Cockabunnies

In 1981, David Wojnarowicz befriended twenty-one year-old Sophie Breer, an artist and co-worker at the Peppermint Lounge. David delighted Breer at the “Pep” with antics such as letting a costumed cockroach out of a jar to run across the bar at 3am. Amused, Sophie rented a Betamax camera to create the film Waje’s Cockabunnies. Shot in the style of the mid-century children’s show Romper Room, Sophie's 14-minute video features David attaching bunny ears and cottontails to cockroaches he found in his apartment.

Directed by Sophie Breer, Cockabunnies leans on a strong ensemble — David Wojnarowicz, Emily Breer, David Baillie — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1981.