Rebel Without a Crew cover art

Rebel Without a Crew

Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker with $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player

 Preview
Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Rebel Without a Crew

Written by: Robert Rodriguez
Narrated by: Robert Rodriguez
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $37.26

Buy Now for $37.26

About this listen

Named One of The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Greatest Film Books of All Time”

Famed independent screenwriter and director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, Machete) discloses all the unique strategies and original techniques he used to make his remarkable debut film El Mariachi on a shoestring budget.

This is both one man's remarkable story and an essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and determination to see it through. Part production diary, part how-to manual, Rodriguez unveils how he was able to make his influential first film on only a $7,000 budget. Also included is the appendix, "The Ten-Minute Film School,” a tell-all on how to save thousands of dollars on film school and teach yourself the ropes of film production, directing, and screenwriting.

A perfect gift for the aspiring filmmaker.

©2024 Robert Rodriguez (P)2024 Dreamscape Media Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV

What the critics say

“There's no one in the American film business quite like Robert Rodriguez, who plays completely outside the rules imposed by Hollywood studios… Given his success rate, it's clear his method works… Rodriguez has long been a hero to independent filmmakers.” (Named One of The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Greatest Film Books of All Time”)
All stars
Most relevant  
I loved all of it. I bought this book maybe 20-25 years ago and gave it to my cousin who was going to film school. I had not read it myself then so I was happy to pickup this audio version. This is the way to go now, audio is great especially read by the author, loved all the extra tidbits of info that were added throughout. An energizing creative tale that once again proves all you really have to do is start and believe in yourself.

Best book on moviemaking you can find

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks for making an audiobook version. Tremendously inspirational story. A must read for anyone pursuing a creative craft.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I could not stop listening to this book. I rarely review books but I rarely enjoy them so much. The story is a fun trip , an adventure you take with the writer. I didn’t check who narrated it when I purchased but took notice as it was one of the most pleasant and natural voices I’ve heard. I heard a laugh in the narrators voice at a funny anecdote that made me pause… this guy sounds like he was there. I paused and discovered it was the man himself! Robert Rodriguez is a true talent in more categories than I even thought! Loved it!

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker , your story probably won’t go down like this, but there’s a lot to learn here anyway!

Story and Narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Incredible guidebook for how to start your career as a filmmaker. Just start doing it. Get scrappy. Do it guerrilla-style. Get your friends and peers together, and start shooting. Even more applicable in the age of phones and devices with high-tech cameras on them. Never been easier to start making short films, clips, content, hell even a feature! Rodriguez walks us through his early days as a filmmaker making El Mariachi on a shoestring budget - $7000 to be exact. It’s possible. It’s doable. Ya just gotta do it. Lots of great nuggets of advice and wisdom in here. But also just a highly entertaining story of how he got his little movie made, got it into festivals, got it distributed, and how his career blew up from there. Recommended for aspiring filmmakers, industry-types, film buffs, cinephiles, and fans of Rodriguez’s work!

Ultimate Guidebook for the Aspiring Filmmaker

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.