Robert Anthony Rodríguez (born June 20, 1968) is an American filmmaker,
writerScreenwriters or scenarists or scriptwriters are people in a film crew who write/create the screenplays from which films and television programs are made....
,
producerA film producer or movie producer is someone who creates the scenes and conditions for making movies. The producer initiates, co-ordinates, supervises and controls matters such as fund-raising, hiring key personnel and arranging for distributors...
,
cinematographerA cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
, editor and musician. He is perhaps best known for making profitable, crowd-pleasing
independentAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
and studio films with fairly low budgets and fast schedules by Hollywood standards. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
and Mexico. He has directed such fan-favorite films as
DesperadoDesperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
,
From Dusk Till DawnFrom Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
,
The FacultyThe Faculty is a 1998 horror/science-fiction film, written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and its sequel, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, director of Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn...
,
Spy Kids,
Sin CitySin City is an ensemble cast American action/crime/thriller film written, produced, and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez...
and
Planet TerrorPlanet Terror is a American action/horror/sci-fi/thriller written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The...
.
Early life
Rodríguez was born in
San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the second-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh-largest city in the United States. The city is characteristic of other Southwest urban centers in which there are sparsely populated areas and a low density rate outside of the city. It was the fourth-fastest growing...
, the son of Mexican-American parents, Rebecca, a nurse, and Cecilio G. Rodríguez, a salesman. He began his interest in film at age 7 when his father bought one of the first VCRs, which came with a camera.
While attending St. Anthony High School Seminary, he was commissioned to videotape the school's football games. According to his sister he was fired soon after for shooting them with a cinematic style; getting shots of parents reactions and the ball traveling through the air instead of shooting the whole play. After graduating Rodriguez went to the
College of CommunicationThe University of Texas at Austin College of Communication is the Communication College at The University of Texas at Austin. The College was established in 1965 in an effort to consolidate the all Communication Studies under one roof including the Department of Public Speaking , School of...
at the University of Texas where he also developed a love of cartooning. His grades were not good enough to get into the school's film program, so he invented a daily comic strip entitled
Los Hooligans with many of the characters based on his siblings – in particular, one of his sisters, Maricarmen. The comic proved to be quite successful, running for three years in the student newspaper
The Daily TexanThe Daily Texan is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin. It is entirely student-run and independent from the university. It is one of the largest college newspapers in the United States with a daily circulation of roughly 30,000 during the fall and spring semesters and bills...
while Rodríguez continued to make short films.
Rodríguez grew up shooting action and horror short films on video, and editing on two VCRs. Finally, in the fall of 1990, his entry in a local film contest earned him a spot in the university's film program where he made the award-winning 16 mm short, "
BedheadBedhead is a 1991 short family-comedy-fantasy film directed and co-written by Robert Rodriguez.Made while he was a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Rodriguez shot the film with his brothers and sisters as actors and with his family and friends as crew...
". The film chronicles the amusing misadventures of a young girl whose older brother sports an incredibly tangled mess of hair that she cannot tolerate. The rest of the short film is a humorous account of how the young girl tries to fix her brother's follicle monstrosity when she discovers her telekinetic abilities. Even at this early stage, Rodríguez's trademark style began to emerge: quick cuts, intense zooms, and fast camera movements deployed with a sense of humor that offsets the action.
Career
This short film attracted enough attention to encourage him to seriously attempt a career as a filmmaker. He went on to shoot the action flick
El MariachiEl Mariachi is a 1992 action thriller film. It is the debut film of writer/director Robert Rodriguez.The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican border town of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
in Spanish.
El Mariachi, which was shot for around $7,000 with money partially raised by participating in medical research studies, won the Audience Award at the
Sundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in the state of Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the U.S. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as the Sundance Resort, the festival is the premier...
in 1992. The film, originally intended for the Spanish-language low-budget home-video market, was "cleaned up" with several hundred thousand dollars before being distributed by
Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
in the United States, still being promoted as "the movie made for $7,000". Rodríguez described his experiences making the film in his book
Rebel Without a CrewRebel Without a Crew is a 1995 non-fiction book by Robert Rodriguez...
. The book and film inspired legions of hopeful filmmakers to pick up cameras and make no-budget movies. The film and the book are widely considered important touchstones of the
independent filmAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
movement of the 1990s.
His next feature film was
DesperadoDesperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
, a sequel to
El Mariachi starring
Antonio BanderasJosé Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer. He began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by director Pedro Almodóvar and then appeared in high-profile Hollywood films including Assassins, Evita, Interview with the Vampire,...
. The film introduced
Salma HayekSalma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez is a Mexican actress, director, and television and film producer. Hayek's charitable work includes increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants....
to American audiences. Rodríguez went on to collaborate with
Quentin TarantinoQuentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s he was an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and aestheticization of violence...
on the
vampireVampires are legendary creatures said to subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, generally by drinking their blood. Although typically described as undead, some minor traditions believed in vampires that were living people....
thriller,
From Dusk Till DawnFrom Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
(he co-produced two
sequelA sequel is a work in literature, film, or other media that chronologically portrays events following those of a previous work.In many cases, the sequel continues elements of the original story, often with the same characters and settings. A sequel can lead to a series, in which key elements appear...
s), and with Kevin Williamson on the horror film
The FacultyThe Faculty is a 1998 horror/science-fiction film, written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and its sequel, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, director of Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn...
.
In 1999 Kevin Smith offered directorial duties on the film
DogmaDogma is a American adventure-comedy-fantasy film, written and directed by Kevin Smith; he also co-stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, George Carlin, Janeane...
to Rodríguez, yet he passed insisting that Kevin should direct the film himself. In 2001, Rodríguez enjoyed his first $100,000,000 (USD) Hollywood hit with
Spy KidsThe Spy Kids trilogy is a trilogy of family/action/adventure films written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The main plot follows the adventures of the children of a married spy couple who become involved in their parents' espionage. The rest of their family are spies as well, including...
, which went on to become a trilogy, with the last film released in a crude form of 3D. A third "mariachi" film also appeared in late 2003,
Once Upon a Time in MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
which completed the Mariachi Trilogy. He operates a production company called
Troublemaker StudiosTroublemaker Studios is a film production company owned by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and his ex-wife, producer Elizabeth Avellan. Originally founded as Los Hooligans Productions, its releases include Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the Spy Kids trilogy, and Sin City. Rodriguez plays a large role in...
, formerly Los Hooligans Productions.
Rodríguez co-directed
Sin CitySin City is an ensemble cast American action/crime/thriller film written, produced, and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez...
(2005), an adaptation of the
Frank MillerFrank Miller is an American writer, artist and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
Sin CitySin City is the title for a series of comics by Frank Miller, told in a film noir-like style . The first story originally appeared in "Dark Horse's Fifth Anniversary Special" , and continued in Dark Horse Presents #51–62 from May 1991 to June 1992, under the title of Sin City, serialized in...
comic books;
Quentin TarantinoQuentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s he was an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and aestheticization of violence...
guest-directed a scene. During production in 2004, Rodríguez insisted that Miller direct the film with him because he considered the visual style of Miller's comic art to be just as important as his own in the film. However, the
Directors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of America is the labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
would not allow it, citing that only "legitimate teams" could share the director's credit (e.g. the Wachowski Brothers). Rodríguez chose to resign from the DGA, stating, "It was easier for me to quietly resign before shooting because otherwise I'd be forced to make compromises I was unwilling to make or set a precedent that might hurt the guild later on." By resigning from the DGA, Rodríguez was forced to relinquish his director's seat on the film
John Carter of MarsJohn Carter of Mars is a planned film about John Carter, the lead character in much of Edgar Rice Burroughs's 11-volume Barsoom series. It will be directed by Andrew Stanton and stars Taylor Kitsch as Carter. Contrary to previous misinformed publications, this movie is not being produced by Pixar...
(in development) for
Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is a Worldwide American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is the world's oldest existing American film studio; it is also the last...
. Rodríguez had already signed on and had been announced as director of that film, planning to begin filming soon after completing
Sin City.
Sin City was a critical hit in 2005 as well as a box office success, particularly for a hyperviolent comic book adaptation that did not have name recognition comparable to the
X-MenX-Men is a 2000 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and Tyler Mane...
or
Spider-ManSpider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The first installment in the Spider-Man series, the film, directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp, stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and Willem Dafoe.The film begins with...
. Rodríguez is currently in pre-production for a sequel,
Sin City 2, which will be based on the
Sin City story
A Dame To Kill For and is scheduled for release in early 2010. He has stated that he is interested in eventually adapting all of Miller's
Sin City comic books.
Rodríguez released
The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 2005, a superhero-kid movie intended for the same younger audiences as his
Spy Kids series.
Shark Boy & Lava Girl was based on a story conceived by Rodríguez's 7 year-old son, Racer, who was given credit for the screenplay. The film was not a major success, having grossed 39 million dollars at the box office. No new 3D projects have been announced by the Troublemaker group.
Since 1998, he has owned the film rights to
Mike AllredMichael Dalton "Mike" Allred is an American comic book artist and writer most famous for his indie comics creation, Madman. His style is often compared to pop art, as well as commercial and comic art of the 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
's off-beat comic
MadmanMadman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero created by Mike Allred.-Character History:Madman is not your average hero...
. The two have hinted at the project being close to beginning on several occasions without anything coming of it. However, other projects have been completed first (Allred was instrumental in connecting Rodríguez with Frank Miller, leading to the production of
Sin City). In 2004, Allred, while promoting his comic book,
The Golden Plates, announced that a screenplay by
George HuangGeorge Huang is a Taiwanese-American film-maker.Although none of his own films have yet to achieve major box-office success, the director has gained a small-but-loyal cult following...
was near completion. In March 2006, it was announced that production on
Sin City 2 would be postponed. Allred announced at the 2006
WonderConWonderCon is an annual comic book, science fiction, and motion picture convention, held in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1987.The convention was conceived by retailer John Barrett and originally held in the Oakland Convention Center, where it remained until 2003, when it moved to San Francisco's...
that production would likely commence on
Madman the Movie in 2006. Huang is actually friends with Rodriguez, who advised him to pursue filmmaking as a career when Rodriguez landed a deal with
Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
where Huang was an employee.
Rodriguez wrote and directed the film
Planet TerrorPlanet Terror is a American action/horror/sci-fi/thriller written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The...
for the collaboration with Quentin Tarantino in their double feature
Grindhouse (released in 2007). This film was a throwback to the
Grindhouse exploitative cinema of the past.
He also has a series of "Ten Minute Film School" segments on several of his DVD releases, showing aspiring filmmakers how to make good, profitable movies using inexpensive tactics. Starting with the
Once Upon a Time in MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
DVD, Rodríguez began creating a series called, "Ten Minute Cooking School" where he revealed his recipe for "Puerco Pilbil" (based on
Cochinita pibilCochinita pibil is a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish from Yucatán Península. Preparation of traditional cochinita or puerco pibil involves marinating the meat in strongly acidic citrus juice, coloring it with annatto seed, and roasting the meat while it is wrapped in banana...
, an old dish from
YucatánYucatán is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. The Yucatan peninsula includes three states: Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; all three modern states were formerly part of the larger historic state of Yucatán in the 19th century. The state capital of...
), the same food
Johnny DeppJohn Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor and musician known for his portrayals of offbeat, eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Sam in Benny & Joon.Depp rose to prominence in a lead...
's character, "Agent Sands" ate in the film. The popularity of this series led to the inclusion of another "Cooking School" on the two-disc version of the "
Sin CitySin City is the title for a series of comics by Frank Miller, told in a film noir-like style . The first story originally appeared in "Dark Horse's Fifth Anniversary Special" , and continued in Dark Horse Presents #51–62 from May 1991 to June 1992, under the title of Sin City, serialized in...
" DVD where Rodríguez teaches the viewer how to make "Sin City Breakfast Tacos," a dish (made for his cast and crew during late-night shoots) utilizing his grandmother's tortilla recipe and different egg mixes for the filling. He had initially planned to release a third "Cooking School" with the October 16 DVD release of "
Planet TerrorPlanet Terror is a American action/horror/sci-fi/thriller written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The...
" but then announced on the "Film School" segment of the DVD that he would put it on the upcoming Grindhouse Theatrical DVD set instead. The Cooking School, titled "Texas Barbecue...from the GRAVE!," is a dish based on the "secret barbecue recipe" of "JT Hague,"
Jeff FaheyJeffrey David "Jeff" Fahey is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Fahey was born in Olean, New York, the sixth of thirteen siblings in an Irish American family. He was raised in Buffalo, New York from the age of ten and attended Father Baker's High School there...
's character in the film.
A strong supporter of
digital film makingDigital cinematography is the process of capturing motion pictures as digital images, rather than on film. Digital capture may occur on tape, hard disks, flash memory, or other media which can record digital data. As digital technology has improved, this practice has become increasingly common...
, Rodríguez was introduced to this by director
George LucasGeorge Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, director and chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd. He is best known for being the creator of the epic sci-fi franchise Star Wars and joint creator of the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
, who personally invited Rodríguez to use the digital cameras at Lucas' headquarters.
In May 2007 it was announced that Rodríguez had signed on to direct a remake of
BarbarellaBarbarella is a 1968 erotic science fiction film directed by Roger Vadim and based on the French Barbarella comics from Jean-Claude Forest.-Plot:Set in the 40th century, Barbarella follows the adventures of its title character played by Jane Fonda...
for a 2008 release. At the 2007
Comic-ConComic-Con or Comic Con may refer to:*San Diego Comic-Con International, annual fan convention in San Diego held since 1970, also known as Comic-Con or San Diego Comic-Con...
convention, actress
Rosario DawsonRosario Dawson is an American actress and singer, having appeared in films such as Men in Black II, Clerks II, The Rundown, Sin City, Rent, Death Proof, Eagle Eye and Seven Pounds.-Early life:...
announced that because of
BarbarellaBarbarella is a 1968 erotic science fiction film directed by Roger Vadim and based on the French Barbarella comics from Jean-Claude Forest.-Plot:Set in the 40th century, Barbarella follows the adventures of its title character played by Jane Fonda...
, production of
Sin City 2 would be put on hold. She also announced that she would be playing an amazon in the Barbarella film.
In May 2008 Rodriguez is said to be shopping around a prison drama television series called Woman in Chains!, with Rose McGowan being a possibility for a lead role.
As of June 2008, plans to remake the film Barbarella with Rose McGowan as the lead have been delayed; the actress and director are instead remaking the film Red Sonja.
As of May 2009, the plans for a Barbarella remake have been scrapped by Rodriguez after months of shopping the project around to domestic and international studios.
Machete
Machete is an upcoming feature by Robert Rodriguez. It is an expansion of a fake
trailerTrailers or previews are film advertisements for feature films that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema, on whose screen they are shown. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a film program. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to...
Rodriguez directed for the 2007 film
Grindhouse. It will star
Danny TrejoDanny Trejo is an American character actor who has appeared in many Hollywood movies, usually known for his tough guy roles.-Early life:...
(Rodriguez's older cousin) as the title character. Trejo has worked with Rodriguez in some of his other movies such as
Once Upon a Time in MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
and
Spy KidsThe Spy Kids trilogy is a trilogy of family/action/adventure films written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The main plot follows the adventures of the children of a married spy couple who become involved in their parents' espionage. The rest of their family are spies as well, including...
, where Trejo's character was also known as Machete. Although originally announced to be released direct-to-DVD as an extra on the
Planet TerrorPlanet Terror is a American action/horror/sci-fi/thriller written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The...
DVD, the film is now being produced as a theatrical release.
According to Rodriguez, the origins of the film go back to
DesperadoDesperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
. He says, "When I met Danny, I said, 'This guy should be like the Mexican
Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van Damme is a Belgian martial artist and actor who is best known for martial arts and action movies. His most successful films include Bloodsport , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , and Timecop...
or
Charles BronsonCharles Bronson was an American actor best known for his "tough guy" image, who starred in such classic films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, The Evil That Men Do and the popular Death Wish series...
, putting out a movie every year and his name should be Machete.' So I decided to do that way back when, never got around to it until finally now. So now, of course, I want to keep going and do a feature." In an interview with
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
magazine, Rodriguez said that he wrote the screenplay back in 1993 when he cast Trejo in
Desperado. "So I wrote him this idea of a federale from Mexico who gets hired to do hatchet jobs in the U.S. I had heard sometimes FBI or
DEAThe Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the U.S...
have a really tough job that they don't want to get their own agents killed on, they'll hire an agent from Mexico to come do the job for $25,000. I thought, "That's
Machete. He would come and do a really dangerous job for a lot of money to him but for everyone else over here it's peanuts." But I never got around to making it."
Rodriguez hopes to film
Machete at the same time as
Sin City 2. Additionally, during
Comic-Con International 2008Comic-Con International: San Diego, commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con was founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans...
, he took the time to speak about Machete, including such topics as: status, possible sequels after the release of Machete, and production priorities. It was also revealed that he has regularly pulled sequences from it for his other productions including
Once Upon a Time in MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
.
Predators
On April 23, 2009, it was announced that Rodriguez was assigned the task of relaunching the
PredatorThe Predator film series is a science fiction horror film franchise. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the series started in 1987 with the film Predator, which led to a sequel and novel, comic book and video game spin-offs....
franchiseA media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
with the upcoming film
Predators. Rodriguez will be producing and writing the film, with Antal Nimród directing it and
Adrien BrodyAdrien Brody is an American actor. He received widespread recognition and subsequent acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist...
cast in the lead.
Personal life
Rodriguez officially announced in April 2006 that he and his wife
Elizabeth AvellánElizabeth Avellán-Veloz is an American film producer.- Early Life :Avellán was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Her grandfather, Gonzalo Veloz Mancera, created the first privately-owned Venezuelan television station, Televisa...
separated after 16 years of marriage. They have five children: sons Rocket Valentino (b. 14 September 1995), Racer Maximilliano (b. 16 April 1997), Rebel Antonio (b. January 1999), Rogue Joaquin and daughter Rhiannon Elizabeth (b. 10 December 2005).
The media reported that Rodríguez had a "dalliance" with actress
Rose McGowanRose Arianna McGowan is an American actress known for her role as Paige Matthews in WB Network supernatural drama series Charmed, as well as for her roles in several major Hollywood films including The Doom Generation, Scream, Jawbreaker, and Grindhouse...
during the shooting of
Grindhouse, with speculation that his hiatus during production may have been due to his wife finding out.
In response to the speculation, a spokesperson for
Troublemaker StudiosTroublemaker Studios is a film production company owned by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and his ex-wife, producer Elizabeth Avellan. Originally founded as Los Hooligans Productions, its releases include Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the Spy Kids trilogy, and Sin City. Rodriguez plays a large role in...
released the following statement:
In May 2007, it was reported that he confirmed his relationship with McGowan when they appeared hand-in-hand at the
60th Annual Cannes Film FestivalThe 2007 Cannes Film Festival, the sixtieth, ran from May 16 to 27, 2007. Wong Kar Wai's My Blueberry Nights opened the festival, and Denys Arcand's The Age of Ignorance closed...
. In October 2007, Elle Magazine revealed that Rodríguez cast McGowan as the title role in his remake of
BarbarellaBarbarella is a 1968 erotic science fiction film directed by Roger Vadim and based on the French Barbarella comics from Jean-Claude Forest.-Plot:Set in the 40th century, Barbarella follows the adventures of its title character played by Jane Fonda...
. On October 12, 2007 it was announced by Zap2it.com that the two are engaged. On July 2, 2008, it was reported that Rose McGowan had split up with Rodriguez, partly over issues due to the financing of the Barbarella remake. However, on July 3, PEOPLE Magazine posted an article with a quote from McGowan's rep stating that the two were still together. The couple split up on 2 October 2009.
On May 23, 2009, Rodriguez officially completed his Radio-Television-Film Degree from the College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. Rodriguez was the featured speaker for the university-wide commencement.
The "one-man film crew" and "Mariachi-style"
Rodríguez not only has the usual credits of producing, directing and writing his films, he also frequently serves as editor, director of photography,
camera operatorA camera operator is a person that operates a film or video camera for the purpose of recording a production to film, video, or a computer storage medium...
,
steadicamA Steadicam is a stabilizing mount for a motion picture camera, which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface...
operator, composer,
production designerProduction designer is a term used in the movie and television industries to refer to the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and...
, visual effects supervisor, and
sound editorA sound editor is a creative professional responsible for selecting and assembling sound recordings in preparation for the final sound mixing or mastering of a television program, motion picture, video game, or any production involving recorded or synthetic sound...
on his films. This has earned him the nickname of "the one-man film crew." He abbreviates his numerous roles in his film credits;
Once Upon A Time In MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
, for instance, is "shot, chopped, and scored by Robert Rodriguez."
He calls his style of making movies "Mariachi-style" (in reference to his first feature film
El Mariachi) in which (according to the back cover of his book
Rebel Without a CrewRebel Without a Crew is a 1995 non-fiction book by Robert Rodriguez...
)
"Creativity, not money, is used to solve problems".
Stu MaschwitzStuart T. Maschwitz, commonly known as Stu Maschwitz, is the co-founder and chief technology officer of The Orphanage, a visual effects company in California. He has worked as senior visual effects supervisor on several films. He previously worked at Industrial Light and Magic.Maschwitz was...
coined the term "Robert Rodriguez list", i.e. you make a list of things you have access to like cool cars, apartments, horses, samurai swords and so on, and then write the screenplay based on that list.
Collaborations
Rodríguez has a storied history of collaboration with
Quentin TarantinoQuentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s he was an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and aestheticization of violence...
:
- Tarantino has a cameo in Rodríguez's film Desperado
Desperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
.
- Both filmmakers directed segments in the film Four Rooms
Four Rooms is a 1995 anthology film telling four stories set in a Los Angeles hotel on New Year's Eve. Tim Roth stars as the principal character of the frame tale; he also takes part to a greater or lesser degree in the four stories, which feature Quentin Tarantino, Antonio Banderas and Madonna,...
.
- He directed Tarantino's screenplay From Dusk till Dawn
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
, in which Tarantino acted. They both served as executive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the filmmaking or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production. Typically an executive producer handles business and legal issues. See also associate producer, co-producer, line producer...
s for that film and its two sequels.
- Tarantino came up with the title for (and was initially going to act in) Rodríguez's film Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
.
- Rodríguez wrote some original music that was used in Tarantino's film Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Kill Bill is a two part film by writer-director Quentin Tarantino, starring Uma Thurman as The Bride. Originally conceived as one film, it was released in two separate 'volumes' due to its running time of approximately four hours...
and was reported to only have been paid one dollar for doing so.
- Tarantino directed a scene in Rodriguez's film Sin City
Sin City is an ensemble cast American action/crime/thriller film written, produced, and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez...
(also reported to be paid one dollar in return) and loaned him some swords from Kill BillKill Bill is a two part film by writer-director Quentin Tarantino, starring Uma Thurman as The Bride. Originally conceived as one film, it was released in two separate 'volumes' due to its running time of approximately four hours...
to use for the Mihois a mute female assassin of Japanese descent in Frank Miller's Sin City series. Along with Gail, she serves as an enforcer and defender of Old Town. She is often referred to as "Deadly Little Miho" by Dwight in his narrations. To date, she has appeared in 3 of the Sin City yarns.-Background:Much...
character. This feature was also a collaboration with Frank Miller (the creator of the Sin City graphic novel series).
- They collaborated together on the 2007 double-feature Grindhouse.
He has also worked with actor
Antonio BanderasJosé Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer. He began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by director Pedro Almodóvar and then appeared in high-profile Hollywood films including Assassins, Evita, Interview with the Vampire,...
and actress
Salma HayekSalma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez is a Mexican actress, director, and television and film producer. Hayek's charitable work includes increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants....
on a number of films:
- Banderas and Hayek were cast as the lead roles in Desperado
Desperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
and Once Upon a Time in MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
of the El MariachiEl Mariachi is a 1992 action thriller film. It is the debut film of writer/director Robert Rodriguez.The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican border town of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
trilogy.
- Both make appearances in Rodríguez's segment in Four Rooms
Four Rooms is a 1995 anthology film telling four stories set in a Los Angeles hotel on New Year's Eve. Tim Roth stars as the principal character of the frame tale; he also takes part to a greater or lesser degree in the four stories, which feature Quentin Tarantino, Antonio Banderas and Madonna,...
.
- Banderas and Rodríguez collaborated for the Spy Kids
The Spy Kids trilogy is a trilogy of family/action/adventure films written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The main plot follows the adventures of the children of a married spy couple who become involved in their parents' espionage. The rest of their family are spies as well, including...
trilogy. Hayek had a role in the final installment, Spy Kids 3-D: Game OverSpy Kids 3-D: Game Over is a 2003 action/adventure family film directed by Robert Rodriguez, and is the third and last film in the Spy Kids Series. It was released in the United States on July 25, 2003...
.
- Hayek also had major roles in three of Rodriguez's films: Roadracers
Roadracers is a 1994 made-for-television film directed by Robert Rodriguez, his second feature film following the success of his 1992 debut, El Mariachi...
, From Dusk Till DawnFrom Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
, and The FacultyThe Faculty is a 1998 horror/science-fiction film, written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and its sequel, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, director of Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn...
.
He also collaborated with actor
Danny TrejoDanny Trejo is an American character actor who has appeared in many Hollywood movies, usually known for his tough guy roles.-Early life:...
(who is also his cousin) and
Cheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian and actor who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's quick-and-scheme partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
in
DesperadoDesperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
,
Once Upon a Time in MexicoOnce Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
,
From Dusk Till DawnFrom Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
,
Spy KidsThe Spy Kids trilogy is a trilogy of family/action/adventure films written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The main plot follows the adventures of the children of a married spy couple who become involved in their parents' espionage. The rest of their family are spies as well, including...
trilogy and the
Grindhouse spinoff
MacheteMachete is an upcoming film by Robert Rodriguez. It is an expansion of a fake trailer Rodriguez directed for the 2007 film Grindhouse. It will star Danny Trejo as the title character.-Plot:...
.
Rodríguez collaborated with Kevin Williamson, filming the film-within-a-film
Stab in
Scream 2Scream 2 is a 1997 horror thriller film, the second part of the Scream trilogy. This movie takes place one year after the original. As with the other films in the trilogy, Scream 2 combines straight-forward scares with dialogue that satirizes conventions of slasher films, especially slasher film...
(written by Williamson) and directed
The FacultyThe Faculty is a 1998 horror/science-fiction film, written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and its sequel, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, director of Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn...
based on his screenplay.
Rodríguez composed the track "Avenging Angel" for the soundtrack of
Edgar WrightEdgar Wright is an English film and television director and writer. He is most famous for his work with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on the films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and TV series Spaced.-Biography:...
's
Hot FuzzHot Fuzz is a 2007 British action comedy film written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright and starring Pegg and Nick Frost. The three had previously worked together on the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead as well as the television series Spaced. The film was directed by Wright and produced by Nira Park...
; Wright also directed a faux trailer for
Grindhouse.
Robert had a special appearance in the sitcom
George LopezGeorge Lopez is an American sitcom starring the comedian George Lopez. The show originally aired on ABC from March 27, 2002 to May 23, 2007...
, starring the
comedian of the same nameGeorge Lopez is a Mexican American comedian and actor. He is known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race relations and the Mexican culture within the United States....
, in the episode "George Buys a Vow" as part of the band in the wedding ceremony. Lopez also starred in Rodriguez's film
Sharkboy and Lavagirl.
Filmography
- Bedhead
Bedhead is a 1991 short family-comedy-fantasy film directed and co-written by Robert Rodriguez.Made while he was a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Rodriguez shot the film with his brothers and sisters as actors and with his family and friends as crew...
(1991)
- El Mariachi
El Mariachi is a 1992 action thriller film. It is the debut film of writer/director Robert Rodriguez.The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican border town of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
(1992)
- Roadracers
Roadracers is a 1994 made-for-television film directed by Robert Rodriguez, his second feature film following the success of his 1992 debut, El Mariachi...
(1994)
- Desperado
Desperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
(1995)
- Four Rooms
Four Rooms is a 1995 anthology film telling four stories set in a Los Angeles hotel on New Year's Eve. Tim Roth stars as the principal character of the frame tale; he also takes part to a greater or lesser degree in the four stories, which feature Quentin Tarantino, Antonio Banderas and Madonna,...
(1995)
- From Dusk till Dawn
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
(1996)
- The Faculty
The Faculty is a 1998 horror/science-fiction film, written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and its sequel, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, director of Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn...
(1998)
- Spy Kids
The Spy Kids trilogy is a trilogy of family/action/adventure films written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The main plot follows the adventures of the children of a married spy couple who become involved in their parents' espionage. The rest of their family are spies as well, including...
(2001)
- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
(2003)
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over is a 2003 action/adventure family film directed by Robert Rodriguez, and is the third and last film in the Spy Kids Series. It was released in the United States on July 25, 2003...
(2003)
- Sin City
Sin City is an ensemble cast American action/crime/thriller film written, produced, and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez...
(2005)
- The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D is a 2005 comedy by Robert Rodriguez, the writer, producer and director of Spy Kids. The film uses the same anaglyph 3D technology used in Spy Kids 3D: Game Over. The film stars Cayden Boyd, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Dooley, and George Lopez...
(2005)
- Planet Terror
Planet Terror is a American action/horror/sci-fi/thriller written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The...
(2007)
- Shorts
Shorts is a 2009 family comedy/adventure film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It was released in the United States on August 21, 2009...
(2009)
- Machete
Machete is an upcoming film by Robert Rodriguez. It is an expansion of a fake trailer Rodriguez directed for the 2007 film Grindhouse. It will star Danny Trejo as the title character.-Plot:...
(2010)
External links