Overview (4)

Born June 20, 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, USA Birth Name Robert Anthony Rodriguez Nickname The Wizard Height 6' 2" (1.88 m)

Mini Bio (1)

Spouse (1)

Trade Mark (18)



DVD releases of his movies always include a do-it-yourself/behind-the-scenes features on the movies entitled "10-minute Film School" (although they are rarely actually ten minutes). Beginning with the disc for Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), he's also begun including "10-minute Cooking School" to show how to cook the trademark dishes his characters dine on.

Frequently sets his films in Texas



Frequently begins films with a scene where a supporting character is talking to another supporting character about the main character. See: Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon a Time in Mexico.



Over-the-top and surreal action scenes



Cowboy hat





Famous for working and delivering on relatively low budgets (partly by taking on multiple production roles himself in addition to writing and directing). His most expensive movie, Sin City (2005), cost $40 million while most are budgeted $20 million or lower. He also has final cut and final approval of all marketing materials in his contracts.



A huge fan of John Carpenter , Rodriguez will often make reference to his films in his own. E.g., the drug test scene in The Faculty (1998) to see who's an alien is a direct reference to the blood test scene in The Thing (1982).

His adult-oriented movies always feature a fictional brand of beer called "Cerveza Chango". Chango is the Orisha (a deity as in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria - an amalgam of African tradition and Catholicism) of fire, lightning and dance. Chango is renowned for the way he avenges crimes against the innocent, a recurring theme in Rodriguez movies in which the fictional beer appears.



Often uses images of scorpions in his films



Many of his characters are mysterious, shady anti-heroes with violent pasts



Family plays a big part in his films, especially sibling relationships. In Desperado, the main characters are brothers. In From Dusk Till Dawn, the Gekko Brothers care deeply for one another despite their sociopathic nature, etc.



His heroes often dress entirely in black



Unlike many action films, his often show the characters reloading their weapons at realistic times and carrying ammunition.



Hispanic themes, settings and characters



Trivia (32)

Went to St. Anthony's High School.



Studied at St. Anthony's University, The University of Texas at Austin.





He earned most of the $7000 it cost to make El Mariachi (1992) by subjecting himself to experimental drug studies. One of the experimental drugs that was tested on Rodriguez was a "speed healer." He has two divots in his arms as a result of the removed sample.

In April of 1996, headed the list of "25 Most Powerful Hispanics in Hollywood", published by Hispanic Magazine.



In May 1999 he was honored with the Outstanding Young Texas Award by the Ex- Students' Association.



Ranked #80 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #94 in 2002.





Set up a symphony orchestra in his garage to record the score for Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002).



He wrote two scripts for "Predator 3" (which later became Alien vs. Predator (2004)). One took place at a ship in the 17th century, while the second one was about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover 's characters being taken to the alien planet, as trophies.



Turned down the chance to direct Kevin Smith 's script for "Superman Lives" (which as of 2004 is not being made in to a feature film, having been replaced with another script). Kevin Smith also pursued Rodriguez to helm his controversial religious satire Dogma (1999). Rodriguez turned it down, insisting that the project was so personal that Smith ought to do it himself.

His production company was called "Los Hooligans", named after the comic strip he drew in college, but it is now titled "Troublemaker Studios".



Left the Writers' Guild of America (WGA) in late 2001, citing the organization had "too many rules and just take your money."





The last of his movies shot on film was Spy Kids (2001). During post-production of that film at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas introduced him to 24p HD film-making and Rodriguez was immediately converted. He owns two Sony HDW-F900 cameras, the same model used by Lucas on the Star Wars prequels.



Was originally chosen to direct John Carter (2012) for Paramount and had already begun some of the preproduction in early 2004. However, once he left the DGA, Paramount (which will only allow their films to be directed by DGA members) replaced him.



Directed parts of the scene in Pulp Fiction (1994) where Quentin Tarantino appears as Jimmy. (Rodriguez was uncredited for his directing.)



Edited El Mariachi (1992) at a public access station in Austin, Texas. He edited from late at night to the early hours in the morning, because the time was cheaper. However the station would often close up, setting the alarm; this meant he would have to stay at his editing bench for eight hours at a time without restroom breaks.



Absolutely loathed the fact that he had to shoot his movies on film to enter them into film festivals. Soon after Bedhead (1991) and El Mariachi (1992) hit, many festivals began admitting video formats.

Is an accomplished chef.



Ranked #48 on Premiere's 2005 Power 50 List. Had ranked #61 in 2004.





Since 1998, he has possessed the film rights to the comic book "Madman" by Mike Allred . Although the film has yet to be produced, Allred is the one who helped Rodriguez get in touch with Frank Miller , which led to the latter's own comic property becoming the movie Sin City (2005). As of 2006, Rodriguez and Allred have gone on record as saying that a screenplay for the "Madman" movie (based on an outline by the two of them) had been written by George Huang , with hopes to start shooting before the end of 2006.



Was originally attached to direct The Mask of Zorro (1998), but the studio didn't agree with his much more violent and R-rated proposal.

Received his honorary degree in communications, and received his actual degree from the University of Texas, College of Communications in 2009.



Lives in Austin, Texas.





Close friends with Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith . Often the three will be among the first to view each other's films and offer their feedback.



Was considered to direct X-Men (2000) but turned it down in favor of other projects.



He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: El Mariachi (1992).

Personal Quotes (3)



I didn't want Frank [Miller, creator of the comic "Sin City" and co-writer on the film] to be treated just as a writer because he is the only one who has actually been to 'Sin City'. I am making such a literal interpretation of his book that I'd have felt weird taking directing credit without him. It was easier for me to quietly resign because otherwise I'd have been force to make compromises I was unwilling to make, or set a precedent that might hurt the guild later on. -- March, 2004 in response to why he left the Directors' Guild of America just before the filming of Sin City (2005)

I always consider Salma [Hayek] for my projects, even for male roles.



Video technology puts filmmaking back in the hands of the people. That's how I learned how to make movies - making movies at home.

