Troublemaker Studios Explained

Troublemaker Studios is an American independent production company founded and owned by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and producer Elizabeth Avellán.^[1]

The company is based in Austin, Texas and is at the former site of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. It shares space with Austin Studios, which is managed by the Austin Film Society, and houses production offices, sound stages and the largest green screen in Texas.

Background

The company was founded in 1991 as Los Hooligans Productions, taking its name from Rodriguez's own comic strip, Los Hooligans, which he wrote and illustrated for three years while attending the University of Texas at Austin. Rodriguez chose the name so fans of the strip would recognize it when they saw his films. Since the 1990s, the studio has partnered with distributor Dimension Films on numerous projects; including the From Dusk till Dawn films and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the third film in the Mexico Trilogy.^[2]

The company was reincorporated as Troublemaker Studios in 2000. 2001's Spy Kids, a family-oriented film, was considered the studio's first breakthrough hit. It has since spawned a long-running media franchise, including sequels and an animated series.^[3]

On August 12, 2021, the company had signed a deal with HBO and its HBO Max streaming service.^[4]

Filmography

As Los Hooligans Productions(1991-2000):

• Bedhead (1991; short film)
• El Mariachi (February 26, 1993) (distributed by Columbia Pictures)
• Roadracers (July 22, 1994) (distributed by Showtime Network)
• Desperado (August 25, 1995) (distributed by Columbia Pictures)
• Four Rooms (December 25, 1995) (co-production with A Band Apart; distributed by Miramax Films)
• From Dusk till Dawn (January 19, 1996) (co-production with A Band Apart; distributed by Dimension Films)
• The Faculty (December 25, 1998) (distributed by Dimension Films)
• (March 16, 1999) (direct-to-video) (co-production with A Band Apart; distributed by Dimension Films and Buena Vista Home Entertainment)^[5]
• (January 18, 2000) (direct-to-video) (co-production with A Band Apart; distributed by Dimension Films and Buena Vista Home Entertainment)^[6]

As Troublemaker Studios (2000–Present):

• Spy Kids (March 30, 2001) (distributed by Dimension Films)
• (August 7, 2002) (distributed by Dimension Films)^[7]
• (July 25, 2003) (distributed by Dimension Films)
• Once Upon a Time in Mexico (September 12, 2003) (distributed by Columbia Pictures and Dimension Films)
• Sin City (April 1, 2005) (distributed by Dimension Films)
• The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (June 10, 2005) (distributed by Dimension Films and Columbia Pictures)
• Grindhouse (April 6, 2007) (distributed by Dimension Films)
  • Planet Terror (co-production with Rodriguez International Pictures)
  • Death Proof (co-production with Rodriguez International Pictures)
• Shorts (August 21, 2009) (co-production with Imagenation Abu Dhabi and Media Rights Capital; distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Predators (July 9, 2010) (co-production with Davis Entertainment; distributed by 20th Century Fox)^[8]
• Machete (September 3, 2010) (co-production with Overnight Productions and Hyde Park Entertainment; distributed by 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures Releasing International)
• The Black Mamba (February 19, 2011) (short film) (co-production with RadicalMedia; distributed by Nike)
• (August 19, 2011) (distributed by Dimension Films)
• The Director's Chair (2014–present) (co-production with Skip Film and FactoryMade Ventures)
• (August 22, 2014) (co-production with Aldamisa Entertainment, Miramax Films and Solipsist Films; distributed by Dimension Films)
• Sock 'Em Dead (2015) (short film) (co-production with Rodriguez International Pictures in association with Happy Socks)
• (February 14, 2019) (co-production with Lightstorm Entertainment; distributed by 20th Century Fox)^{[9] [10]}
• Red 11 (March 15, 2019) (co-production with Double R)^[11]
• UglyDolls (May 3, 2019) (co-production with Reel FX Animation Studios, Alibaba Pictures, Huaxia Film Distribution and Original Force; distributed by STX Entertainment)^[12]
• (September 22, 2023) (co-production with Skydance Media and Spyglass Media Group; distributed by Netflix)^[13]

Divisions and subsidiaries

Rodriguez International Pictures

In the beginning of 2005, Rodriguez launched Rodriguez International Pictures (R.I.P), a film and television production company that mainly focuses on the horror genre. Its name pays homage to the low-budget production company American International Pictures.

Filmography:

• Curandero: Dawn of the Demon (2005) (direct-to-video) (distributed by Dimension Films, Miramax and Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
• Grindhouse (April 6, 2007) (distributed by Dimension Films)
  • Planet Terror (co-production with Troublemaker Studios)
  • Death Proof (co-production with Troublemaker Studios)
• El Mariachi (2014) (co-production with Teleset Colombia and Sony Pictures Television; distributed by Sony Pictures Television International)
• (2014–15) (co-production with Sugarcane Entertainment and FactoryMade Ventures; distributed by Miramax and Entertainment One)
• Matador (2014) (co-production with K/O Paper Products and FactoryMade Ventures; distributed by Entertainment One)
• Lucha Underground (2014–2018) (co-production with MGM Television, FactoryMade Ventures and AG Studios)
• Sock 'Em Dead (2015) (short film) (co-production with Troublemaker Studios in association with Happy Socks)

Quick Draw Productions

In 2010, Rodriguez launched Quick Draw Productions, a production and financing company that would allow him greater freedom to develop and produce film and television projects. Aaron Kaufman and Iliana Nikolic are his partners in the venture. In 2012, an animation division, Quick Draw Animation, was launched.^{[14] [15]} Both companies are based at Troublemaker Studios.

Filmography:

• Two Scoops (2013) (short film) (in association with BlackBerry)
• Machete Kills (October 11, 2013) (co-production with A.R. Films, Aldamisa Entertainment, Demarest Films, Overnight Productions and 1821 Pictures; distributed by Open Road Films)^[16]

Double R Productions

In 2020, Rodriguez launched Double R Productions, a film company that co-creates films for other companies. Filmography:

• We Can Be Heroes (December 25, 2020) (distributed by Netflix)^[17]
• (September 3, 2021) (co-production with Interscope Films, Darkroom Productions, Nexus Studios and Aron Levine Productions; distributed by Disney+)
• Hypnotic (May 12, 2023) (co-production with Studio 8, Solstice Studios, Ingenious Media and Hoosegow Productions; distributed by Ketchup Entertainment in the United States and Warner Bros. Pictures in the United Kingdom)
• 100 Years (2015; releasing in November 18, 2115) (in association with Kouz Production and Moonwalk Films)

See also

• El Rey Network

External links

• Troublemaker Studios

Notes and References

1. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A303834 'Secuestro Express': Jonathan Jakubowicz and Elizabeth Avellán on Venezuela's surprise hit
2. Web site: Roman. Monica. 1997-01-09. Arthouse, haunted house buoy Miramax. 2021-12-08. Variety. en-US.
3. Web site: Bing. Jonathan. Lyons. Charles. 2000-10-09. Dimension prexy ankles. 2021-12-08. Variety. en-US.
4. Web site: Nakamura. Reid. 2021-08-12. Robert Rodriguez Signs First-Look Deal With HBO, HBO Max. 2021-08-13. TheWrap. en-US.
5. News: Lawson . Terry . Small-screen Success Stories . . May 27, 1999 . May 14, 2020.
6. Web site: Cinematheque bows 'Dusk 3' for Halloween . . October 19, 1999 . January 15, 2014.
7. Web site: Gadgets and Gizmos . September 13, 2008 . Savlov . Marc . August 9, 2002 . The Austin Chronicle .
8. Web site: AICN Exclusive: Nimród Antal is directing PREDATORS . Aintitcool.com . July 1, 2009 . March 20, 2010.
9. Web site: Job Hotline – Crew & Industry Calls – Alita: Battle Angel . https://web.archive.org/web/20161012022941/http://gov.texas.gov/film/hotline-crew/22597 . October 12, 2016 . dead . . October 11, 2016 .
10. Web site: Austin filming locations for Alita: Battle Angel. kftv.com . February 6, 2019. February 19, 2019.
11. Web site: Robert Rodriguez on Advice From James Cameron and How 'Alita: Battle Angel' Brought Him Back to His Roots . . en-US . Eric . Kohn . March 7, 2019 . January 27, 2020.
12. Web site: Robert Rodriguez to Direct 'Ugly Dolls' Animated Film for STX . Khatchatourian . Maane . March 28, 2017 . Variety . August 16, 2017.
13. Web site: May 25, 2022 . Production Weekly – Issue 1300 – Thursday, May 26, 2022 / 17 Listings – 38 Pages . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220607174914/https://www.productionweekly.com/production-weekly-issue-1300-thursday-may-26-2022-177-listings-38-pages/ . June 7, 2022 . June 9, 2022 . Production Weekly.
14. Web site: Murray . Rebecca . 2012-03-19 . Robert Rodriguez Launches Quick Draw Animation . 2024-07-06 . ShowbizJunkies . en-US.
15. Web site: Arrant . Chris . 2012-03-15 . Robert Rodriguez Reveals New Animation Studio, Quick Draw Animation . 2024-07-06 . Cartoon Brew . en-US.
16. Web site: 'Machete Kills' Will Slice Into Theaters on September 13 . ComingSoon.net . January 15, 2013 . July 29, 2020.
17. Web site: Andreas. Wiseman. Priyanka Chopra Jonas To Star In Netflix Superhero Movie From 'Alita: Battle Angel' Director Robert Rodriguez. August 21, 2019. Deadline Hollywood. January 22, 2020.