Robert Rodriguez was a student at the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 when wrote the script to his first feature film -- while sequestered at a drug research facility as a paid subject in a clinical experiment. That paycheck covered the cost of shooting his film. He planned to make the money back by selling the film to the Mexican home video market.

The film was El Mariachi (1993), which Rodriguez wrote, directed, photographed, edited and sound-recorded - for $7,000. While shopping it to the video market, Rodriguez signed with a powerful agent at ICM. Columbia Pictures then bought the rights and signed Rodriguez to a two-year writing and directing deal. El Mariachi went on to win the coveted Audience Award for best dramatic film at the Sundan ..[Full version]