George R.R. martin, the mastermind behind the global phenomenon Game of Thrones, is known for weaving intricate tales of fantasy and intrigue. But beyond the dragons and political machinations of Westeros lies a lesser-known facet of Martin’s life: his enduring friendship with fellow science fiction author Howard Waldrop.
Their bond, forged over a shared passion for storytelling and a love of comic books, began in the early 1960s. A teenage Martin, on a quest for a rare DC comic, crossed paths with Waldrop in arlington, texas. “The Brave and the Bold #28 was very important,” Martin recalls.”Because it was the first appearance of the Justice League of America.”
That chance encounter blossomed into a lifelong friendship. “I love the guy.I miss him still,” Martin says.”He was certainly my oldest friend in the world of science fiction and fantasy.”
Waldrop, a celebrated figure in the realm of science fiction, was known for his unique blend of alternative history, pop culture, and Southern folklore. While Martin achieved mainstream success with Game of Thrones, Waldrop remained a cult favorite, earning accolades like the World Fantasy Award for life Achievement in 2021.
Their connection endured through the years, transcending the vast differences in their literary trajectories. “We started writing letters to each other, actual letters — that was something we had in those days,” Martin reminisces.”We just hit it off long distance. We were both aspiring writers. that was our first exchange. It was in 1963, there was a guy named john F. Kennedy in the White House. [But] I did not actually meet Howard in person until 1972.”
Tragically, Waldrop passed away in January 2023. In a touching tribute to his friend, martin has produced a short film adaptation of Waldrop’s Nebula Award-winning story, “The Ugly Chickens.”
“Howard was not commercial,” Martin acknowledges. ”I wrote a lot of short stories and sold them, but eventually I started writing novels and series, because you can’t live on short stories. Thay didn’t pay enough.”
The film, directed by Mark Raso and written by Michael Cassutt, is a testament to Martin’s commitment to honoring Waldrop’s legacy. With hopes of Oscar recognition, “The Ugly Chickens” serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of friendship and the magic of storytelling.
George R.R. Martin, the acclaimed author behind the “Game of Thrones” saga, has embarked on a deeply personal mission to honor his late friend and fellow writer, Howard waldrop. Martin, recognizing Waldrop’s immense talent and the financial struggles he faced in his later years, has dedicated himself to bringing Waldrop’s captivating short stories to the big screen.
Waldrop, a gifted writer admired by his peers, unfortunately never achieved the widespread recognition his work deserved. martin, reflecting on Waldrop’s legacy, shared, “He was an amazing writer. There was no one like Howard.” Despite Waldrop’s undeniable talent, Martin and others worried about his financial well-being and health as his life drew to a close.
Martin, enjoying the success of “Game of Thrones,” initially sought to adapt some of Waldrop’s stories into short films. However, he encountered the common hurdle of securing funding for such projects.”It’s hard to get anyone to finance a short film,” Martin explained to The Hollywood Reporter. “Movie theaters don’t want to show short films. I own a movie theater myself, so I know that. And it’s hard to get the big studios to make them. I tried for a number of years… I finally gave up.”
Resolute to fulfill his promise to Waldrop, Martin made a bold decision. “The cardinal rule of Hollywood is: never use your own money. I broke that,” he admitted. “I [thought], ‘God damn it, I’m gonna use my own money,’” he added. “So we put these films into production — three of them are now finished. Two more are in post-production.”
Three of waldrop’s stories have been adapted into short films: “The Ugly Chickens,” “Mary-Margaret road Grader,” and “Night of the Cooters.” “The Ugly Chickens,” starring Felicia Day (known for her roles in “Supernatural” and “The Guild”), has already garnered acclaim on the festival circuit, earning a best short film nomination at the HollyShorts Film Festival and a special mention at the DuHok Film Festival in Iraq.
“The Ugly Chickens” follows Professor Paula Linberl as she embarks on a cross-country expedition to uncover the truth behind the supposed extinction of the dodo bird. Martin highlighted the story’s appeal, stating, “I think the environmentalism is the thing that you look at. But the story is fun. When you read howard’s story, you’re going to learn a lot more about dodos than you ever possibly thought you wanted to know.”
Tragically, Waldrop passed away before the completion of the films. However, martin was able to show him a rough cut of “The Ugly Chickens.” “I was very thrilled that he liked it a lot,” Martin recalled. “And I said, ‘Well, we’re almost finished. We got a few more post-production things to do, but we’ll show it to you.’ But of course, that never happened.He died six days after he saw the rough cut.”
Martin’s dedication to preserving Waldrop’s legacy is a testament to the power of friendship and the enduring impact of great storytelling. Through these film adaptations, Waldrop’s unique voice and imaginative worlds will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
Acclaimed author George R.R. Martin, best known for his epic fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” is lending his creative prowess to a new project: bringing the short stories of his longtime friend, howard Waldrop, to the screen.Martin is producing a series of short films based on Waldrop’s work, aiming to introduce the author’s unique voice and captivating tales to a wider audience.
The collaboration stems from a deep friendship that began over six decades ago,sparked by a shared passion for comic books. “We were both huge comic book fans,” Martin reminisces. “That comic book is probably worth $10,000 today,” he says, referring to The Brave and the Bold #28, the comic that ignited their bond. “But Howard never cared about that.We would laugh about it together. I was lucky to have friends like that.”
Martin, known for his meticulous approach to storytelling, believes in the importance of faithful adaptations. “Maybe I’m one of the few peopel in Hollywood who still thinks that when you adapt a work of art, a novel, a short story, you should do a faithful adaptation,” he says. “It annoys me too much because they change things and I don’t think they generally improve them.”
The first film in the series, “The ugly Chickens,” starring Felicia Day, has already been released. Martin hopes these adaptations will not only entertain but also shine a light on Waldrop’s notable body of work. “I suppose you could say [I’m using my platform to help Waldrop],” Martin admits.”I hope these films will get him a lot more readers, because he has a lot of books and he has a lot of short stories. If these little 30-minute shorts do well enough, if they can earn at least some of their money, then we’ll do more of them. Howard has 100 stories at least, but they’re all marvelous and unique in their own way.”
Of course, no conversation with Martin is complete without inquiring about the highly anticipated sixth book in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, “The Winds of Winter.” ”Unfortunately,I am 13 years late,” he acknowledges. “Every time I say that, I’m [like], ‘How could I be 13 years late?’ I don’t know, it happens a day at a time.”
Despite the delay, Martin assures fans that “The Winds of Winter” remains a top priority. “But that’s still a priority. A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right.I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!” He adds with a chuckle that he could never retire — he’s “not a golfer.”
## A Song of Friendship: George R.R. Martin on Honoring Howard Waldrop’s Legacy
**World Today News:** George R.R. Martin, the mastermind behind the global phenomenon *Game of Thrones,* is known for weaving intricate tales of fantasy and intrigue.But beyond the dragons and political machinations of Westeros lies a lesser-known facet of martin’s life: his enduring friendship with fellow science fiction author Howard Waldrop.
**WTN:**
Mr. Martin, let’s delve into this unique bond with Howard Waldrop. Can you tell us about its beginnings?
**GRRM:** It all started back in the early 1960s, inArlington, Texas. I was a teenager obsessed with finding a rare DC comic, *the Brave and the Bold* #28. That issue featured the first appearance of the Justice League of America – a momentous occasion for a young comic fan like myself. My search led me to Howard,and from that moment,our paths were intertwined.
**WTN:** A chance encounter sparked a lifelong friendship. What was it about Howard that resonated with you?
**GRRM:** Howard was simply a remarkable individual. We shared a passion for storytelling and a shared love of comic books.He had this infectious enthusiasm for life and an unbelievable inventiveness.
**WTN:**
You’ve spoken about writing letters to each other in those early days. What was the nature of your conversations?
**GRRM:** We excitedly exchanged our writing aspirations, shared ideas, and bounced story concepts off each other. Those letters were a lifeline, a testament to our shared dream of becoming writers.
**WTN:** Howard Waldrop, while critically acclaimed, didn’t achieve the mainstream success you experienced with *Game of Thrones*.
Was there ever a sense of frustration on your part, seeing his struggles?
**GRRM:**
It was undeniably painful to witness Howard’s financial hardships. He was an incredibly talented writer, but he didn’t have the same commercial appeal. I often worried about him,particularly in his later years. I wanted to help in any way I could.
**WTN:** You’ve spoken about your commitment to bringing Howard’s stories to the screen. Was this a way of honoring his legacy?
**GRRM:** Absolutely. When Howard passed away in 2023, I felt a profound sense of loss and a obligation to ensure his stories continued to be enjoyed by readers and viewers.I wanted to share his unique voice and imaginative worlds with a wider audience.
**WTN:** You generously funded the production of several short films based on Howard’s works.
What was the motivation behind this decision?
**GRRM:**
It wasn’t easy. Filmmaking is a complex and expensive undertaking, but I knew I had to see this through. It was a way of honoring Howard’s legacy and giving him the recognition he deserved. I broke a cardinal rule of Hollywood – never use your own money – but I felt it was a necessary investment.
**WTN:**
“The Ugly Chickens,” starring Felicia Day, has received critical acclaim. Can you tell us about your involvement in this project?
**GRRM:**
*The Ugly Chickens* is a quirky and captivating story that perfectly showcases Howard’s blend of alternative history,science fiction, and Southern folklore. I worked closely with the director, Mark Raso, and the screenwriter, Michael Cassutt, to ensure the adaptation remained faithful to Howard’s vision.
**WTN:**
What do you hope viewers take away from these film adaptations of Howard’s work?
**GRRM:**
I hope
viewers appreciate the unique brilliance of Howard’s storytelling. He was an original voice, a true visionary. Through these films, I believe his legacy will continue to inspire and enthrall audiences for generations to come.
**WTN:**
Thank you for sharing your insights into this exceptional friendship and your dedication to preserving Howard Waldrop’s literary legacy.
