‘Rebel Without a Crew’ taps ABQ filmmaker
Independent filmmaking has its challenges. But what is a filmmaker to do with just $7,000 and no crew? That is the premise behind director Robert Rodriguez’s latest TV series, “Rebel Without a Crew.”
Rodriguez is known for the films “El Mariachi,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Spy Kids” and “Desperado.” And Rodriguez himself dealt with such constraints with “El Mariachi.”
The assignment is simple — create a feature-length film with a $7,000 budget.
Here’s the kicker: There is no crew, thus making each filmmaker responsible for all aspects of the film.
Throw into the mix five upand-coming filmmakers who themselves are filmed daily to document the process for “Rebel Without a Crew.”
It’s this challenge that drew Albuquerque resident Alejandro Montoya Marín to the series.
Montoya Marín went through a rigid nationwide competition to get on the show.
“It started with the top 50, then 20, then seven and the final five,” he says. “Once I reached a certain point, I had to do a video interview. There was a lot of vetting done before the filmmakers all lived together.”
Joining Montoya Marín as filmmakers in the series are Scarlet Moreno, Bola Ogun, Bonnie-Kathleen Ryan and Josh Stifter.
They all headed to Austin, Texas, for a month while making the series.
There, Montoya Marín spent 14 days filming for his feature film and three days doing preproduction.
And there were plenty of challenges.
“There was very little time to do storyboarding and shot lists,” he says. “A lot of it was being able to think on the spot. The other disadvantage was that I didn’t have a crew. I was lifting the equipment. It gets to you. And at 36, I was the oldest person in the series.”
Rodriguez wanted to do the series to mark the 25th anniversary of his film “El Mariachi.”
Rodriguez had only $7,000 to spend while making that film and created a cult classic.
The series is part of his El Rey Network Studios and Verizon’s go90. The series will air after the films screen at the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in March.
Montoya Marín enjoyed the filmmakers’ differences.
“We all came from a different genre,” he says. “It was interesting to learn more about their backgrounds. One was an actress who started directing. Another was an editor who also directs. Everyone was this double threat. This was also the first time I’ve done action.”
Montoya Marín’s feature film is based on his short film “Monday.”
The short film follows Jim, who is about to experience the worst day of his life.
Though Montoya Marín said he is satisfied with the film and the experience making it, there are some things he would’ve changed.
“As a filmmaker, you are always going to wish you had more time and money,” he says. “This experience allowed me to not use any excuses. I had a film to finish and had to find the best way to get it done. Plus, there was this pressure of being filmed all day for the series.”
Another pressure on the filmmaker was self-induced.
“I didn’t want to let anyone down in New Mexico,” he says. “I was the only New Mexico filmmaker there and wanted to do a good job. I want to show people with passion and a little bit of money, I could create something great.”