Robert Rodriguez $7000 film.

Limitedoffer

Limitedoffer

Well-known member
I was wonder I saw his video on his making of the Mariachi.
He says his budget was $7k i was wonder on all did he spend the $7k on?
I dont think he paid the Actors,Equipment?
So how did he spend the $7k?
Locations?Gas?Food?Distributing?Editing?
Does anyone know?
Plus what are the budget for movies that dont pay there actors?ETC where do all the money go?
 
You should read his book Rebel without a Crew, it has all the details on it. I think a lot of it was food and equipment.

But actually, the final product (the one that audience saw) didn't cost $7k, that's a common myth. For $7,000 RR couldn't afford any sound equipment or sound crew, so all the dialogue had to be dubbed over with a crappy tape recorder and then synced up bit by bit; where the voice doesn't match he had to cover with cutaway. After the film was sold, the studio had to spend close to $200,000 to rerecord the sound track for general release.
 
He didn't pay a single actor.

Like the previous poster, in his book Rebel Without A Crew he describes what he did day by day including his spendings.
 
I'll tell you this. "El Mariachi" is my single biggest inspiration for going out and making a film.

-Nate
 
WOW ok yea that makes since so i guess if i make a film my budget was already starting out at $9000 thats all my equipment and computer and software.
Yea i'm going to go and buy the book.
I like robert alot.Smart guy.
 
Limitedoffer said:
WOW ok yea that makes since so i guess if i make a film my budget was already starting out at $9000 thats all my equipment and computer and software.
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Keep in mind that the lesson isn't not to pay your actors and sink all your money into equipments. If you're willing to sink $9000 into a single film, then it's much more economical to rent, hire a DP and sound person, and pay your actors, that way the film benefits and everybody who works on it benefit. $9000 just doesn't go very far when you start buying equipments. It will go a lot further when you start getting professionals behind and in front of the camera.

RR didn't pay his actor or his crew because he simply couldn't afford to, most of the money went to buying films and processing and such. Fortunately for those of us shooting on a digital format, media is cheap and reusable. So there's just no excuse for not paying the people working on your film if you can afford to.
 
Yep, my understanding was the majority of the money was spent on 16mm film and processing. He said only $600 was spent on screen and he did not feed the crew or actors.
 
Yes. We're making every effect to pay our actors and even our extras. We won't everyone to leave saying the had a great time and made a great film. The first time actors worked for food, on the second film we paid our main actors a small amount. Now we're going to pay actors and crew.

-Nate
 
Nathyn said:
I'll tell you this. "El Mariachi" is my single biggest inspiration for going out and making a film.

-Nate
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For me, I would not say that "El Mariachi"(1992) was my inspiration... but what Rodriguez has done in the world of digital film making is inspirational...

Rather than use "El Mariachi" to get big budget gigs, and only do 'directing' per Hollywood standard... he has built up his production capability to do 'things at home'... that is not in So. Cal... that should be inspirational for anyone not able to move to So Cal... and anyone who's in So. Cal... but not interested in moving into LA in particular...

I live about 97 miles from Hollywood and Vine... and I don't even want to go up there if I don't have to...
 
I actually plan to spend some time in LA. Maybe a week or so and see what the deal is. I know people who have been there and say don't go and people who love and won't leave as well as people who simply want to go. They feel they're being "lead" I guess.

But when I was in College I wanted to do low budget action films consisting mainly of martial arts. After seeing El Marichi was blown away. It was more fun and more kinetic than some of the big Hollywood movies I'd seen. I really liked it and knew I had to do my action opus. LOL. But seriously I finally got this on DVD and watch it every once and a while. I like Tarantino and RR but RR more because he went out there and did it with no net. I like Tarantino's thought process more than his film actually but I do like his style.

-Nate
 
Ok alright alot of info is falling at me.

I would not say i have the movie to invest in the movie because i really dont.
$9000 i said was just my equipment,Computer,Programs etc just stuff to get started but for the actual film that i plan to make i have none.

I'm planning to ask for a sponsor her in town that have been wanting to make a film for awhile so i might be there man.
I have written a What i think is a Powerful and exciting story.

I dont know what the future hold but i know I'm going to make one no matter what.
In my town there are so many people trying to do something but only talk,nothing gets done so i really want to stand out.

Robert is great and I would love to be called out as his younger brother cause we are very much alike in some forms.

My name is NATHAN RODRIGUEZ,I'm mexican american.I was born and raised in North Hollywood born in Van Nuys.So i think it would be cool.Same with Alex,but thats a different story.
 
Hey Nathan, I can budget this out for you were you can save money depending on what you're shooting on.

-Nate
 
Robert's success was a matter of the right things happening at the right time. If his friend had not had a sister working for a large talent agency at the time the chances of a top agent seeing his project and connecting Robert with Columbia wouldn't have happened and El Mariachi would have died right there.
 
Yea it is really important to find someone in the industry.
So u say you can set up my budget.
Well i'm shooting on 2 XH-A1's and a HV30.
 
Limitedoffer said:
Yea it is really important to find someone in the industry.
So u say you can set up my budget.
Well i'm shooting on 2 XH-A1's and a HV30.
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I can save you a ton! Buy 1 camera. Not three. Multicam shoots are for Micheal Bay and soap operas. If one particualr scene NEEDS multicam (i.e. real explosion or car crash) than rent an extra camera or two for the day... but no budget films don't have these type of scenes. RR only had one borrrowed camera... you wanting to buy three off the bat shows how far you are from the rebel mindset. The rebel filmmaker refuses to spend money.

Go to the library and check out RR's book... but also go buy Stu Machwitz's "The DV Rebel Guide". It's the filmmaking book RR would write but now doesn't have too... his words.
 
And if you're going to do multicam buy the XH-A1 and the HV30 and skip the second XH-A1. I've been considering this myself.

-Nate
 
LOL no no you are miss reading I dont have to buy anything I already own them!!!!
I have 2 XH-A1's and a HV30 already.I understand not spending money i know that.
I'm talking about filming a movie in general.I have a very low budget for this money cause i'm making it based upon the fact i have some good equipment,skills in post,etc.
 
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