Why George R. R. Martin Broke the “Cardinal Rule of Hollywood” for a Childhood Friend

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As a writer myself, I can truly appreciate the dedication and passion George R.R. Martin has shown towards his friend Howard Waldrop and his work. It’s heartwarming to see Martin using his own success to shine a light on someone who never quite achieved the recognition he deserved.

You may recognize George R.R. Martin as the creator of the most renowned book and television series ever: Game of Thrones. However, it’s likely you’re not familiar with the fact that he has personally funded four short films, which are adaptations of stories from a cherished friend’s tales.

Back in the early 1960s, a 15-year-old Martin residing in Bayonne, New Jersey, was eagerly on the hunt for an exceptionally scarce DC comic. According to the esteemed author, “The Brave and the Bold #28″ held significant importance. This is because it marked the debut of the Justice League of America.

The author successfully purchased a comic for just a quarter from a teenage boy named Howard Waldrop in Arlington, Texas, marking the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Known as Martin, he fondly recalls their bond, stating, “I have strong feelings for him. I still feel his absence.” He adds, “Howard was undoubtedly my oldest friend in the realm of science fiction and fantasy.

Waldrop was predominantly known as an American author of science fiction, specializing in short stories. For the majority of his life, he resided in Austin, Texas, and incorporated various elements such as alternative histories, pop culture references, Southern American settings, old films, or classical mythologies into his writing. Parts of his work were widely recognized; in 2021, he received the World Fantasy Award for a Lifetime Achievement. Compared to his contemporary, Martin, Waldrop is often considered more of an icon among niche circles, whereas Martin achieved massive mainstream success.

Martin and Waldrop were close companions right up until early this year, on the 14th of January to be precise, when Waldrop unfortunately passed away due to a stroke.

Martin recalls that back in those days, we used to write letters to each other, the old-fashioned way. It turned out to be quite a connection at a distance. We were both budding authors. Our first interaction was through these letters, which happened in 1963. At that time, John F. Kennedy was in the White House. However, I didn’t get to meet Howard face-to-face until 1972.

Currently, Martin has honored his longtime friend by creating a short film, titled “The Ugly Chickens“, for potential Oscar consideration. This production is based on one of Waldrop’s short stories and was written by Michael Cassutt, with Mark Raso directing. This half-hour adaptation mirrors the same-titled story that brought Waldrop a Nebula Award in 1980.

Despite the tumultuous journey that accompanied Martin’s meteoric rise to fame when HBO bought the TV rights for “Game of Thrones” in 2008, his partnership with Waldrop faced challenges. Unlike Martin, Waldrop didn’t experience the same level of success: “Howard wasn’t commercially viable,” Martin explained. “I wrote many short stories and managed to sell them, but eventually I transitioned to writing novels and series as a means to sustain myself because short stories don’t pay well.

While it’s important to note that Waldrop was not lacking in talent, as Martin emphasizes, “He was an exceptional writer, there was no one quite like Howard.” However, even with the recognition his career garnered, concerns about Waldrop’s financial struggles and health arose towards the end of his life, shared by Martin among others. With the prosperity he gained from Thrones, Martin aimed to collaborate on turning some of Waldrop’s stories into short films, but found it challenging.

Martin shares with THR that convincing anyone to fund a short film is challenging. “Cinemas aren’t keen on screening short films,” he explains, adding that as a theater owner himself, he understands this. Furthermore, he finds it tough to persuade the major studios to produce them. After many years of trying, he ultimately decided to stop pursuing it.

Then the author decided to break “the cardinal rule of Hollywood.”

Due to Waldrop’s declining health, Martin was resolute on commemorating his friend by transforming his work for the silver screen. “The golden rule of Hollywood is: never invest your own funds. I did just that. I [thought], ‘By golly, I’m going to use my own money,'” he remarks. “So we set these movies in motion – three of them have been completed, while two more are currently under post-production.

Titled “The Ugly Chickens“, featuring Felicia Day (known for her roles in Supernatural and The Guild), is currently being screened on various film festivals. This movie, along with adaptations of Waldrop’s short stories “Mary-Margaret Road Grader” and “Night of the Cooters“, has already made a mark. Notably, “Chickens” has been nominated for the best short film at the prestigious HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, an event that qualifies for the Oscars. Additionally, it has received a special mention at the DuHok Film Festival held in Iraq.

The Enigmatic Dodos

Martin managed to share an early version of the movie with his friend before passing away. “I was truly delighted by his positive reaction,” he recounts. “I replied, ‘We’re nearly done. A few more post-production tasks remain, but we’ll show it to you.’ Unfortunately, that didn’t come to pass. He passed away six days after viewing the rough cut.

In the initial composition by Waldrop, the opening character was ‘Paul’. However, this was altered to ‘Paula’ in the revised piece. Martin finds such a shift acceptable, yet suggests it may indicate modifications in his book adaptations – a topic he has openly discussed before. He expresses, “[I believe] when adapting a work of art, a novel or short story, one should strive for a faithful adaptation.” This practice irks him because alterations are made and he feels they often do not enhance the original work.

It’s possible to interpret the situation as Martin is leveraging his career to boost Waldrop’s recognition, which he may not have fully garnered before. To this, Martin replies, “Yes, that could be how it looks. I want these films to bring him a larger audience because he has numerous books and many short stories. If these 30-minute shorts prove successful enough to generate some revenue, we’ll produce more of them. Waldrop has at least 100 unique stories, all worth telling.

Without fail, discussing matters with George R.R. Martin always prompts the question about his strategy for juggling current projects alongside the long-anticipated sixth and concluding book in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, “The Winds of Winter.” “Regrettably,” he admits, “I’ve been 13 years overdue.” Each time he says this, it’s as if he’s asking, ‘How could I be 13 years late?’ – the truth is, it happens one day at a time.

He continues: “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 that he could never retire — he’s “not a golfer.”

At present, Martin’s primary passion is for Waldrop, and his current projects adapting short stories serve as a tribute to their 61-year friendship, which originated with the Justice League of America. Reflecting on The Brave and the Bold #28, he remarks, “That comic book could be worth $10,000 today, but Howard never valued it for its monetary worth. We shared many laughs over it. I consider myself fortunate to have had friends like that.

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2024-12-06 01:55