, Beverly Kills. The label has picked up theatrical, home entertainment and broadcast rights in both markets and will begin a limited theatrical release in mid-2006.
While much gay filmmaking is becoming more mainstream, Dietz reclaims the genre’s underground roots, creating outrageous films on micro-budgets that aren’t afraid to offend. In his comedy Beverly Kills, a vicious, aging drag queen plots revenge on all of Los Angeles when he is rejected for a role in a community playhouse’s new gay nude musical, “Balls Out.”
He assembles a band of wannabes, hypnotizes them into a cult, dresses them as celebrity impersonators and releases them onto the streets of Hollywood – with bombs strapped to them in fanny packs. At the same time, a young innocent who sleeps in the theater is romanced by its lighting designer, only to be kidnapped by the queen’s henchmen when he discovers their plan.
The Philadelphia City Paper described Beverly Kills as “early John Waters remaking Hedwig.” It had its first screening as a work in progress on Opening Night in Los Angeles at Dances With Films, and next won a Best Feature award from the Ft. Worth Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The final version was first screened at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in July 2005.
TLA acquired the film from Dietz through New Media Entertainment. Representing TLA was its Director of Acquisitions, Rich Wolff.
“Damion Dietz is a talent to be reckoned with. We have been a fan of his ever since we saw his first film, FAG HAG, on the festival circuit,” said Wolff. “He has a rich, if probably a bit unconventional, career ahead of him, and we wanted to be part of that early on."
“TLA Releasing has demonstrated how much they value filmmakers, and they've also earned a great reputation for successfully distributing unique and provocative films,” said Dietz. “I'm extremely proud to be a part of that family."
Described by Film Threat as “bright and energetic,” Dietz is a graduate of the School of Cinema-Television at USC. He began his filmmaking career in 1996 with the short Respect My Ass. His first feature film was Fag Hag, the story of two misfits who befriend each other, followed by Virgin Larry, a mockumentary about a community theater group, and Neverland, a modern retelling of the Peter Pan story.
For more information, visit www.tlareleasing.com.
