FACTS:
1. If you wish to learn the basics of filmmaking (or how the Mariachi was directed, with lots of details), this is not your book. The Preproduction and Production sections are just 1/5 of the content of the book. And it doesn't provide with much technical data; most of the time are just annecdotal information mixed with some technical input.
2. This book is motivational and provides information of how young Robert Rodriguez felt, thought, and acted thru those years against the odds. The book provides you with the facts of how Mr. Rodriguez learnt filmmaking, brief description of college years, and his need to tell a story on screen (that moved him to direct El Mariachi). Also provides you with a 10 minute filmmaking course, which is really a motivational speech.
3. I think this book focuses properly on how Mr. Rodriguez reached Hollywood by his own, with a videotape. Rich on details, situations, and names. These sections are 1/2 of the content of the book.

The book is charming, well written, fast paced. And teaches you to follow your dreams, even when there is no crew to fulfill them.

Rodriguez is a phenom, only matched today by Soderberg. Both are directors who do it all, but it's not likely that most people will have the chops to be able to match Rodriguez skill for skill. So this book won't tell you how to actually make a movie, but it will tell you how to work with the limitations not just of the medium, but of everything else from lack of budget, lack of resources, lack of sets, lack of everything except imagination. The key thing you learn from this book is you get great stories about how Rodriguez overcame the limitations at the moment. Only problem is that you won't run into the same limitations, and you probably don't even have a turtle either. Key wisdom is never give up.

So get inspired by reading this book, and by all means read his "Ten minute film school" Just don't try to copy what he's done, it's not the point.

Robert Rodriguez is living proof that you don't have to do everything exactly right to make it work. He was nearly kicked out of college, and he could barely get into film school. He made a movie -- on film, no less -- for $7,000, performing the job of director, director of photography, acting coach, editor, producer, and countless others...

And the crazy thing is, it worked.

If you want to get into filmmaking, you need to read this book before signing your financial future away to film school. Learn from his mistakes. Learn from the risks he took that paid off. And remember that doing things the wrong way works, anyway.

this book was so inspiring for an up and coming filmmaker like myself. He gives day to day knowledge he learned from being in Hollywood and gives us heavy advice of how to throw down everything and just make a movie. Don't waste your money on Film School, buy this!

I chose this book because I really like Rodriguez's films. Well except for his kiddie movies. But I got this to read about how he started out, how it was he made his first film for so little and then became so famous. This book makes you WANT to make a movie as soon as possible. It just motivates you in every way to get out there and make a movie about whatever it is you want. It inspires you to make your movie, and not give up just because it might seem a little hard. I really recommend reading this book if you dream of being a filmmaker.