Wigstock, NYC's annual drag festival, began in 1984 when Lady Bunny performed spontaneously in Tompkins Square Park. Running until 2001, it recently returned, uniting drag generations in a c... Read allWigstock, NYC's annual drag festival, began in 1984 when Lady Bunny performed spontaneously in Tompkins Square Park. Running until 2001, it recently returned, uniting drag generations in a celebration of queer culture and identity.Wigstock, NYC's annual drag festival, began in 1984 when Lady Bunny performed spontaneously in Tompkins Square Park. Running until 2001, it recently returned, uniting drag generations in a celebration of queer culture and identity.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Leigh Bowery
- Self
- (archive footage)
John Epperson
- Self
- (as Lypsinka)
Featured reviews
10rlechuga
Loved the parallels between Lady Bunny and Charlene. This doc shows how drag's original focus is still alive and centers those who are continuing to create the type of drag that futhers creativity and activism. It's also really, really pretty.
A fun and campy documentary about the drag festival Wigstock and its founder, Lady Bunny. Many appearances by drag icons of NYC.
Wigstock was the annual NYC drag event that ran for aprox. 20 years from the 80's to mid 2000's. Much of this doc follows many of the performers as they prepare for the 2018 revival.
The film gives much of its time following Lady Bunny, who was there in the beginning and is co-hosting the revival. It also contains vintage clips of early Wigstock events and performers. However, the film feels like a poorly edited hodgepodge of these clips without a clear focus or direction. I felt like I was watching someone's home movies at times, which I'm sure was the point but felt lost without any narration of what was going on at the time. The doc culminates in about 20 minutes (of the over 6 hour festival) filmed at the 2018 event, which was the most interesting and I wish had been the entire movie (and I wish I had been there).
I enjoyed some of the up close interviews, with a few feeling almost voyeuristic. Ultimately, though, the whole thing, from the title to the editing, feels thrown together and unimaginative (imagine that, some of the most imaginative people on this earth in a film that isn't). The hard-to-find original documentary "Wigstock" is a much better depiction of the early days of the festival.
The film gives much of its time following Lady Bunny, who was there in the beginning and is co-hosting the revival. It also contains vintage clips of early Wigstock events and performers. However, the film feels like a poorly edited hodgepodge of these clips without a clear focus or direction. I felt like I was watching someone's home movies at times, which I'm sure was the point but felt lost without any narration of what was going on at the time. The doc culminates in about 20 minutes (of the over 6 hour festival) filmed at the 2018 event, which was the most interesting and I wish had been the entire movie (and I wish I had been there).
I enjoyed some of the up close interviews, with a few feeling almost voyeuristic. Ultimately, though, the whole thing, from the title to the editing, feels thrown together and unimaginative (imagine that, some of the most imaginative people on this earth in a film that isn't). The hard-to-find original documentary "Wigstock" is a much better depiction of the early days of the festival.
10eme225
This doc was insightful and well done. It's right up there up with my other favorite Docs about NYC communities, "Paris is Burning" and "Fetishes" from the 80's and 90's, to name a few.
This doc is also so entertaining containing such talented performers. Not sure what else people want from a doc. I was so excited for this portrait of a colorful and full of life community that keeps NY spinning and incessantly advancing performance, art, culture, and society.
This doc is also so entertaining containing such talented performers. Not sure what else people want from a doc. I was so excited for this portrait of a colorful and full of life community that keeps NY spinning and incessantly advancing performance, art, culture, and society.
Queens with real talent beyond shopping/sourcing/renting/borrowing outfits and serving face. In an Instagram/Kim K/Paris Hilton/Famous with no real talent world, every single one of these ladies turn it. This document is thoughtful and inclusive. My vote for surprise breakout star was Charlene Incarnate, probably because I'm a gulf-coaster, and our scene is dominated by pageant drag. And the herstory is so amazing and critical. I really hope that someone tackles Drag on a ken burns level (think jazz or baseball), but until then, this is one of the best nonfiction works I've seen on the evolution of modern drag. They had to make a choice on what to show in this format and around the rebirth of wigstock. I hope someone in the future does an massive scope docu series from late 1800's drag to Paris is Burning era ballroom to RuPaul's breakout to modern day.
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $500,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)
- Color
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