#465 – Robert Rodriguez: Sin City, Desperado, El Mariachi, Alita, and Filmmaking

Lex Fridman Podcast

Robert Rodriguez is a legendary filmmaker and creator of Sin City, El Mariachi, Desperado, Spy Kids, Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Alita: Battle Angel, The Faculty, and his newest venture Brass Knuckle Films.
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Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/robert-rodriguez-transcript

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EPISODE LINKS:
Robert’s X: https://x.com/rodriguez
Robert’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/rodriguez/
Brass Knuckle Films: https://brassknucklefilms.com/
Rebel without a Crew (book): https://amzn.to/3G7gtQJ
Rebel without a Crew (audiobook): https://amzn.to/3Ri5wyc

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OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(10:04) – Explosions and having only one take
(17:39) – Success and failure
(26:28) – Filmmaking on a low budget
(38:41) – El Mariachi
(50:10) – Creativity
(1:12:06) – Limitations
(1:18:22) – Handling criticism
(1:34:32) – Action films
(1:45:53) – Quentin Tarantino
(1:55:52) – Desperado
(1:56:54) – Salma Hayek
(2:01:40) – Danny Trejo
(2:06:55) – Filming in Austin
(2:13:05) – Editing
(2:22:35) – Sound design
(2:27:43) – Deadlines
(2:31:14) – Alita: Battle Angel
(2:39:36) – James Cameron
(2:52:39) – Sin City
(3:06:48) – Manifesting
(3:18:12) – Memories and journaling
(3:27:56) – Mortality

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