Beverly Kills (2005)

Director:

Damion Dietz

Writer:

Damion Dietz (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Cult | Satire | Drag Queen | Musical Number | Male Frontal Nudity

Cast

Stephan D. Gill	...	Naked Man at Auditions (as Steve Gill)
Marlon Pfeiffer	...	The "Closeted" Director
Burton Rhodes	...	The 'Out' Director
Gary Kelley	...	Beverly Jackson
Keith Bearden	...	'Balls Out' Ben
Nathan Towry	...	Barry (as Patrick Allen)
Rick Sparks	...	Shane
John Marlo	...	Rocco, The Masseur (as John Mario)
Jill Kocalis	...	Hector (as Jill Pappas)
Brian Brooks	...	Brian
Ross Graves	...	Blake
Peter Valvel	...	Brock
Michel LeJeune	...	Bo
Matthew Herrmann	...	Ray
Ian Mantha	...	Jimmy, The Sketchy Hustler
Tishara	...	Harley
Michael Manuel Sanders	...	Marquis
Saadia Billman	...	Three
Craig Lucas	...	Strip
Mark Simich	...	H.P. Stevens
Stephanie Kirchen	...	Coral Terrazzo (as Stephanie Orff)
Blair Wells	...	Man at Skate Rental Counter
Erika Mena	...	Chola Skater
Meredith McClain	...	Chola Skater's Girlfriend
Antonio Matabang	...	Couples Skater #1
Jonathan Jimenez	...	Couples Skater #2
Jules Sanchez	...	Trick Skater
Leif Holt	...	Hunter (as Aaron Holt)
Luke Weaver	...	Tyler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Pappas	...	Hector

Directed by
Damion Dietz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Damion Dietz		writer

Produced by
Damion Dietz	....	producer
Stephanie Kirchen	....	co-producer (as Stephanie Orff)
Elyse Rogers	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jeffery Alan Jones

Cinematography by
Peter Hawkins

Film Editing by
Vince Filippone

Art Direction by
Kathleen Finch

Costume Design by
Hanna Ainsley

Makeup Department
Lisa Carey	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Adam Archer	....	sound recordist
Joe Iemola	....	sound editor
Jeffery Alan Jones	....	sound designer
Jeffery Alan Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffery Alan Jones	....	supervising sound editor
John Kirste	....	boom operator
John Lockwood	....	sound editor
Adam Nichols	....	sound editor

Production Companies

• New Media Entertainment LLC

Distributors

• TLA Releasing (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• TLA Releasing (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

USA:80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Hong Kong:III

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Media Entertainment LLC

Movie Connections:

References Cabaret (1972)

Original, Hilarious Satire

Beverly Kills is a highly entertaining satire of Hollywood lunatics, fanatical doomsday religious cults, and oversexed gay community theater. This film belongs on anyone's list of top gay independent films. Writer/Director Damion Dietz wrote a brilliant script, which is both humorous and touching. Dietz is a skilled director who knows how to breathe life into his own material. He has a great talent for casting skilled actors who fit the roles. What makes this black comedy unique is that the actors play their parts seriously, allowing the audience to laugh at them. This is critical for a successful black comedy. Gary Kelley as the cross-dressing terrorist Beverly Jackson is a standout. His threats following rejection at a gay theater audition are both chilling and humorous. Another great performance is delivered by Rick Sparks as Shane, a gay man who is down on his luck. The audience will truly sympathize with his plight. All of the other acting in this movie is top notch. This is very refreshing, as most actors in other gay indie films appear to be recent graduates of the Porn Star Acting Academy. In addition to great acting, this film delivers amusing satire. A true highlight targets on-the-cheap gay community theater. Anyone who has sat through a number of these productions is well aware that the key to getting butts in the seats is to show butts on the stage. Full-frontal nudity guarantees full houses. A perfect example of this satirical point is demonstrated in the "Balls Out" song in the play-within-the-film. This number is witty and skillfully performed. It would be impossible to improve on the music, lyrics, and choreography. One wonders how many takes were involved to get the actors to rip off their Dolphin shorts to show the full Monty at the right moment. This is a musical number that should be watched over and over again. Apart from the film, the DVD contains some nice features. For example, the director's commentary track is very entertaining. Dietz follows all of the rules of a good commentary track: (a) keep talking, (b) discuss what's on the screen, (c) share on-the-set mishaps, (d) dish lots of dirt, and (e) don't bore viewers with too many technical details. Dietz will hold your attention for the entire commentary. Most directors fail miserably at this. For additional amusement, show this film to your friends with the subtitles turned on. You and your friends can take turns shouting out all of the obvious subtitle goofs. There are many! For more great surprises, freeze-frame the Cult's CD Multi-media presentation. A few single frames contain some startling images.