Rating: 
Summary: Reviewed by A Maverick Producer
Review: This book is an outstanding read. Very inspiring. I read EVERY review here (34 at this time) and was amazed at a few of the lower ratings. These people totally missed the point rodriguez was making. This is NOT structured (or meant to be) a how to technical book. It is an inspirational "how to overcome the odds" book with enough detail to make the reader aware low budget filmmaking CAN BE DONE. How to setup shots, directing techniques and etc. are subjects for other books.If you take this book on face value for its intend message, you'll love it. I am producing two pilots for TV and in preproduction on two feature films and his message was clear to me. The book is a wealth of low budget ideas. It's the concepts and principles that are important. One reviewer felt this book was a bit dated due to it's structure around 16mm production and not the current digital techniques. Again, there are obviously points not addressed in this book relative to low budget digital video production. Read another book on low budget video for ADDITIONAL pointers. That is a course of wisdom. I'm not attacking the less enthusiastic reviewers, and they are certainly entitled to their opinions. But their views have made me more aware than ever before WHY it is so darn HARD to cut deals with many industry people today because they simply MISS THE POINT of entrepreneur producers maverick approach to filmmaking.
Maverick - Maverick Productions
Rating:
Summary: Robert Rodriguez inspires and delivers!
Review: A well-written, fast-paced book on the real-life story of a movie maker. I'm sure this book will inspire a whole generation of filmmakers (including myself) to forget the obstacles, just shoot the movie! He doesn't really share technical details; you'll have to get that from another book. But he shares something even more interesting. Real experiences.
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: This book got into my head
Review: I admired Rodriguez's work before I read this book, but I have to admit, now I'm a disciple. It's been weeks since I read this book, but it's still in my head. Does that mean I've been permanently changed? That's a pretty amazing feat for the diary of a filmmaker. This book is the incredible tale (told in excerpts from Rodriguez's diary) of how Robert Rodriguez went from submitting film shorts to small-time film festivals to travelling to Hollywood, getting an agent, and finally winning an award at Sundance. (And you can see the epilogue of the book, as Rodriguez's most recent film, "Spy Kids" has almost reached $100 million domestically after only five weeks). Since Rodriguez wrote his diary as his life was being radically altered, the reader really gets to make the journey with him from medical guinea pig to camera jockey to the most sought-after person in Hollywood... it's amazing. The best part is that Rodriguez is also a teacher, and his book manages to be massively instructive as well as encouraging. Rodriguez gives practical advice about things like cameras, lighting, and films, as well as advice on more ephemeral topics, like staying true to yourself in filmmaking. Like a more-experienced older brother, Rodriguez tells us how to deal with the junk that Hollywood metes out, and how to emerge personality intact. It's clear that Rodriguez is emerging as a Hollywood maverick and leader, much like other indie-turned-studio directors such as Steven Soderbergh ("Sex, Lies and Videotape," "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic"), and this book is a veritable how-to manual. A roadmap to filmmaking, if you will. Yes, it's a must-read if you are a filmmaker ("So you want to be a filmmaker?" asks Rodriguez. "First step to being a filmmaker is to stop saying you want to be a filmmaker... you don't want to be a filmmaker, you ARE a filmmaker.") But if you love stories of excruciating hard work mingled with blood and sweat, David taking on Goliath, and a super-big payoff ending, then this is a story you won't want to miss. When's your next diary coming out, Robert?
Rating:
Summary: Best Book on Filmmaking
Review: "Rebel Without a Crew" is hands down the best book on filmmaking I've ever read. Rodriguez was the only crew member on "El Mariachi" (hence the title of the book). This is an inspiring tale of how a guy from Austin made a movie with little money, a borrowed camera, and "90% perspiration, 10% inspiration." Any aspiring filmmaker who is depressed about their prospects should read this. And get the "El Mariachi/Desperado" double feature DVD. They both feature commentaries by Rodriguez.
Rating:
Summary: Dreams Within Our Reach
Review: Whenever I feel my motivation ebbing, I just pick up the this book and re-read a passage or two (actually, I end up spending about an hour re-reading!). The format is so streight forward, the writing style so 'down to earth' - any thoughts about NOT being a director completely leave my mind when I read what he's done. It just all seems so simple. The two most influential ideas that I got from this book were 1) The only thing in my way is ME and 2) Trust myself - stop taping every shot 3 or 4 times. Make the decision and stick to it. Really - if you want to make movies and just think it's to big a thing - read this book. If you're still in doubt after you read it - forget it, you're not cut out to make movies. Rodriguez is as great as he is because he kept going, knowing that he was doing what he was supposed to be doing. Simple as that. The 'how' is just his personal twist - everybody's 'how you get there' is going to be different. Trust yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Both inspiring and enthusiastic
Review: Probably those of you who are not very interested about movies will not find this book so entertaining. But, those of you who like filmmaking, you will book both inspiring and enthusiastic. It gives a perfect example of how a person can accomplish anything he desires. If a person is crazy about making movies, he will go as far as spending $7,000 on it and making a history. If you are a future filmmaker, you will surely find this book entertaining and will get a lot of tips on how to make your own action movie with which you can reach your dream of becoming a movie maker.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read ripper of a tale
Review: This is a delightful, funny, amazing and inspirational book. It's the remarkable account of how one 23-year-old made a film on the cheap, and how hard he had to work (it was a labor of love, of course) to do that. This book also gives an insightful glimpse into the dazzling world of Hollywood glitz from the point-of-view of "an ordinary Joe" who suddenly finds himself catapulted into a world of limos, expense accounts, and who-you-know mentality. Included in the book are Rodriguez's famous "Ten Minute Film School" essay and the script for his film "El Mariachi" as he wrote it. (No, it's not in "proper script format", but since he wrote, directed, shot, and edited the whole film himself, it didn't matter. Rodriguez rule number one: You don't always have to follow the rules.) Readers who aren't dying to make their own movies will still find this a tremendously good tale of how an ordinary, middle-class, almost-a-dropout can become a success. Rodriguez's formula for success is a true homily: 10% inspiration + 90% prespiration, and a little blood donated to science. Oh, and a whole lot of chutzpah. For aspiring independent film-makers, this book is truly a must-read. For everybody else, it's a ripper of a true tale, well told and likeable. Oh, and don't forget to pair it with the video of "El Mariachi", the film the book is all about. It shows how stylish a "cheap" film can be, and it's a lot of fun, especially when you know all the "inside jokes": cheat sheets, wheelchair dollies, why everybody always gets shot in the chest, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting!
Review: This is a must read story for anyone interested in filmmaking. However, some words of warning. Don't be fooled for a second into thinking you could do what Rodriguez did - very few people have access to all resources he did. He didn't have to buy or rent a camera! If you alrady had all those resources, you'd be able to make a movie cheap too. Also, this is a sad tale of how Hollywood will make any Joe Blow into a big shot director. I don't think it's stretching things to say Rodriguez did not live up to his reputation after El Mariachi... I mean, look at all the garbage he's made. Rodriguez went from hotshot to hack. He should probably be a producer, since he seems more concerned about how to cut costs than making his characters interesting. Those are my gripes, but not with the book. It's a great tale, and you should read it. Just don't expect it to happen to you!
Rating:
Summary: wow.
Review: Rebel Without a Crew is incredible. It shows that if you can't make the multi-million dollar picture, you can still make a movie. It tells how, with lots of detail. Rent El Mariachi, read the book, then watch the movie again. Learn things. Go make a movie. I might. PS The other neat thing is that if you read this one first, then you won't be intimidated by the other books if you think you'll never be able to get big funding or whatever.
| 
