Learn filmmaking from Robert Rodriguez (over 6hrs of materials)

I like Rodriguez, he's a colorful character with a lot of vitality, very engaged in helping others and unafraid of breaking traditional conventions. However, I have to admit, that I find a lot of his work like a modern, more self-conscious version of Roger Corman B films from fifty years ago. A lot of fun, but B films none the less. I really would love to see him put his whole heart and truth into something that doesn't feel somehow like a compromise on some level. Something that really matters and that he wants to say.
 
yoclay said:
I like Rodriguez, he's a colorful character with a lot of vitality, very engaged in helping others and unafraid of breaking traditional conventions. However, I have to admit, that I find a lot of his work like a modern, more self-conscious version of Roger Corman B films from fifty years ago. A lot of fun, but B films none the less. I really would love to see him put his whole heart and truth into something that doesn't feel somehow like a compromise on some level. Something that really matters and that he wants to say.
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Some people make certain types of movies... whether B or tobeClassics... when someone moves from one style to another... it may be more of a disaster than if they stay in their natural genre.

I use Russ Mayer as an example of this. He was well known for his 'sexploitation' films of the 50's and 60's, and in late 60s given a 'big budget' film project... "Beyond Valley of the Dolls"(1970).

It was a total disaster... Roger Ebert the 'movie critic' typed out the script... which along with about 4 others, none of which reached even the 'cult classic' acclaim that BTVOTD reached, formed his 'script writing' opus. Ok, maybe "Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens"(1979)... or perhaps "UP!"(1976) IMDB poster here...

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j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Some people make certain types of movies... whether B or tobeClassics... when someone moves from one style to another... it may be more of a disaster than if they stay in their natural genre.

I use Russ Mayer as an example of this. He was well known for his 'sexploitation' films of the 50's and 60's, and in late 60s given a 'big budget' film project... "Beyond Valley of the Dolls"(1970).

It was a total disaster... Roger Ebert the 'movie critic' typed out the script... which along with about 4 others, none of which reached even the 'cult classic' acclaim that BTVOTD reached, formed his 'script writing' opus. Ok, maybe "Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens"(1979)... or perhaps "UP!"(1976) IMDB poster here...

MV5BNDA4NzQyOTMxMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDc4NjUxMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR1,0,214,317_AL_.jpg
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I think we ALL have at least one great film in each of us, and if we are very lucky two or three. I haven't seen that one yet from Rodriguez.
 
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Have to agree on RR. I like El Mariachi, because it was just an entertaining movie that was well paced, had an awesome setting, and a lot of good location choices, which all more than made up for the technical limitations (the charm of low-budget). But I haven't see anything from him that came even close to El Mariachi... not that I've seen everything he ever did, but he just seems to do schlock that's not very interesting. I'm a huge, huge fan of B-grade movies, but RR doesn't deliver. Desperado - terrible, and a good example of everything that's wrong with RR's stuff (post El Mariachi) - overblown in the wrong way... i.e. he doesn't understand how to graduate effects, so it's all one-note BAM, BAM, BAM, which gets monotonous and makes you not care because it's hard to keep responding to the same dialed-to-11 effects which soon lose impact; *terrible* acting choices - just the worst actors and worst acting; sadly, it's just a bore on every level. Same with Planet Terror, From Dusk to Dawn, Once Upon A Time In Mexico. I thought the idea of Sin City and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was very interesting, but what RR did with it was not interesting in execution. I don't know - he just doesn't seem a very good director. That said, I've heard him talk and seen some instruction type videos/articles, and he's very informative and would be a great teacher I think, so these links are definitely worth looking at.
 
Yoday....depends what you call a great movie....and no, many of us don't have it in us lol I remember i really liked el mariacchi but liked desperado more for selma hayek haha.

I do agree that filmmakers who are the brains and heart behind a movie seldom make more than a few good films. People will hate me for this, but woody allen has made a lot of crappy movies ( not for people studying movies but for just random filmmakers....i watch so many s*%tty movies to learn from and i do learn something in many occasions ).

Anyway thanks for the share.
 
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yoclay said:
I think we ALL have at least one great film in each of us, and if we are very lucky two or three. I haven't seen that one yet from Rodriguez.
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If everyone made great films, the bar for a 'great film' would be raised and again very few would be seen as making them. Besides, not everyone has the talent, skill, luck or serendipity.
 
I used to be a huge RR fan. I was the kid in high school always running around with a camera and making short movies. When I graduated in 2003, I knew I wanted to make films, but my grades were not good enough to get into film school due to focusing on video all the time. I was perusing Barnes and Nobel one day and they had a small section on film and movies. I stumbled across "Rebel Without A Crew". After reading the introduction right there in the store, I bought the book and finished it that night. I felt like I could connect with Robert. And like legions of filmmakers, he made me believe that I could make a movie. I bought the Mexico trilogy and studied the films and the extras for hours on end. I also bough some of his lesser known films like The Faculty and From Dusk 'Till Dawn. I studied and practiced with my DV cam and my editing software and when I was 22, I shot my first feature, a b-movie slasher flick. I remained a RR fan until after Planet Terror. That was the last film he did that I found I enjoyed. I've made a few features now and while it was Robert's book that initially told me to go make movies my way, I lately have not been impressed with Robert's work and no longer look up to him like I did. I would love to see him make a movie like Predators, which he only produced. Something that, while low budget, has the big budget look to it. I'm still a fan of his work up to and including Planet Terror, and I still find lots to learn through all the extras he used to include, but I no longer aspire to make the kinds of films he continues to make. Thanks for the links!
 
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I have to agree with all of you guys! He's not my favourite director and his films are not in my top list, but I respect his attitude and his passion to filmmaking.
Whenever I listen to him I get really inspired. Not only about filmmaking but about creativity in general.
The idea Robert tries to convey is more or less what Stephen King once said: "Amateurs wait for inspiration, we just go to work" :)
 
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