In August 2021, I stumbled across a twitter thread started by Columbia Professor of Journalism, Dr. Jelani Cobb, about the CDC dramatically underutilizing the fact that COVID attacks men’s penises and can cause erectile dysfunction. I’d witnessed people vociferously defend debunked claims like vaccines cause autism, or that the COVID vaccine causes infertility, so how had I not heard of this? How could something as severe as the threat to men’s manhood not go viral?  How have untruths run rampant to cause fear in women and people of color, but this very true potential side effect in men never reach the same fever pitch? My mind mused on the patriarchy and how, even in a pandemic, it foolishly exists to protect the male ego­—even at the expense of their short and long-term health. And then, I started laughing. Hard. Because if reports are true, then there are a lot of men with limp willies walking around. And if there are a lotta of limp willies, there are a lotta vaginas longin’ for some good lovin’. Thus, Rachel Rittenhouse and this quirky film about her nonprofit organization was born.

COVID has killed more than one million Americans, more deaths than World War II and the number continues to climb, so I initially hoped to encourage more people to vaccinate, while making people laugh at our follies along the way. Comedy is a great tool to get folks to see past their entrenchments however delusional, but as I mined deeper, I realized W.A.L.L.D is about the dangerous slapstick of these turbulent times. It’s a film about narcissism, deadly lies, corporate & political profiteering over people and their well-being, and how hilariously ignorant many of our choices are both on an individual and societal level. W.A.L.L.D is a movie about limp dicks yes, but limp dick is also a metaphor for people sucking our country dry with bigotry, misinformation, arrogance, and greed. All of this is the very epitome of small dick energy. 

Visually, I wanted to make something that felt like those late-night parasitic tv ads about cookware and prayer napkins that prey on depressed peoples. In my mind was the Big Hurt’s Nugenix campaign meets Viagra meets a John Hopkins Hospital PSA meets Curb Your Enthusiasm. I’m a fan of mixing styles.  

All in all, I made this film to laugh to keep from crying. The pandemic was a tough time for all of us and please believe there are many tough times ahead, especially with climate change barreling down on us. We’re going to need laughter. I made this film to shine a light on the stupidity, greed, big-monied interests, corrupt politicians and lack of humility getting people killed. It’s all so darkly hilarious, and the plan is to take this film, its themes and humor and explore further in a television series. The women of W.A.L.L.D aren’t done yet trying to save America. Stay Tuned.