Carlos Gallardo Interview with Daily Grindhouse

Carlos Gallardo is a living legend. If you're a filmmaker or film lover, you know the name. He and Robert Rodriguez made EL MARIACHI many years ago in a very unconventional, unheard of way.

Without a huge budget.

Even today, most people would scoff at the idea of making a movie with a mere couple grand, but these gentleman proved it was possible. And not only was it possible to make a movie with a modest budget, they proved they could make a damn good movie.

Their story has rightfully become legend. How two friends made a film together without a huge crew, huge budget, and little more than a whole lot of talent and a kick ass concept about a man with a guitar case filled with guns.

EL MARIACHI inspired us to follow in their footsteps and make DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Same heart, same creative problem solving in lieu of tons of money, but instead of a man with a guitar case we had a hooker in a trunk.

We recently had the pleasure of being featured on The Daily Grindhouse, a truly wicked awesome site if there ever was one. And what's even cooler? That they just chatted with our much loved EL MARIACHI. He even talk about DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, but if you haven't see the film and or the posters that proudly declare "Carlos Gallardo", you'll discover that not only was Carlos there for us throughout the making of the film, but he also very fittingly played "God" in the film.

Definitely not an interview to miss. Please enjoy the FULL DAILY GRINDHOUSE INTERVIEW here and do share it with your fellow filmmakers. They'll thank you or should if they know what's good for 'em.

And if you haven't picked up a copy of REBEL WITHOUT A CREW yet, what the, what the? Seriously, it's a MUST HAVE item for any and every filmmaker and inspiring even if film isn't your passion. I can't make it any easier for you. Just click on this link, Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player, and thank me later, k? It's the most worth while $10 bucks you'll ever spend.

Please enjoy the interview and get your butts out there and make your own film!!

Bloody Best!
Jen

Flush the Fashion Brings on the Rad Storm!!

Flush the Fashion brings on the awesome! When we merrily agreed to have a little chit and chat with Pete Graham, editor extraordinaire of the site, we had hoped for a nice little interview. What we got was an insanely fantastical interview with questions we've NEVER EVEN BEEN ASKED BEFORE!!

The piece is articulately and gore~geously written. The man clearly knows his stuff and has a true passion (not only for fashion) for film and art.

What do we feel makes a good horror movie?

How do you make excellent fake blood on a budget?

How awesome is one mister Eli Roth?

How do we collaborate with one another?

Do we want to work within the Hollywood system?

Who inspires us?

Would we ever make a film outside of our beloved horror genre?

All this and SOOOO much more is answered within this astounding article. Without further blabbing on my part (and my dear friends, you DO know I enjoy a good blab fest), here is the main course.

Check out the FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Please enjoy, boys and grrls!!

XO,
Jen

Elizabeth Avellan

"I just try to live the best I can, you know, and do the best I can everyday. Hopefully, inspire some people to try everyday. Everybody has a different path,everybody a different journey, they come from different places." -Elizabeth Avellan

If you've met her, you already know. If you've seen any of the movies she's been involved in, you might already know. Elizabeth Avellan is an American Producer and like many producers, doesn't get the same attention that maybe your A-List actors or action filled films may. Which films would those be? Glad you asked - she has produced: EL MARIACHI, DESPERADO, FROM DUSK TIL DAWN (and both sequels), SPY KIDS 1,2,and 3D, SIN CITY, GRINDHOUSE, MACHETE, and many more. Sounding familiar? Well, you may already know her as Robert Rodriguez's former wife and mother of their five children (Rocket, Racer, Rebel, Rogue, and Rhiannon), they separated in 2008. What you might not know is how driven, strong, ambitious, talented, and inspirational she is - allow me to tell you.

"To be a role model is kind of great. Somebody can look at you and say I can do it. You may do it a different way than I did but it's important to have done it and say I can do it, too." -Elizabeth Avellan

Elizabeth was born in Caracas, Venezuela, where her grandfather, Gonzalo Veloz, was the pioneer for commercial television. She was thirteen years old when she left for Houston, Texas with her family where she would later graduate from Rice University and have her first taste of behind-the-scenes production from working as a stage manager and props master/mistress. In 1986, she moved again, this time to Austin where she would work in the Office of the Executive Vice-President and Provost of the University of Texas, and continue her studies in film production, art, and architecture. It is also where she would meet her future husband.



Elizabeth worked as an animator on BEDHEAD - Rodriguez's award winning and critically acclaimed short, she co-founded Los Hooligans Productions when the two started work on EL MARIACHI, she was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame on March 9th, 2007, was the first recipient of the of the 1st annual Ann Richards Award, she is the co-owner of Troublemaker Studios - which has made over 14 movies that have made over nine hundred million dollars at the box office with hundreds of millions more in DVD and video sales, not to mention that the studios has made Austin the 'Texas Hollywood' and given film making opportunities to hundreds of locals.



What's next for Elizabeth? More films and an expansion with Trouble Maker Studios. With Robert and Elizabeth making their own films in Texas, there will be twice as much opportunity and film work in Austin. Before now, Elizabeth has been behind the scenes, not too in the spotlight. Shockingly, there was a list for the 'Latino Power 50' that showcased fifty of Hollywood's male and female Latino talent that didn't even acknowledge Elizabeth on the list. Robert was number 3 and she wasn't even mentioned in his article. Sometimes the truly deserving get overlooked - hopefully with this new direction in her career and a focus on her own projects, Elizabeth Avellan will become a household name, so little girls can grow up dreaming of wearing suit dresses and doing business with the Weinsteins.


I am amazed at her professionalism. In a situation where tabloids and gossipy types were foaming at the mouth for a dirty, scandalous divorce, we get two adults acting like adults and being professional. I see loving and fun parents. I see a woman not speaking emotionally about the past, but looking at the situation as a positive for her community because there will be more productions and opportunity to work.

"He can make his movies here, just like I can make my movies here. It’ll be good for Austin: if I bring a movie in, and Robert does a movie too, this place will be much more used. People can say, ‘Oh, it’ll never work.’ And I’m like, ‘You know what? It’ll work.’ I’m excited at the prospect of showing them — of showing the world what I do.” -Elizabeth Avellan

On a personal note, EL MARIACHI inspired us and taught us to make our own movie - modestly and creatively. This amazing woman and the team that worked together on that film changed my life with their film. They changed the game and gave indies power and life. I look very forward to her next project. I hope one day I can find a way to work with and learn from this incredible woman. It's people like this that get me so excited about the industry today. Tomorrow will be a rad day.

~Sylv

Meet The/El Mariachi

There are few independent films that have really given so much to independent artists in the way that EL MARIACHI has. EL MARIACHI was the debut feature film from Robert Rodriguez and Carlos Gallardo, during which there was a first hand acccount/ how to written by Robert that was later published in the must-have book for any film maker, REBEL WITHOUT A CREW.

The film and the book hugely inspired our first feature, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, and as if that wasn't enough, El Mariachi himself - Carlos Gallardo - appeared in the film in an appropriate cameo role as God.



Carlos Gallardo is a remarkable human being. He has done so much in his fantastic career, but never forgets the indies. He is a wonderful, down to earth, incredibly smart guy. And you can meet him at this upcoming Sundance Film Festival -Jan. 20 -30.



Those of you lucky enough to be attending this year's Sundance, have a ridiculously awesome time. Send our best to El Mariachi and tell him we say 'hi.'

~Sylv

Deadly Indie Drive In checks their Trunks for Hookers

There's just something unmistakeably nostalgic about a drive in. Even if you've never been to a drive-in, it sticks in your mind as somewhere sexy and exciting to park in the dark and let the screen (or whoever you're parked with) move you. It was an absolute treat to be taken to the Deadly Indie Drive In for an interview with the charming and witty Walter Ruether. Seriously, what's not to love about a site that lives, breathes, and bleeds indie - their tagline 'send us your screeners and we'll promote you' says it all. A good friend to us indie flickers.


Here is a small taste of interview bliss, it's an indie one --

"What would you like to say to other indie filmakers out there who may be struggling ?

S: Film making is a very difficult and tough industry. There's a saying that if you can do anything else and still be happy you should do that. But for those of us that love, we're fucked. My advice to indie film makers would be to not give up. There are a lot of naysayers that try to discourage ambitious people and it's important that you don't let them deter you. Use creative problem solving to combat your modest budget and it'll make your film great. We had Rodriguez's book - 'Rebel Without a Crew', which was the record he kept all the while making his debut feature 'El Mariachi' - on set with at all times. We had nicknamed it 'The Bible', a lot of good things in there.

J: Never give up. There are so many obstacles and hardships that come up during the making of your film. The first one is the most difficult. You have nothing else to show to prove that you can do it. You have to win people over and get them to pay attention. My best advice is to never give up. So many people do and they just give up on their dreams. You don't want to be going to the movies for the rest of your life and be filled with regret, thinking that you could've tried and followed your dreams. I'll tell you right here and now, it's not easy. If it were, everyone would be a film maker because it truly is the greatest, most fun and fulfilling thing I've ever experienced. There's always a way to do something creatively if you can't afford to do it expensively. You just have to take a page out of Robert Rodriguez's book, "Rebel Without A Crew". It tells the story of his first feature, El Mariachi. It's incredibly inspiring. I highly recommend it."

That's right, girls and boys, we love our Rodriguez. If that man makes a film about cleaning his driveway go see it. You'll have the best fucking driveway on the planet. Now get on over there and read the whole interview. Do yourself a favor, and check the whole site out. You never know what new treasures they will be promoting next!

~Sylv