LF
Robert Rodriguez: Sin City, Desperado, El Mariachi, Alita, and Filmmaking | Lex Fridman Podcast #465
@ Lex Fridman
04/17/25
Takeaways
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I write the script in December and January, and I want to make the comic move visually, not just look like any gritty crime movie.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When I first met Jim Cameron, I was trying to impress him by taking a 3-day steadicam course because I couldn't afford an operator, but he was designing a better steadicam instead of just operating one.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
In filmmaking, when things fall apart, you roll up your sleeves and creatively figure out a way around it, often leading to a result that's better than what you initially sought.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Sift through the ashes of your failure, and you'll find the key to your next success, but you have to be looking for it.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Desperado was the first film to feature the slow-motion explosion walkaway scene, which became a meme by accident.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
For the opening scene of From Dusk Till Dawn, I wanted George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino to walk out of a gas station while the whole place blew up, all in one take.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When filming, if something unexpected happens, it might lead to a better take later, so you have to roll with it and see the blessing in the mistake.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I started making films with a Super 8 camera and editing on a VCR, which taught me how to edit in my head and be resourceful with what I had.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I made Bedhead, an award-winning short film, using a windup camera, which opened my mind to making a feature film for $8,000, leading to El Mariachi.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
For Mariachi, I wrote the script based on what I had available, like a pitbull, a turtle, and a bus, which gave the film its production value.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I drew 300 hand-drawn images for the opening title sequence of my film, which was a significant effort to create something unique and award-worthy. I was up all night doing this animated title sequence because I want people to see what I can do now, not for grades.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The limitations of the camera actually gave me the freedom to tell a story I couldn't have done on video.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I realized I could use reverse photography and stop motion to create special effects that enhanced the story.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Sometimes the limitations you have with equipment can turn a challenge into an opportunity to create something unique.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I shot 'El Mariachi' on a 16mm camera without knowing how to use it, relying on phone calls for guidance.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I didn't know if any of the footage was exposed until I finished the whole movie, which made me incredibly nervous.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I thought if someone actually picks up my film, they'll be surprised by the action I included, even though I initially made it for practice.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I shot 'El Mariachi' in one take to save costs, expecting that some parts might not come out, but I was willing to reshoot if necessary.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I believe that creativity is 90% of any job in filmmaking, while the technical aspects are only 10%.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When you start doing creative work, you have to be a good conduit for ideas, allowing them to flow through you.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Don't wait until you're ready to start making films; jump in and learn as you go.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Being a great director often means being a great audience for your actors, creating a safe space for them to perform, and I prefer to be close to the action and connected with the actors because filmmaking is like a dance.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When filming, I often operate the camera myself to capture the moment and the energy of the performance.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I believe that the essence of filmmaking is capturing moments that feel magical and spontaneous.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The audience's reactions during screenings can significantly enhance the filmmaking experience and inform future projects.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I believe that limitations in filmmaking can actually enhance creativity, as they force you to think outside the box.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I emphasize the importance of committing to a body of work, as it helps filmmakers navigate the pressures of success and creativity.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I learned that the best way to handle criticism is to not blink and stay focused on your vision.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The creative process in filmmaking mirrors life; both are unpredictable and require problem-solving skills.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I often tell my actors that creativity is a powerful force, and engaging in different artistic activities can unlock new potential.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I find that mentoring young filmmakers not only teaches them but also inspires me with fresh ideas.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Creating a company or a label can help channel your creativity and generate new ideas for projects.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I want the audience to win and be a part of the filmmaking process, rather than being an afterthought in Hollywood.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
If any of the movies in the slate do well, they make money off that one, and then sequels can follow. Everyone needs an action movie, and we're going to keep the costs down.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
A great action film comes down to the character. The best action films have relatable characters that audiences root for, like John McClane in 'Die Hard' or John Wick, who is a retired superhero type character.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
In action films, the character must be important because the action will then have a character to it, making it more engaging for the audience.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When I say we're going to do action movies, I mean movies that are really action-first, like 'John Wick', which is driven by action but still has character development.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Movies like 'Predator' are hybrids, combining sci-fi and action, but sometimes it's hard for the audience to know what they're buying into based on trailers.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
'Die Hard' is a great example of an action film where the character makes a significant difference, leading to a formula that many films have repeated since.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
'Taken' features a superhuman character in extraordinary circumstances, showcasing how a character can evolve from ordinary to extraordinary, like Sarah Connor in 'The Terminator'.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
In mob movies like 'Goodfellas', the focus is more on character development rather than action, even though they contain dynamic action scenes.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Every movie has a timeline, a ticking clock that creates urgency, making the audience aware that the story won't unfold over years, as seen in 'Escape from New York'.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The original 'Terminator' is a prime example of a film that still holds up visually, showcasing the importance of character and emotional storytelling.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
'El Mariachi' contains a tragic love story, which adds depth to the narrative, making the audience emotionally invested in the characters.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I was determined to hire a real Latin actress for 'Desperado', which was challenging due to the lack of roles available for Hispanic actors in Hollywood at the time.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When I was making 'El Mariachi', I didn't speak Spanish, which added an inspiring layer to the story of creating a film in a language I didn't know.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I met Salma Hayek while watching a show on Univision, and I knew she was the right fit for the role in 'Desperado' despite the studio's initial reluctance.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The studio didn't initially see the potential in Salma Hayek for 'Desperado', but once they saw her chemistry with Antonio Banderas, they changed their minds.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Creating my own Latin star system was essential for my films, as it allowed me to cast authentically and tell stories that resonate with my voice.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When making 'Machete', I wanted to pay tribute to the character I never got to create, and the trailer we shot was a fun way to finally bring that idea to life. People kept asking for the 'Machete' movie for five years, even though it wasn't real at first, and we finally made it because the demand was so high.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I reverse engineered the trailer for 'Machete' to create the movie, using the shots from the trailer as a guide for the film's scenes.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I often cast unexpected actors, like Robert Davi in 'Machete', to create surprising and interesting roles.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I can shoot actors in just a few days by being resourceful and using sets that are conveniently located, like turning a hotel room into a hospital set.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Lady Gaga expressed interest in acting after seeing 'Machete', and I was able to cast her in a sequel because I could shoot her scenes quickly.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I compare the filmmaking process to cooking: the script is your grocery list, filming is grocery shopping, and editing is the cooking where you balance the ingredients.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Many filmmakers fail to edit their own work, which leads to mismatched footage and unnecessary reshoots, increasing production costs.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I learned that knowing how to edit gives you an advantage in filmmaking, as it helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures the right shots are captured.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
In 'Sin City', I shot scenes with actors like Bruce Willis and Benicio del Toro in just a few days, demonstrating the efficiency of my shooting style.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I often use sound creatively in my films, adding effects that enhance the action and make it feel more impactful, even if the visuals are minimal.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Sound is crucial in filmmaking; it can create a perception of action that isn't visually present, making the audience believe they saw something that wasn't there.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I was fortunate that my camera malfunctioned during 'Mariachi', which led to better sound quality than I would have achieved otherwise.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Deadlines in filmmaking can drive creativity and efficiency, pushing you to make quick decisions and produce work that might not have happened otherwise.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Working with James Cameron on 'Alita' was a journey that involved developing new technology to create a photorealistic character in a live-action world.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The process of bringing 'Alita' to life involved capturing not just the motion but the emotional performance of the actor, blending it with advanced technology.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I want to show you my props and everything from all my movies at Brass Knuckle Films, which is why investors say it's like a Willy Wonka movie experience.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When I saw Rosa Salazar audition for Alita, she made me cry. If we could capture even a fraction of her facial expressions, it would bring so much life to the character.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The performance capture technology we used for Alita involved capturing Rosa's body movements and facial expressions with multiple cameras to ensure we captured her emoting accurately.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
To make Alita feel emotional, we had to capture Rosa's performance perfectly, as she was the heartbeat of the character, even though the character itself doesn't exist.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When directing Alita, I knew Rosa had to be herself; her performance was so real that no special effects could replace it.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The technology in filmmaking should enhance the performance, not overshadow it. That's why I cast actors like Christoph Waltz and Jennifer Connelly, who are masters at their craft.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
We built real sets for Alita to create a tangible environment, which helped the actors perform better compared to shooting everything in CGI.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Jim Cameron's commitment to detail in Avatar is what makes it feel immersive, and that commitment was influenced by the lessons learned from making Alita.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I shot Desperado digitally in my house in 1994, which was unheard of at the time. I insisted on editing it myself because it was crucial for me to have that creative control.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
While editing Desperado, I was also working on From Dusk Till Dawn, cutting both movies simultaneously, which was a hectic but rewarding experience.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When I was developing Sin City, I realized I could use green screen to create a graphic look that mirrored the comic's style, allowing for a unique visual storytelling experience.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I wanted Sin City to look like the comic, so I shot tests with actors on green screen, ensuring the backgrounds matched the graphic novel's aesthetic.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I called Frank Miller to show him a test for Sin City, and he was excited about the idea of making the movie, as he had never given the rights to a studio before.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I assured Frank Miller that I would take all the risks in making Sin City, and I would write the script based on his comic, ensuring it stayed true to his vision.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The first piece of music I wrote for Sin City was called 'Descent,' designed to evoke the feeling of descending into a dark world, which is central to the film's atmosphere.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
In Sin City, I experimented with lighting techniques, such as using fluorescent tape to create glowing effects, which helped achieve the comic's unique visual style.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Living outside of Hollywood allows you to think outside the box and stumble upon innovations that you wouldn't consider if you were in LA.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
By embracing digital technology early, I was able to create films that showcased what digital was capable of, pushing the boundaries of filmmaking.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Sometimes, not knowing the limitations can lead to innovation; being naive can allow you to create things that others think are impossible.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
I prefer to work on lower-budget films because it fosters creativity and gives me more freedom to innovate without external pressures.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
When you declare your identity, such as saying 'I am a creative person,' it influences your actions and leads to more creative endeavors.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Journaling is crucial because it helps you relive moments and remember experiences that might otherwise fade away over time.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The act of recording your life through journaling or video can help you reflect on your past and recognize patterns that shape your future.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
The memories we create are finite, and it's important to cherish every moment because life moves quickly and can be fragile.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
You can change your life by simply declaring who you want to be, as your actions will align with that identity.
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Robert Rodriguez
04/17/25
@ Lex Fridman
Sometimes, the things we say can come through us rather than from us, indicating that we are part of a larger narrative.