An Interview with David Dietz, Star of Waltz

by Mike Haberfelner

March 2026

Films starring David Dietz on (re)Search my Trash

Your new movie Waltz - in a few words, what's it about, and what can you tell us about your character in it?

In Waltz, Hannah Keeley plays Alice, a British ex-patriot copywriter who finds herself out of work after one too many late assignments. Facing the possibility of having to return home to the UK (and her overbearing mother), she decides that the only way to keep herself afloat is to join “Biggest Fan”, a titillating cam-girl web site. She approaches her photographer friend Calvin (me) to help her set up her profile and get the ball rolling. While Alice is initially successful, her provocative photos draw the attention of one obsessed fan who kidnaps and physically and psychologically torments her for her multiple perceived “sins”. Calvin is your average Joe who cares for Alice deeply (more than she even realizes) and tries to be a voice of reason in her life.

What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much David Dietz can we find in Calvin?

I like to joke that Calvin and I are nothing alike because I’ve always been so successful with the ladies! But the truth of the matter is that I think every man who’s ever been infatuated with a woman who doesn’t return that affection can relate to Calvin’s arc in Waltz. There’s one devastating scene in the movie where Calvin confesses his feelings for Alice and she laughs with amusement. I can honestly say that I’ve been there/done that. Not with laughter, exactly, but moments like that leave a mark on you.

How did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to it?

The usual way: I was scrolling through Facebook and found the audition notice. I submitted my materials not really thinking that I was right for Calvin because the character description outlined a younger man. I thought that perhaps I would be considered for Alice’s boss, but director Joshua D. Maley [Joshua D. Maley interview - click here] surprised me when he asked me to read for Calvin. I knew I wanted to be part of the project after reading the audition scene (which was an early version of the scene between Calvin and Alice in the bar when she asks him if he thinks she’s pretty). It was one of the best written sides I’d ever read, and I figured if that scene was any indication of the kind of film that Waltz was going to be, I knew that I wanted to be in it.

To what extent could you identify with Waltz's approach to the horror genre?

Well, I said above, unlike some other low budget horror stuff out there that relies on a lot of blood, gore and boobies (not that there’s anything wrong with any of those things!), Waltz is more of character-driven psychological thriller that relies on slowly building up its world and its players so that the audience becomes highly invested in them and grows to care about them and their situations before it suddenly pulls the rug out from under them. I really like that it’s a slow burn, much like the original Alien movie is.

What can you tell us about Waltz's director Joshua D. Maley, and what was your collaboration like?

Josh and I hit off almost immediately because we’ve had similar experiences when it comes to our misadventures with the opposite sex (we’re both Calvin in a way), being professional copy writers (like Alice) and our appreciation of “nerdy” things. While Josh is more of a Dungeons and Dragons gamer than I am, we bonded over our mutual love of Star Trek and Doctor Who. So needless to say, I think we trusted each other implicitly in our on-set jobs. I don’t remember him giving me too many notes after a take; so I guess he liked what I was doing, and I definitely loved what he was doing. Before my first day, I watched 316, one of Josh’s shorts, and it gave me an idea of the quality production that Waltz would be.

Do talk about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere!

I wasn’t on set as many days as Hannah Keeley and Hattie Baier were. But on the days I was there, I noticed that everyone in the cast and crew was genuinely excited to be there, despite some long overnight shoots. I think we all knew we were working on something that really had the potential to be special. A lot of actors will say that the crew was like a family; but in this case it’s literally true because the Waltz crew was made up Josh’s family members. And even though Hannah, Hattie and I aren’t biologically part of Josh’s family, we were fully embraced as if we were long-lost cousins reunited with them!

Any future projects you'd like to share?

Well, Josh must have really like what I did on Waltz, because he cast me in a cameo role in his next film Dead Friends Forever. And that cameo role grew into more of an important supporting character as the film expanded from a short to a feature. It’s in post-production now and should be released later this year (but don’t quote me on that)! I’m also featured in the crime drama Don’t (now streaming), the horror musical I:Scream (thankfully, I don’t sing in it!) and will be shooting a faith-based comedy called Sunny Sixteen this summer. So, I dip my toes in multiple genres!

Your website, social media, whatever else?

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find David Dietz at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find David Dietz here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai

Anything else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that without the love and support of my own family (my wife Megan and son Connor), I wouldn’t be able to do what I do!

Thanks for the interview!

Thanks for thinking that I’m worth interviewing!

© by Mike Haberfelner

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