Is Robert Rodriguez Wrong?

[Roel2000]

His theories revolutionized filmmakers every
where. But is he wrong about his concepts on
how to make a movie. He only spent $7000 on a movie, while we spend over $10,000 on buying cameras and computers editing systems that don't even end up getting the same quality as his movie did? I've tryed his ways and they don't work!

PROVE ME WRONG!

[eddie]

remember too that the El Mariachi you see these days didnt cost $7000.
It cost way more than that. It was originally put together for that, but once the studios found it, and started marketting him, they spent a fortune polishing up the film, making it look a lot nicer, and sounding better.
See through the hype. It was marketted as the 'lowest budget film ever' so 7000 was rammed down your throat until thats all you could think of associated with this film.
It DIDNT cost that to make. I hate to burst bubbles and the like but it cost MORE.
Besides like the man said, this was 10 years ago, and expectations have changed.
Having said that I think he is right. How can you disagree? He flunked out of college and went on to be successful in his chosen field (and one of the toughest fields around)- He must be right about something.

[bugger]

No, what he says is to make a film with what ever resources you have available.

Send out tapes to festivals, agents, etc and if it's any good someone else will want to polish it up or fund a remake, etc. As long as you have a good story and know how to craft images and deal with performances, etc...that's all that matters. Check out the films at Atom.com.

[bugger]

Make your film and send it out to Canada and the U.S. because you don't stand a chance of getting it seen in the UK.

[FranMc]

Well, I think just about anyone who has even tried to get a movie together realised Rodriguez is full of shit pretty quick. But there are huge cultural and legal differences between his situation and the average British guerrilla effort.

That said, we've still got no reason to believe him.

[bugger]

you've got no reason not to believe him. Depends how optimistic you are.

You can't follow another person's success though, find your own route.

[Chance1234]

URGHHH! we have managed ot go for two months without that name gracing these boards, and now once again like a nasty rash it has come back.

Only thing i would say is ,

Gaffer Tape, more inspiring, more useful and more beneficial than Rodriguez

Chance
5YLAC Films www.lookingglass.atfreeweb.com/desktop/deadlights/index.htm www.itkoa.co.uk

[Gurdeep Samra]

Hearing about Robert Rodriguez made me get off my ass and make a movie.

I'm based in Oxford, England and I don't agree that it is any more harder to make a movie here than it is there.

You just have to know how to ask and where to ask.

[N. Foster Tyler]

If you've read the book, you would know that $7000 got Rodriguez only as far as a 3/4" videotape rough cut. The studio paid for EVERYTHING after that! They paid for conforming, negative cutting, color correcting, sound fixing, foley work, blow-up to 35mm print and subsequent prints. They spent over a million bucks on EL MARIACHI as you see it today. Why can't we all just understand this simple fact? $7000 IS NOT going to get you a feature-length film shown in theatres across the country on 35mm! Read the fucking book, not just the cover.

-N. Foster Tyler

[danielj]

He borrowed the camera for free, so the $7000 is basically the cost of the film, processing and transfer to tape. He edited on the local access station's 3/4 machines for free, too. Having said that, he's still an inspiration.

[This message has been edited by danielj (edited November 10, 2000).]