I saw George R.R. Martin’s Howard Waldrop short films and they’re delightful (Exclusive)

I saw George R.R. Martin's Howard Waldrop short films and they're delightful (Exclusive)

As a devoted fan of George R.R. Martin and Howard Waldrop’s captivating short stories, I must say that watching these three films – “Night of the Cooters,” “Mary Margaret Road-Grader,” and “The Ugly Chickens” – has been an absolute delight. Having attended the screening of “Copenhagen” at the Jean Cocteau in Santa Fe, I can attest to the palpable camaraderie between Martin and director Mark Raso that night, and their collaborative spirit is beautifully reflected in these films.

Last month, the 82nd annual World Science Fiction Convention, commonly referred to as Worldcon, took place in Glasgow, Scotland. This convention serves as a hub for science fiction and fantasy artists, along with enthusiasts who appreciate their work. It provides an opportunity for fans to interact closely with the creators of their beloved stories, while also allowing these creators to network with each other and celebrate together.

During my visit to Glasgow for Worldcon, I got the chance to interview none other than George R.R. Martin, the mastermind behind “A Song of Ice and Fire.” This man is not only a brilliant author but also has an almost unmatched understanding of genre history, which he gladly imparts. Conversing with him was truly a remarkable experience. However, my interactions with GRRM didn’t end there: after our convention wrapped up, I also had the privilege to attend a private screening of several short films he’s produced, based on the works of his friend and fellow writer Howard Waldrop.

If you haven’t come across George R.R. Martin’s Howard Waldrop short films, it’s perfectly fine. Martin has written about them before, but if you don’t attend short film festivals, there isn’t a common way to view them. I’ve been intrigued by these films since Martin announced the first one in 2021, titled “Night of the Cooters“, which features Vincent D’Onofrio as a cunning sheriff in the old west who’s struggling to protect his town from an alien invasion.

It turned out that “Cooters” was just the beginning when it comes to Martin’s Howard Waldrop films, as I later discovered. So far, three of these films have been completed: the Western movie “Night of the Cooters,” a tractor pull adventure called “Mary Margaret Road-Grader” in the style of Mad Max, and “The Ugly Chickens,” where Felicia Day plays an ornithologist embarking on a cross-country journey across the United States to find extinct dodos.

If you find these short films diverse in topics, your observation is spot-on. They’re delightful, frequently humorous, and consistently oddball, mirroring Howard Waldrop’s original work perfectly. Waldrop was a highly productive author and Martin’s oldest companion within the science fiction circle; their friendship started with high school correspondence and continued for many years. He was predominantly celebrated as a short story writer; his pieces were frequently nominated for awards and even won some, such as the Nebula and World Fantasy Award.

Regrettably, Waldrop passed away from a stroke in January 2024, at the age of 77. However, before his demise, Martin dedicated himself to ensuring that several of the author’s works were adapted into movies. He personally funded all three films and sought out innovative methods to bring them to life, aligning with the stories’ unique tones.

Given that these movies aren’t widely accessible outside of film festivals, I won’t be able to provide comprehensive reviews or reveal significant plot points. Instead, I’ll share some thoughts and intriguing behind-the-scenes stories Martin shared during the screening about their creation. At the end, we’ll discuss the creator’s future plans for these short films and potential ways you might someday get a chance to watch them. These movies truly warrant a viewing. Besides the enjoyable experience of the screening itself, I’ve found myself reflecting on these short films quite frequently since then, which is usually an indicator that a story has struck a chord.

Night of the Cooters

The very first Howard Waldrop story that Martin produced for film is Night of the Cooters, and it is by far the quirkiest, most ridiculous of the lot. Cooters is adapted from Waldrop’s 1987 short story of the same name, which you can currently read for free online at Clarkesworld. Set in 1898, it’s about how the digestionally challenged Sheriff Lindley (D’Onofrio) rallies the small Texas town of Pachuco City to fend off an alien invasion. The aliens are actual little green men and the tone of the film is very tongue-in-cheek, which feels just right.

As a devoted fan, what truly captivated me about the enchanting “Night of the Cooters” wasn’t just its Wes Anderson-like aesthetics, but the unique visual storytelling. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t your typical live-action film; it’s an animated masterpiece. Filmed in a gymnasium using green screen technology, Martin emphasized that apart from the actors, horses, and a handful of props, there were no other physical assets on set. The movie is bathed in a whimsical filter, creating a surreal, almost alien atmosphere that I found utterly endearing. The visual effects, crafted by the innovative company Trioscope, are making waves in the world of stylized digital filmmaking.

As Martin crafted “Night of the Cooters”, he didn’t personally write the screenplay; instead, he enlisted Joe Lansdale to do so, given his expertise and familiarity with the unique dialect and atmosphere reminiscent of Texas history. Notably, Lansdale is a native Texan who Martin noted “speaks their peculiar language,” which proved invaluable during the scripting process for the film, especially since “Cooters” encapsulates the region’s distinct vernacular and ambiance.

Another interesting tidbit about “Night of the Cooters” is worth mentioning. Initially scheduled to be filmed at Camel Rock Studio in New Mexico, an old casino transformed into a cutting-edge film studio, a last-minute change occurred. Just days before “Cooters” was set to start filming, Martin found out they had lost the venue due to a scheduling conflict – namely, “Dark Winds”, a show Martin is producing for AMC based on Tony Hillerman’s “Leaphorn & Chee” novels. Unfortunately, the necessary paperwork for “Cooters” wasn’t completed, leading to its eviction by Martin’s own AMC television production. As a result, the movie was shot in a gymnasium, although the extensive use of green screen had been planned all along.

Mary Margaret Road-Grader

The second short film of the screening was Mary Margaret Road-Grader, and of the three, it was the most serious (though still plenty fun in its own way). It takes place in a Mad Maxian future where competitions for social standing are decided by tractor pull showdowns between souped-up vehicles and their pilots. Like Night of the Cooters, you can currently read Mary Margaret Road-Grader for free online, this time over at Strange Horizons.

This movie bears a resemblance to “Night of the Cooters” in terms of its digital effects, as they were both produced by Trioscope. However, it significantly improves upon its predecessor in almost every production aspect. Steven Paul Judd is the writer and director, with an all-Indigenous cast led by Crystle Lightning as Mary Margaret Road-Grader and Martin Sensmeier as Billy-Bob Chevrolet. Ramin Djawadi, known for his work on “Game of Thrones,” composed the score, making it a more intense, ominous film overall. The story revolves around Mary Margaret entering the male-dominated tractor pulls and boasting about her victory over a well-known regional driver. Not everyone appreciates this, leading to some thrilling sequences.

Additionally, you’ll find some impressive tractors here. These aren’t just any tractors; they boast unique design elements and mechanical touches that set them apart. My personal favorite is one fitted with aircraft engines for an added boost during pulling tasks.

Mary Margaret Road-Grader delves into captivating themes concerning culture and its development. Born in 1946, she has been publishing since 1969, receiving a total of three stories that spontaneously appeared to her, directly from the Story Place. ‘Mary Margaret Road-Grader’ is one of these tales, as Waldrop mentioned in the author’s note at Strange Horizons.

The film truly embodies that essence, and Howard Waldrop makes a fleeting appearance. As Martin shares, Waldrop’s health had been deteriorating during the production of Mary Margaret Road-Grader. Fortunately, he managed to watch the completed movie just six days before his passing.

The Ugly Chickens

“The Ugly Chickens” is a recently completed short film that I recently watched in Glasgow. It premiered this year at the Hollyshorts festival and features Felicia Day as Paula Linberl, an ornithology professor embarking on a country-wide journey to find the extinct Mauritius dodo. Among Howard Waldrop’s short films, this was my favorite due to its whimsical and unique charm. The performances by Day, along with Jennifer Dale, Natalie Charles, and Mag Ruffman, were all exceptional. This film is an adaptation of Waldrop’s 1981 Nebula and World Fantasy award-winning short story, which you can find online on SciFi.com.

Unlike the science fiction vibe of “Night of the Cooters” and “Mary Margaret Road-Grader,” “The Ugly Chickens” is devoid of such elements. However, it boasts some truly impressive puppets instead. This film, set in the late 1970s/early 1980s in the United States, heavily relies on its cast for impact. It also stands out with its authentic sets, which offered a visual contrast to “Cooters” and “Road Grader,” effectively enhancing this specific movie’s aesthetic. The script is brilliantly sharp, maintaining Waldrop’s storyline while judiciously trimming excess exposition to make the onscreen presentation light-hearted and enjoyable. In short, it was a delightful watch, and I found myself yearning to revisit it more than once.

Mark Raso, the director known for “Copenhagen”, took charge of the movie “The Ugly Chickens”. After Raso showed “Copenhagen” at Martin’s cinema in Santa Fe, the Jean Cocteau, they had a conversation and decided to collaborate on this project. During the screening I attended, Martin expressed his admiration for the film, saying it was “beautiful”, and added that he was “very pleased” with its outcome.

How can you watch George R.R. Martin’s Howard Waldrop short films?

So how can you watch these movies? Is there any plan for a wider release?

At this point, Martin and his crew are yet to decide the ultimate fate of these Howard Waldrop short films. Currently, they can only be viewed in short film festival circuits, as once they move on to broader distribution networks, it rules out participation in many festivals and their associated awards. Martin is optimistic that they’ll garner enough attention and even award buzz at these festivals to generate more interest and visibility.

Apart from short film events, Martin explored various possibilities concerning these movies. A few of them show great potential individually. Martin disclosed that Vincent D’Onofrio has shown enthusiasm about delving deeper into the realm of “Night of the Cooters”, potentially featuring Sheriff Lindley facing diverse supernatural perils such as werewolves. However, creating new content would be necessary since Howard Waldrop penned only one “Cooters” story. It remains to be seen if Martin, Joe Lansdale (the screenwriter of Cooters), or any other individual is willing to extend the narrative scope of Waldrop’s work in such a manner.

As a gamer, I’ve been following the development of “Mary Margaret Road-Grader” with interest, and I’m excited to share that Martin hinted at a potential path for this game reminiscent of the journey taken by “District 9.” You might remember District 9, the groundbreaking 2009 sci-fi film from Neill Blomkamp. It started life as a short film called Alive in Joburg before being transformed into a full-length masterpiece. After watching the short version of Mary Margaret, I can easily envision this same journey for the game.

After discussing the Waldrop short films, Martin mentioned exploring different approaches. One idea he’s thought about is merging the three completed movies into a collection series akin to “Love, Death & Robots,” or even a single anthology film like Stephen King’s “Creepshow.” Given that I watched all three movies consecutively, it seems plausible that they could make an excellent anthology series. This is more likely since Martin has another Waldrop short film in development, which could complement the existing productions well.

Regarding where you can catch these films…we’re keeping a close eye out for updates. Martin was questioned about the possibility of them moving to streaming platforms, but it depends on sealing a deal with a suitable network that is interested and ready to invest sufficiently, considering the costs Martin has incurred in making these films initially. Currently, both “Mary Margaret Road-Grader” and “The Ugly Chickens” are gaining traction, with numerous film festival bookings confirmed and likely more to come. Although streaming may not happen immediately, who knows what lies ahead?

Without a doubt, these three films – “Night of the Cooters”, “Mary Margaret Road-Grader”, and “The Ugly Chickens” – are delightful, fun flicks that beautifully pay tribute to Howard Waldrop’s short stories. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that those quirky chickens, tractor pulls, and extraterrestrial beings from outer space find their way onto our screens sooner rather than later!

2024-09-22 16:42