View Full Version : Robert Rodriguez, Patron Saint of DV


Rik Sanchez
August 10th, 2002, 07:16 PM
Thank you Rodriguez for using and promoting DV. I read this Yahoo article:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020805/film_nm/leisure_spykids_dc_2

Although he shot it with the high end 24P camera, he is still, like us using DV to tell a story.
He is my kind of filmmaker. When I first saw his movie, "El Mariachi" I went out and got his book, "Rebel without a crew". I'm sure a lot of us are in his position. We shoot, edit, direct our own video with little or no crew. He is also a local Texas boy. If any of you guys see the movie, Spy Kids 2, especially in a theater with a digital projector(Rodriguez even says in the article it should be seen digitally if possible!) let me know how it looked/was. It won't get here for a couple of months after the U.S. opening and I doubt I can see it digitally.

I'm going to ask around here and see if any place here is using a digital projector although when I call up the theater, I'm sure nobody will have a clue as to what I'm talking about (digital projector??? no, no, customer-san, this is a film theater!!!). There used to be one at the Sony Tower basement, a movie theater using projectors but they shut it down, seems like nobody wanted to pay the full movie price for seeing it on a projector. But that was at least 7 years ago, I'm sure the projectors back then weren't as good as the ones they use now, made in Texas I believe, or at least the microchips are.

Another good thread might be a list of theaters with digital projectors, only 70 projectors in the U.S. It might save someone looking to see a movie in digital some hassle, just a thought.

Rik Sanchez
August 14th, 2002, 10:33 PM
Found a good interview of him on the onion:

http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3829/avfeature_3829.html

Dean Bull
August 16th, 2002, 09:53 PM
Man, exciting times with all this new technology.

Paul Sedillo
August 16th, 2002, 10:00 PM
<<<-- Originally posted by chorizosmells : Found a good interview of him on the onion:

http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3829/avfeature_3829.html -->>>

Rik,

That was a good interview. I am interested to see what he does with the third in his El Mariachi series. Back when El Mariachi first came out, I was stunned to find out just what his production costs were. Love or hate his movies, you just have to respect the guy's drive and ability.

Rik Sanchez
August 17th, 2002, 01:16 AM
When I saw a preview for the video, El Mariachi, I had no idea about it, I just thought,I have to check out this cool mexican flick, was really happy it was in spanish(mexican spanish). my wife liked a lot also and she just read the japanese subtitles. I would hate to see it with english subtitles.

I've been seeing movies in spanish over here but they were mainly from spain, if I could get some Cantiflas movies then I would be all set. BTW, saw Around the World in 80 Days a couple of weeks ago on tv and Cantiflas carried the whole movie, no need for David Niven!

It wasn't untill later when I started hearing about the movie how it was made with the 7,000 budget that I found out more about him, got his book and I knew to look out for his upcoming stuff.

Anyone know if Rodriguez has a website?

Paul Sedillo
August 17th, 2002, 04:17 AM
He has a web site, but has done nothing with it:

http://www.loshooligans.com/

It is his production company.

blugill69
August 18th, 2002, 08:47 AM
Robert Rodriquez has been a inspiration to me.
About 2 years ago I decided to try my hand at making a few shorts. Well a few debacles, equipment failures later I gave up.
I bought Rodriquez's book and was completely inspired to do it again and fix what was wrong last time!
I've completed two short scripts and now ready to rock and roll once I get the rest equipment later this month!
Rebel without a Crew is a amazing book!

Paul Sedillo
August 18th, 2002, 11:10 AM
<<<-- Originally posted by blugill69 : Robert Rodriquez has been a inspiration to me.
About 2 years ago I decided to try my hand at making a few shorts. Well a few debacles, equipment failures later I gave up.
I bought Rodriquez's book and was completely inspired to do it again and fix what was wrong last time!
I've completed two short scripts and now ready to rock and roll once I get the rest equipment later this month!
Rebel without a Crew is a amazing book! -->>>

It is a great book. I have re-read it several times and have always come away with something new. His ability to describe what he went through is excellent.

Rik Sanchez
October 21st, 2002, 05:31 PM
another interview with Rodriguez:

http://millimeter.com/ar/video_man_hates_film/index.htm

happy to see he has Macs in his studio:)

Adrian Douglas
October 21st, 2002, 06:22 PM
Interesting point about getting 60fps for slo-mo from 60i.

You gotta love the man, a voice of reality in a breeding ground for as**oles. (No offence intended to you Charles and others here, but I'm sure you know the type of people I'm talking about).

Rik Sanchez
October 21st, 2002, 06:36 PM
Adrian,
how would one go about using that 60i for slo-mo? I would like to do some slo-mo experimenting.

Adrian Douglas
October 21st, 2002, 06:41 PM
Just like Robert explains. Export each field as a seperate image, I have to check up on to how to do this, then import each image into your NLE as an individual frame. It's gonna take time but the result shold be nice smooth slo-mo.

Rob Lohman
October 22nd, 2002, 09:35 AM
If I understand what your saying you will loose 50% vertical
resolution. A field only consist of 50% of the vertical image. If
you generate a full frame from this you have to interpolate to
get back to 100%.... It might look nice though...

Joe Carney
October 23rd, 2002, 06:21 PM
to chorizosmells....

Just to keep things in perspective, here is a rebuttal to using
HD in the Sept. Issue of millimeter

http://millimeter.com/ar/video_case_film/index.htm

Some of the charges were self serving ,dishonest and phony, but they had some good points about the limitations of HD in varying light situations(steadycam/glidecam work for action pieces that move through different types of light in a single shot).
I agree with at least one point of the article...
no need to jump on any bandwagons.

Film is not dead, some of us are just leaving it behind. Let those who want film use film. Those who want Digital, use digital.