The Dirtwoman Documentary is now available on SEVEN streaming sites, including iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.

For a full list and links to them all visit the home page. Help me spread the word on social media. 

NOTE: The original title (Spider Mites of Jesus) has been simplified to Dirtwoman. This will make it easier to find when scrolling thru thumbnails.

My trip to the SF DocFest (aka 18th Annual San Francisco Documentary Film Festival) gave me a chance to share Dirtwoman with folks on the West Coast. Judging from the enthusiastic response and lively Q&A, this audience heartily embraced Donnie.

That’s me with Meghan Ryan for the Q&A

Joining the crowd was former RVA promoter Barry “Mad Dog” Gottlieb (he’s also interviewed in the doc). Longtime friend Mark Neerman (formerly the News Director of CBS-6 and now holding that job in SF) also came to enjoy the show.

New friend Douglass Bondick with Mark Neerman, my hubby Mark Reed and Mad Dog.

 

In other news, I’ve teamed up with indie cinema vet Ryan Bruce Levey to help me with the doc going forward. He’ll be consulting on strategies for publicity, promotion, film festivals and distribution. He’s also been generating new reviews. Here are links to several of them.


“I feel like I need to have my brain hosed down”

“a hybrid of uplifting defiance and deeply unsettling tragedy done with earnestness and love”

“a pleasant reminder that it takes all sorts to make a world, and without the outcasts and weirdos, proceedings on this plane would be a damn sight more tedious. R.I.P., Donnie.”

Click here to read the full review

“both interesting and fascinating”

“we also feel the love the filmmaker has for him”

Click here to read the full review

“makes sure that viewers get an eyeful or two as they get to know the Dirtwoman of Richmond”

“a fascinating exercise in style and in documentary filmmaking”

Click here to read the full review

“Jerry Williams uncorks a doozy”

Click here to read the full review

 “one of the must-see movies of this year’s Florida Film Festival.”

Alas, it came out after that festival was over!

Click here to read the full review

 

They’ll be asking, “Who crapped in my Rice-A-Roni?,” when Donnie does the Castro!

The next appearance of SPIDER MITES OF JESUS: THE DIRTWOMAN DOCUMENTARY will be in San Francisco at DocFest: the SF Documentary Festival. The show will be on Sunday, June 2 at the very cool Roxie Theatre. Tell your West Coast friends to get ready!

As many Dirtwoman fans discovered, the Hometown Premiere was a rousing success! People lined up around the block to fill the Byrd Theatre and give Donnie an enthusiastic welcome back home.

Click here to watch the story from Mark Holmberg for CBS-6.

Photo by Alex Martin.

I returned to my home state April 13-20 for the Florida Film Festival. The audiences at both showings embraced the film and Dirtwoman, which is especially gratifying since Orlando’s not Donnie’s stomping ground.

Tim Anderson (Programming Coordinator and big fan of the film, me, Kalen Rice (House Manager at Enzian), Matthew Curtis (Programming Director)

Q&A with Josh Martin

 

Two students (Carly and Dakota) in a Film Marketing and Distribution class at Central Florida University were assigned to be my advance publicity team. Here’s the exit interview video they created after the first show.

They also organized a drag show to cap off the second showing featuring Annie Mae, Draggedy Anne and Waka Shame. Click here for highlights.

I also participated in a panel of filmmakers

Matthew Moyer of Orlando Weekly gave me my first review:

TOMORROW NITE is the Hometown Premiere (and we don’t expect another showing in RVA til November)!

If you haven’t gotten tix yet, click here.

Dirtwoman week was loads of fun!

The First Friday opening at Gallery 5 featured lots of Donnie portraits (quite a few sold). The gallery is open every Wednesday evening from 5 to midnite for Community Game Night (with happy hour 5-7). There will be board games to play and the artwork on display. It will also be open during the weekend after the premiere.

 

Tammy Harris, Debra & Ray Corker

Sunday night, Mamma Zu hosted a special fundraiser dinner for Massey Cancer Center with an enormous meal (so many courses), Dirtwoman necklaces and tickets to RIFF as prizes, and the unveiling of the Dirtwoman Memorial Plaque out front. Thanks to owner Ed Vasaio for his generosity and fabulous food.

The bottle cap necklaces (and carabiner) created by Christine Offutt.

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE UNVEILING VIDEO

It’s off to Orlando to show the doc at the Florida Film Festival, then back here for the Hometown Premiere, as part of RIFFYou can order your tix in advance here or they will be on sale at the Box Office before the screening on April 25, 7:15pm. I’d suggest you get there early…there will be a line.

It’s no joke! On April 1, Mayor Stoney issued the proclamation declaring the first week of April as Dirtwoman Week. Not only does this honor Donnie, but it’s a great kickoff for our month of celebration. Click here to read the Proclamation text

Click on any of these logos to read/hear any of the articles that have already surfaced.

 

Click here for tickets to the Mamma Zu dinner.

Click here for tickets to the April 25 screening.
Click here to read more about the Gallery 5 opening.