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Robert Rodriguez

Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player Paperback – Illustrated, September 1, 1996

by Robert Rodriguez (Author)

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Famed independent screenwriter and director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, Machete) discloses all the unique strategies and original techniques he used to make his remarkable debut film El Mariachi on a shoestring budget.

This is both one man's remarkable story and an essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and determination to see it through. Part production diary, part how-to manual, Rodriguez unveils how he was able to make his influential first film on only a $7,000 budget. Also included is the appendix, "The Ten Minute Film Course,” a tell-all on how to save thousands of dollars on film school and teach yourself the ropes of film production, directing, and screenwriting.

A perfect gift for the aspiring filmmaker.

Print length

285 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Plume
Publication date

September 1, 1996
Dimensions

5.3 x 0.77 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0452271878
ISBN-13

978-0452271876
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Robert Rodriguez won critical acclaim and the attention of every studio in Tinseltown with his action-packed debut feature, El Mariachi—but the question remains: However did he write, direct, shoot, and edit the flick all by his lonesome…and for a paltry $7,000? You’ll find that out and more in this straight-talking and highly entertaining memoir-cum-moviemaking primer... you will never view an independently made movie (or $7,000) the same way again.”—Entertainment Weekly

“There's no one in the American film business quite like Robert Rodriguez, who plays completely outside the rules imposed by Hollywood studios… Given his success rate, it's clear his method works… Rodriguez has long been a hero to independent filmmakers.”—The Daily Telegraph

"A hero to the independent film crowd."—The New York Times

“Only someone very young or ignorant would attempt to make a feature film with $7,000 dollars and no crew. This is because most people know such an endeavor is impossible. Not only did Robert Rodriguez create ‘El Mariachi’ under those conditions but at 23 he became a Hollywood success overnight… Rebel Without a Crew is the kind of book one would expect from someone who had the courage to break with convention and enough talent for it to pay off almost immediately.”—The Los Angeles Times

About the Author

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ is an independent screenwriter and director of more than fifteen feature films. He pioneered the “Mariachi-style” and “one-man film crew” styles of filmmaking, and is the founder of the production company, Troublemaker Studios. Some of Rodriguez’s films include Sin City, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Faculty, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Spy Kids, Planet Terror, and Machete. He has collaborated with Quentin Tarantino on From Dusk Till Dawn and Grindhouse.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Plume; Illustrated edition (September 1, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 285 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0452271878
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0452271876
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 0.77 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #30,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Video Direction & Production (Books)
- #36 in Movie Direction & Production
- #302 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

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Amazon Customer

Mandatory reading for aspiring filmmakers

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 29, 2022

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Robert's story of taking the initiative to make his own films against the rules of the industry should be mandatory reading. Robert is a rebel so expect some edgy dialogue but it goes with the territory. I have my own copy but have recommended it for many student protégées

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Hugh McPherson

Aweome Book for New Filmmakers!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 10, 2022

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This books tells you not only the improbable success story of Robert Rodriguez, it tells you the steps he took and how you can do it too!

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JLR

Now THIS is how you make a book about movies

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 26, 2014

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Rodriguez, much like many independent filmmakers, entered the cinema world with a movie that cost not even a skirmish of a typical Hollywood blockbuster. To make the movie, Rodriguez used his own money (a piddling $7,000) by participating in a experimental clinical drug testing and even veto some of the seemingly inexpensive movie tools (slate) to keep the costs down. The result was "El Mariachi", the movie that launched his career and showed that with a little creativity, anyone could make it in the business.

No matter what your opinion on the movie is (which is very good, in my opinion), you cannot deny that "Rebel Without a Crew" is a fantastic read. Rodriguez depicts the making of the film and then its subsequent celebration at film festivals in chronological order, breaking them down into dates like a diary. In the process, he shows what he did to keep the costs down and used a variety of techniques to make a movie look like a million bucks, such as using a ladder instead of crane for crane shots, a wheelchair for a dolly a la Godard or using a sound effects track on a VHS camera. It's also important to note that Rodriguez shot this whole film with only one camera and not a single crew member on the set. He was also 23 years old, two years younger than Orson Welles was when he made "Citizen Kane". This is a rags-to-riches story straight out of "Cinderella" and yet it's true. The book is so gripping that it would make an excellent movie. That's how good it is.

This book is extremely entertaining, but it's also very informative and refreshingly without prejudice towards Hollywood. When reading this book, you get a complete understanding of what it takes to get not only your movie made but also sold, distributed and promoted. Rodriguez gets to meet or contact with many of premier directors at that time, most notably Jonathan Demme, Richard Linklater and, of course, his future war buddy Quentin Tarantino. As the movie becomes more successful, Rodriguez achieves critical recognition, winning numerous awards and successfully entering the mainstream with films like "Desperado" and, after the book's release, "The Faculty" and "From Dusk Til' Dawn". In the end, Rodriguez had done the near impossible: he became an independent filmmaker that succeeded in Hollywood without losing his roots.

The icing in the cake, however, is the astonishing "Ten-Minute Film School", one of the book's final appendixes that details how you could make a movie without the need of a million dollars or even ten THOUSAND dollars. Rodriguez argues that using your smarts to overcome financial barriers, rather than being expensive, can turn a bad little movie into a great little movie. In the end, he offers encouragement for aspiring directors to keep their passions strong and following them will lead you to enormous fulfillment. Amen to that, hombre.

"Rebel Without a Crew" is one of the best books about making movies ever conceived, a tonic to the costly film schools and programs that promise you many and deliver little. At the same time, it's also a great underdog story of how a certain nobody used his brains and wit to achieve the impossible and become a success story - all for a mere seven grand. Engrossing, insightful and endlessly engaging, "Rebel Without a Crew" belongs in every movie lover's collection. Don't even think of making movies without buying this book first.

Strongest recommendation to buy.

8 people found this helpful

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zverina dot com

Cinderella Story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 7, 2020

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The first half or so of this book really kicks ass. It's mostly told in diary form and picks up when Rodriguez is a financially struggling film student who volunteers for a month-long paid drug study so he can make $3,000 towards financing his first feature length film. The idea is to make a straight-to-video cheapie for under $10,000 as a kind of demo reel, the proceeds from which he'd use to build his skills and reputation with an even better sequel and so on. The stories from in the hospital are funny and you get a great sense of his singleminded focus and determination. Then we go to Mexico where he makes the film, with lots of great behind-the-scenes detail. Then back to Texas for post-production, and on to Hollywood to try to sell it to a Spanish language distributor, hoping to make just enough to live on and make the next film. The low rent video distributors give him the runaround, but with a big dose of luck he strikes it rich and his little $7,000 action movie takes Hollywood and the top tier festival circuit by storm. A real ripping yarn up to this point. This is the Cinderella happy ending, but the book isn't nearly finished yet, although the interesting stuff is.

What follows is about 100 pages of victory lap and namedropping. It's a diary, so it's understandable that his sudden success, fame, and wealth would lead him to gush about all the cool people he's met, but compared to the first part of the book which is rife with inspiring anecdotes and useful filmmaking tips, the second half just feels like padding.

I'd just finished reading two seminal and very concise film books--https://amzn.to/388trHY and https://amzn.to/2UxWuRx--so maybe that's why this felt a bit bloated and self-indulgent. Still, the first half is excellent, so dig in!

9 people found this helpful

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Robert Grant

Not just a great book about filmmaking, just a great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 21, 2002

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I bought this book expecting an arrogant, smarter-than-you account of how breaking into Hollywood is so easy everyone should do it. I was wrong. It's a great read full of interesting and valuable information, tips and hints about filmmaking that are worth the cover price alone and like all good stories when the action starts to hot up, you find yourself really rooting for the good guy. I was disappointed it ended so soon but I guess it's always best to leave 'em wanting more, and yes I want more. In a word, inspiring.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Robert Rodrigues - Rebel without a crew

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 30, 2013

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What can I say that hasn't been said before, this guy is probably one of the best film makers to come out of the early 1990's indie boom and this book is a no bar account of his experiences making his 1st film and also has his 10 minute film school thrown in. If you are serious about a making a film (be it a short or feature) this is the book to buy - full of useful tips and insight of the film business, as it is was the 1990s, it is still worth checking out.

Xander

Great read for any filmmaker of any level

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 17, 2020

Verified Purchase

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.

gary mckenzie

Brilliant book, very inspiring

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 24, 2016

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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.

Amazon Customer

A must-read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

Even though the technology described in this book is dated, the spirit and ambition is timeless, a must-read for anyone interested in filmmaking.

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Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player Paperback – Illustrated, September 1, 1996

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