Books Recommended by Robert Rodriguez

I realized better what I was doing when I read that book, and I gave it to people to show them how to clarify what they're doing right and what they're doing wrong. It's a very simple approach that they should take every day. [For instance] if you go to an actor and say, 'Hey, I'm a filmmaker and I'm making a low-budget movie, and I kind of need your name as a marquee to help sell it. I can't pay you very much, and it's going to be probably a lot of work, but if you want to be in it...' you're thinking about only yourself. And [the answer will be]: 'No, get the hell out of here' because all you're talking about is what you do and how you do it, which is: I make low-budget movies. Yeah, so what? It means you've got no money. Instead, I always start with a why. I go to them [and say], 'I love what you do. I've always been a big fan. I've got a part that you would never get. I believe in creative freedom. I don't work with the studios. I work independently. I'm the boss there. It's just me and my crew. It's very creative Ask any of your actor friends. They'll say: Go have that experience. [...] They're like, 'Yes'. Because it's all about what they can do and how it's going to fulfill them.