Rebel Without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmakerwith $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player

Just such a great book

Robert Rodriguez has set out to tell the tale of how he parlayed a $7,000 16mm movie into a Hollywood career. Summarised like that he sounds like a scheming know-it-all whom you would gladly kick in the teeth, but in reality he was just a guy obsessed with making movies, who found a way to leverage his meagre resources just enough to make a cheap Spanish film he hoped to sell on the video market. He tells the tale with engaging honesty, freely admitting his mistakes (just as he does on the commentary to El Mariachi, the film itself). It's incredibly inspirational. But if you are buying the book because you want to follow his path, just remember two things: One, the fact that he made the film at all is testament to his determination and his ability to deal with people, getting his friends and the amateur actors to do what he wanted, which is pretty much the kind of attributes directors really need: unless you also have those qualities, it's not going to work. Two, while he might have gotten a lucky break when his movie was seen by a major Hollywood agent, it was again his energy and his interpersonal abilities that got him the contact in the first place, and if you see El Mariachi you will see that, despite having virtually no budget, it is a very good film. Mr Rodriguez has talent. Without that shining through your film, it doesn't matter if you get Steven Spielberg to watch it, you won't get in.

Inspired, honest and unassuming, a testament of great talent. This book also happens to be a great handbook on how to run your own business and fuel your passion.

To quote San Antonio Express News, this book was wild, zany, funny, outrageous, and fascinating. A must-have for indie filmmakers: a diary, an autobiography, and an instruction manual rolled into one.

The book itself was not in new condition but absolutely good enough and fine for being able to read. The content is fantastic. I love Robert Rodrigez and what he has achieved and created throughout his career and to be able to read about his process and where he started is amazing.

Truly unbelievable story about a regular guy doing what it takes and making it happen. Simply must read for every aspiring or even established filmmaker. You'll think you can fly after reading this one :) Inspiring as f***!

This book gave me the confidence to pursue film making. A must read, no bull guide to making films. It's not as complicated as you may think. And I love the 10min Film School section in the back.

Brilliant book, very inspiring. only bad is the technology described in this book is dated but no problem Must read for all budding filmmakers, good read for fans of film also.

LEITURA OBRIGATÓRIA

questo libro è il diario di viaggio della creazione di El mariaci, il primo lungometraggio in pellicola 16mm girato da Robert Rodriguez. La vera storia scritta da Rodriguez stesso, di come con 7000 $ girò il suo film, poi lo montò in vhs e lo fece girare, solo dopo la Sony ne acquisi i diritti, e lo rieditò in 35mm con tutte le lavorazioni del caso. Tutta l'energia, la passione, le sofferenze sopportate per ottenere un risultato negli anni 90 impossibile. Il padre di ogni videomaker e filmaker moderno svela trucchi e spiega perchè il suo modo di girare a Hollywood funziona poco, e invece funziona a livello globale. Suggerito a tutti coloro che vogliono intraprendere la carriera cinematografica, e sono stufi di sentirsi dire come fare film con i milioni di dollari.

Robert Rodriguez a toujours adoré le cinéma et il a commencé très tôt à en faire. Ses premiers court-métrages ont été récompensés dans toutes sortes de festivals. On peut d'ailleurs les voir encore aujourd'hui sur Youtube... et constater que son talent était bien là dès le départ. Pour financer son premier long métrage, le désormais légendaire "Desperado", le jeune cinéaste sans le sou n'a pas hésité en 1992 à passer un mois dans une clinique où l'on testait des médicaments sur des êtres humains. Avec les 7000 dollars ainsi récoltés et une mauvaise caméra vidéo, il a ensuite réalisé un film dont les acteurs étaient choisis au jour-le-jour, dans des décors on ne peut plus "naturels" et avec des effets spéciaux bricolés à la va-comme-je-te-pousse. Au final, les pontes d'Hollywood ont été tellement impressionnés par le résultat qu'ils lui on proposé de distribuer son oeuvre et de devenir un vrai metteur en scène professionnel. C'est ce parcours en forme de conte de fées que Rodriguez nous raconte dans ce journal bourré d'idées intéressantes, d'anecdotes amusantes, de conseils précieux et - surtout - de passion. Vous aussi vous avez envie de devenir riche et célèbre dans l'industrie du cinéma? Le beau Robert vous explique comment - lui - il l'a fait. Comment il éclairait ses plateaux, comment il réalisait ses travellings, comment il préparait son montage et comment il s'arrangeait pour toujours tirer le maximum de son microscopique budget. Ce bouquin ne vous donnera aucune recette infaillible, mais il vous apprendra au moins une chose primordiale: pour se différencier des autres, il ne faut jamais compter que sur soi-même. A méditer.

Libro interesante, aunque ya lo conocía y parece un poco incompleto. Pero es ameno a la hora de leerlo y no es tedioso.

I highly recommend this to all filmmakers. This guy is funny. He really got me laughing out loud many times throughout the book.