Robert Rodriguez: Interviews

Chronology

xv Chronology 1968 Born June 20, 1968, in San Antonio, Texas, to Cecilio Rodriguez, a salesman, and Rebecca (Villegas) Rodriguez, a nurse. 1979 After experiments with Super-8, starts shooting with a video camera his father brings home. 1986 Begins classes at the University of Texas at Austin. 1990 Enrolls in UT’s film school. Marries Elizabeth Avellan in July. 1991 Bedhead is shown at numerous festivals, picking up prizes along the way. In the summer, Rodriguez checks into an Austin research hospital for a month-long stay, writes El Mariachi, and earns rest of money for budget. Begins El Mariachi in Mexico on July 31. Finishes editing in November. Travels to Los Angeles in December to attempt to sell film to Spanish-language video market. 1992 El Mariachi premieres at the Toronto Film Festival in September. 1993 El Mariachi wins Audience Award (Dramatic Film) at Sundance Film Festival in January. Released in a limited run in February. 1994 Roadracers premieres on television in July. 1995 Releases Desperado in August and publishes Rebel without a Crew (Dutton). Son Rocket Valentino born in September. Four Rooms, an anthology film of which Rodriguez directed a segment, is released in December. 1996 Releases From Dusk Till Dawn in January. Moves back to Texas permanently in November. 1997 Son Racer Maximilliano born in April. 1998 Releases The Faculty in December. 1999 Son Rebel Antonio born in January. Publishes Roadracers: The Making of a Degenerate Hot Rod Flick in March (Faber and Faber). From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money is released on home video in March, receives a theatrical release in some countries. 2000 From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter is released on home video in January. xvi chronology 2001 Releases Spy Kids in March, his first film to gross $100 million domestically. Shoots Once Upon a Time in Mexico in May. 2002 Releases Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams in August. 2003 Releases Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over in July. Releases Once Upon a Time in Mexico in September. 2004 Son Rogue Joaquin born. 2005 Releases Sin City in April. Sin City is shown at Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for Palme d’Or and wins Technical Grand Prize. Releases The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D in June. Daughter Rhiannon Elizabeth born in December. 2006 Wins Best Cinematography and Best Editing awards for Sin City from the Online Film Critics Society in January. Publicly announces separation from Avellan in April. 2007 Releases Grindhouse in April. 2008 Divorces Avellan in April, but maintains working relationship. Earns a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in August. 2009 Delivers commencement address at graduation in May. Releases Shorts in August. 2010 Releases Predators in July. Releases Machete in September. 2011 “The Black Mamba,” a six-minute Nike commercial starring Kobe Bryant, debuts during NBA All-Star Weekend in February . Announces formation of Quick Draw Productions in July. Releases Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World in Aromascope in August. ...