My Admirations #2

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ

Robert Rodriguez is one of the filmmakers I admire because his success story and achievements give me strength to carry on fighting my way into the film industry.

The first time I heard his name was when I saw DEPERADO, starring Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayek. It fascinated me so much that I watched it several times and began to do some research. That is when I found out he made an earlier prequel (El Mariachi), which now famously is said to have cost him $7,000 to make. It fascinated me to learn how he managed to acquire the money for the film. There are all sorts of rumours but one fact is true- he took part in medical research studies and was paid to be a lab rat.

He is what I call an all-round filmmaker. He loves to be on set and have an active role in everything from writing, camera operating and photography, editing, composing the score and to of course produce and direct.

The film El Mariachi brought him success at the Sundance Film festival, which won the Audience award and a distribution deal with Columbia Pictures. Thereafter, he was given a $10 million cheque to make Deperado, which allowed him to bring a star on board in Antonio Banderas and helped establish Selma Hayek to an American audience. He then created his own production base, Troublemaker Studios, in the attic of his home.

Robert Rodriguez is talented filmmaker who likes to push the boundaries of filmmaking. After releasing his book Rebel Without a Crew, he inspired thousands of young independent filmmakers to pick up a camera and try to enter the film industry.
He then began inspiring people to pick up a digital camera instead of a film camera, by exploring new techniques in his later films and advancing the use of these techniques for filmmakers worldwide.

His recent films such as SPY KIDS, the Desperado sequel ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO emerge from his attic straight onto the big screen. I am very much inspired by that fact.

Here is a "two part" behind the scene of Troublemaker Sudios: "inside Troublemaker Studio"