Rating: 
Summary: Truly inspirational!
Review: Whether you are a filmmaker who has been in the field for many years or one who is anxiously ready to do their first film, I highly recommend reading "Rebel Without a Crew" by Robert Rodriguez. The book is literally reading Robert's journal and almost like being with him every step of the way as he gets the film "El Mariachi" created and more. From beginning to his next project, you can't help but keep reading and not wanting to put the book down. It's that good! If there is one thing I truly appreciate is that he writes without the B.S. and he tells you how he feels from the people he meets, the dinner he has, filming a movie with $7,000 and more. After buying and reading this book, please pick up the "El Mariachi/Desperado" DVD to further enjoy his work by watching the film, how he made the film and also to watch the popular short film he made, "Bedhead". Last, borrowing Robert's sentence that he emphasizes quite a few times through the book and DVD. "First step to being a filmmaker is stop aying you want to be a filmmaker". You are a filmmaker. Thank you Mr. Rodriguez for the inspirational book and proving to Hollywood and those in the industry that things that may have seemed impossible is possible.
Rating:
Summary: To call it Inspiring is an Understatement
Review: Robert Rodriguez, Texas-born filmmaker tells us how his attempt at honing his filmmaking skills jettisioned him straight into the big time.This diary book tells us of the frustrations and nightmares of making his debut feature film "El Mariachi". He also tells us of his interesting and amusing stories of entry into Hollywood: like getting representation from a major Hollywood agent at one International Creative Management (the biggest talent agency in the world). And he tells of his adventures and misadventures in a such a friendly style, you'd swear you were speaking to your best friend. This is the only book I've ever read that can genuinely constitute as inspiring. I'm dead serious. I'm 17 years old and an aspiring filmmaker. Before I read his book, I was trying to make movies and was more than a little discouraged at how things turned out. But, that all changed when I heard what this book was about. I requested it for Christmas and couldn't believe my eyes. If Rodriguez, for some reason, decides that he doesn't want to make movies anymore, he should seriously consider being a motivational speaker. In this book, he tells of his filmmaking experience -- all the trials and tribulations and encourages and inspires people by telling them how easy and straightforward the filmmaking process, always known to be daunting, really is. And as an added incentive -- frosting on the cake, really -- Rodriguez includes his "10 Minute Film School", telling how you can make a movie in a few easy steps. Again, this guy speaks to you on an equal level -- he doesn't patronize, which is what makes the book even better. Robert Rodriguez does an excellent job of entertaining and inspiring us in this book on how easy, sometimes challenging, and rewarding the filmmaking process can be. Take a bow, Mr. Rodriguez.
Rating: 
Summary: Unlocked my Creativity and enthusiasm again!
Review: This was a great story. After some 20 years in video production, and having dreams of my own short films dashed by the day-to-day reality of my work, it was refreshing to read. Rodriguez's passion and his eventual "homerun" in Hollywood made me think that my dreams were possible again.
I'm going back for a second read.
Rating:
Summary: My Inspiration!!!
Review: I must start off by saying that I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I love it for many reasons. It's written BY Robert Rodriguez in a journal style as he was creating his claim-to-fame, first feature film, El Mariachi... He talks about everything, is very to the point, and has a great sense of humor through all the hard times which lead to the "magic". I felt like I was right there with him through the whole Mariachi journy. And what an interesting, fun, nerve racking, and exetremely rewarding ride it turned out to be. Even though this book was written in '91/'92 and a lot of things in the industry have begun to change - the basic information and message are timeless. As a Robert Rodriguez fan, film maker, future film maker, or friend of a film maker, this is a MUST read book! He offers up the best advice through out the entire thing... advice you can not only apply to film making but to life in general as well. This HAS to be the most informal, most informational, and the BEST book on film I've read yet!!!
Rating:
Summary: Robert Rodriguez amazes me.
Review: Not because he's a great writer or director, but because with every single project he makes me feel like I can DO this. I can make good movies that people will enjoy watching. And you can, too. This is one of the most inspiring books on filmmaking I've ever read--it depicts, in detail, all the ups and downs that went into making and selling EL MARIACHI, the $7000 sensation that opened doors for Rodriguez. A lot of filmmakers argue that EL MARIACHI isn't a great film, that the story's kind of silly, that the version that most of us saw had $500,000 worth of post-production work added, and on and on. But they're talking about it. It's 2003 and people are still talking about the amazing feat Rodriguez pulled off with this film. For $7000 of his own money, plus a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears, he got himself noticed and made a career out of his hobby. "Do what you love, then find someone who will pay you to do it." This is a how-to manual for the basement movie-maker, written by a man who is excited about using movies to tell his stories: in this book, in the commentary tracks for his movies, in his Ten-Minute Film School installments, I have never once felt like Robert Rodriguez was bored with either his work or his achievements. The guy has fun, and his personality gets its fingerprints all over his work--if you can't enjoy yourself while watching a Rodriguez movie, you're expecting too much and thinking too hard. This guy is not changing the face of American cinema: he wants all of US to change the face of American cinema, and this book is an open invitation to do just that. Devour Rodriguez. Consume this book and engorge yourself on his DVDs. Chow down on special features on how he did it that also show YOU how to do it. If, after a week-long diet of Robert Rodriguez, you DON'T want to make your own movie IMMEDIATELY, seek a different destiny: making movies is not for you.
Rating:
Summary: Motivation Central
Review: I was doing my laundry in Santa Monica depressed as hell one day when I started to read this book. The next thing you know, I got a call from my agent that I had two auditions the next day. Why do I tell you this? I'm not sure exactly. But this book inspired me in a way that got me to make my first film. If you're looking to learn how technical aspects of film making forget it. In short why this book kicks a#$ is for two reasons: (Both of which I now subscribe to). 1)In his own words; "I can't believe more people aren't doing this". What he's saying is that ANYBODY CAN DO THIS. Which is soooooo true. The second great thing I got out of this book is the motivation factor. (This would be #2). If some punk kid from Texas can make a movie why can't I? Get this book people. It's the Tony Robbins of film making!!!
Rating:
Summary: Best Book I've Ever Read On Filmmaking
Review: If you want to be a filmmaker, buy this book. I've read over 30 books on filmmaking in the past few months, and none of them has been as good or as inspiring as this one. This isn't another book telling you how to make movies like everyone else does. In his 10 minute film school at the end of the book, he tells you what is essential, and what is just B.S. that film schools will tell you. Hollywood is for the taking, so get off you're butt and make a movie. This book is a diary of RRs experiences from preproduction all the way through distribution of his famous film, El Mariachi. Hollywood is for the taking, so get off you're butt and make a movie.
Rating:
Summary: You wanna be a filmmaker...fine, you ARE one!
Review: I have a library of freakin' Hollywood how-to books. Filmmaking. Screenwriting. Treatments. Pitching. Blah-blah-blah. This book by Robert Rodriguez is the ONLY book in my library that actually inspired me to get off my [couch] and make a film! I read Robert's book in the summer of 2003. By February 1, 2004 I had written, produced, shot and directed my own short film. People said it couldn't be done. I'm about to submit my short film to the Los Angeles Film Festival. My film has a cast of 7 people and more than a dozen extras. I had seven crew members. I shot it using someone else's Canon GL1 miniDV camera. It was edited on Final Cut Pro 4 by someone...for free. People said it couldn't be done. I needed to shoot my film in 2 days -- Super Bowl XXXVIII weekend to be exact. People said "you'll never be able to get people to show up." I did. They said, "You can't shoot an 18-page script in two days." I did. They said, "You'll never be able to afford to pay your crew." Everyone worked on my production for FREE. They said, "You need a $5 million production insurance policy to book a location." I had everyone sign release forms and I filmed in my own condo and 'guerilla style' at night, at my employer's office. They said, "You need expensive lighting equipment costing $1000+." I paid $126 for lighting equipment from an online auction site. Robert's book shows you how to work around "the system" and do what you've always wanted to do: make films. Hollywood is an exclusionary environment where the powers-that-be want to keep as many people OUT as possible. You don't have to follow their rules. Make your own rules. The point of RR's book is for the reader to gain experience MAKING FILMS, not making coffee for some other director. Your first film may not be great, but so what? You've only spent maybe $100 on it, whereas film school grads plunk down tens of thousands of dollars only to see their films crash and burn. An acquaintance I know is trying to get in the business "the Hollywood way." He went to film school. He tried to do a student film. Now he wants to do commercials in hopes that he'll get "discovered". He turned up his nose at me when I said I was going to make a short film. But while he's working on everyone else's film, sitting in lecture halls, taking tests and being a PA I have already directed my first film and I'm about to see it premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival. So you wanna be a filmmaker? Fine, you ARE one! Now go print some business cards and make a film!
Rating:
Summary: Journal of an Indie Filmaker
Review: El Mariachi is a Comedy Of Errors. (Hey, what a catchy title for a play !) A poor man's " North by Northwest" wherein a mariachi looking for a job gets mistaken for a killer seeking revenge because they carry identical guitar cases. It's a funny, fast paced and an extremely well plotted film, shot without a crew and only one camera. Rodriguez used a wheelchair for a dolly and a ladder for a crane. It works beautifully. He recounts his adventures, including raising money by submitting to medical experiments, in this --to some--inspiring book. I say 'to some' because if you want to get a rise out of an aspiring director who is working "through the system" i.e; editors, directors of photography, cameramen, 2nd A.D.'s, the guy brings the coffee, in short ANYONE in crew on a Hollywood set or in postproduction, all you have to do is casually mention 'El Mariachi' and they'll start grousing about how it really cost a million bucks after it got picked up to bring it up to quality prior to release. Hmm. . .slightly untrue but a face saving urban myth. In a few years they'll be saying it took 10 million. They're not alone. Film schools and some other Indie filmakers also dislike him. Why? Simple. Rodriguez is a throwback to the Golden Era of silent films and the early twenties, prior to the star/ agent system. (Gee, however did D. W. Griffith or Erich von Stroheim manage it without ever having attended a film school? Boggles the mind, doesn't it? ) BTW, Rodriguez' appendix 'The Ten Minute Film Course ' is worth the price of the book alone. Cheap really, considering he tells you how to save 20k from a school that will , after all is said and done, qualify you after four years to be the guy that brings the coffee to the set--or if you're extremely well connected and lucky, the 2nd A.D. Which explains the dislike from both film schools and wannabe directors who already plunked downn their dough and have little to show for it ten to twenty years after. But why would some Indie directors dislike one of their own? Simple again. Envy. You see we have now a new myth in town--similar to the myth in the 40's that you were going to get 'discovered' sitting at Schwab's cafeteria , namely the myth of the YOUNG FILMAKER. HEY KIDS, LET'S PUT TOGETHER OUR MASTERCARDS, SHOOT A LOW BUDGET FILM AND HAVE IT PLAY IN THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT! Good luck. The truth is that for every Robert Rodriguez there's ten thousand intolerable idiots who couldn't direct traffic, let alone a film, and whose idea of writing a 'small movie' is a self indulgent sentimental auto biographical P.O.S. about the meaning of life, which ususally means scenes with teenagers drinking espresso and talking about their angst, or a study of a failed relationship, or a cynically dark vision from hell, or the plight of the (fill in the blank). Zzzzzzz.................... But well written with a good plot? Forget about it! A comedy? Unimaginable. After Mariachi's success, R. R. was given money (and a crew!) for his subsequent projects. He amazed the establishment by shooting as many as 70 camera set ups on a single day! Well, why not? Without stars demanding changes to the script (Please read 'Adventures in The Screen Trade ' by William Goldman ) and other idiocies, it can and has been done. Furthermore R.R. believes that the reason overblown and overbudgeted Hollywood productions are usually so stale is because of all the waiting actors have to do as the crew lights and sets up the next shot ( Oh, about 3 hours each on a good day ) which robs actors of energy and films of their vitality. Along with Goldman's books ( He folllowed up with 'Which Lie Did I Tell? ' ) and Robert Evans 'The Kid Stays in The Picture' R.R's book is among the wisest and wittiest renderings on Hollyweird.
Rating:
Summary: Toss the 'status quo' to the wind!
Review: Thank God this was the first book I read about independent filmmaking! The book was inspiring, motivating and takes away all the stops we have in our mind about filmmaking. It's funny, satirical, sarcastic and immeasurably exact. If you want to make a movie - go make a movie! That's it! I'm a writer so planning has been engraved into my left-brain even though my right-brain wants to go with the flow! But RR's book has taught me to have a "devil may care" attitude about the typical Hollywood way of filmmaking and JUST DO IT! Robert Rodriguez is a man who's "devil-may-care" approach to filmmaking AND his jack-of-all-trades character launched him into superstardom. His filmmaking results are duplicate-able. So you wanna be a filmmaker? Fine...you ARE one...so go make business cards!!
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