z-Diet-3 Productions (zD3), an independent production company based in Pittsburgh, PA, today announced that two of its feature films will be released on DVD this coming April.
Both
Indemnity: Rage of a Jealous Vampire (zD3's first fully produced narrative feature) and Fetish Dolls Die Laughing (which zD3 co-produced in association with Pittsburgh-based
Kiss of Death Productions and Theatre of the Night) will be released April 24, 2012, through Califormia-based distributor World Wide Multi Media (WWMM), which is associated with Warner Brothers.
"This is what it's all about," said zD3 founder David Dietz. "Producing a film is a monumental undertaking to begin with. But, actually getting it distributed can be an even greater challenge. We're extremely proud of this accomplishment."
Although many other independently produced films have also been released on DVD, what makes zD3's story unique is how the distribution deal came about:
"It might not have happened at all... if it weren't for Facebook!" Dietz said.
Dietz said that while he was finishing post-production work on Fetish Dolls Die Laughing (that is, editing it and adding music and special effects), he began spreading the word about his own recently completed film Indemnity on the social networking site.
Dietz explains: "I basically started connecting with the horror film community on Facebook. That led me to several film bloggers. I sent those bloggers screener DVDs to review, which they did - most favorably, I might add. And one blogger ended up becoming Acquisitions Director at World Wide Multimedia."
Once WWMM agreed to release Indemnity, Dietz said he felt confident enough to approach the company about Dolls... as well. Now, he says he's ready for horror fans to see the results of his efforts.
"Every filmmaker wants their films to reach the widest audience possible. Hollywood has its system down pat. So, indie producers like me have to be just a bit more creative about getting their films out. Thankfully, sites like Facebook are making it possible!"
Indemnity concerns a young man on the run (played by Dietz, who also wrote and directed), who takes refuge in a rural saloon, where he finds a sympathetic bartender named Joe (played by
Dan I. Radakovich). As the evening progresses, the young man opens up to the bartender over several drinks. But as the details of his story unfold, Joe wonders if the young man is merely a victim of circumstance… or if he’s hiding a much darker secret. Also among the cast are former indie pro wrestlers
Seth James and
CJ Sensation (ne: Craig Stevenson); and
Crystalann Jones stars as a lethal femme fatale named “Angela.”
In Fetish Dolls Die Laughing, a button-down homicide detective (play by Laura Romeo) is forced to go under cover in the seedy underworld of internet fetishists, where a series of bizarre and grisly murders have occurred. The trail of bodies ultimately leads her to submissive photographer (and internet entrepreneur) Billy Tagg (
Michael McGovern, who also wrote the screenplay) - who has become the latest vessel for an ancient, malevolent entity called "The Tickle Monster." David Silvio is the film's director and his wife Diana (who also acts in the film) is the producer.
Dietz says that although seeing the films distributed is a great joy, he is by no means resting on his laurels. He says that zD3 is currently finishing a docu-drama about Amelia Earhart that will be released later this year, and plans to produce another film in the same vein as Indemnity. zD3 is also collaborating with Kiss of Death Productions on a film called I, the Killer and with Eerie Frequency Entertainment on a film called Driving Nowhere.
Both Indemnity: Rage of a Jealous Vampire and Fetish Dolls Die Laughing are now available for pre-order from
Amazon.com.
