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‘Machete’ Q&A and afterparty
Photos: Scenes from the “Machete” red carpet and afterparty.
Multi-hyphenate Robert Rodriguez and about 20 members of his cast appeared on stage after the Austin premiere of “Machete” last night at the Paramount Theatre.
Alamo Drafthouse honcho Tim League introduced Rodriguez, by saying the movie everyone had just seen had to qualify as the “most bat-(expletive deleted) crazy” movie that had been shown in the “hallowed hall.” He made it clear that he meant that in a good way.
Donning his trademark bandana and cowboy hat, Rodriguez graciously thanked the crowd and confessed that from the moment of the film’s inception, he keeps in mind not just how audiences will react, but specifically how the Austin audience would react. By all signs, the crowd Thursday night loved it. Local filmmaker and philanthropist helped ignite a standing ovation for Danny Trejo — intimidating despite his surprisingly diminutive physical stature - as the 66 year-old was introduced.
After League asked Trejo what secret teddy bear quality Trejo had, Rodriguez described how his leading man constantly disarmed a sometimes nervous public with a warm hello. He also discussed the humor in seeing the look of shock and horror on parents’ faces as their children would run to greet the man they recognized as Uncle Machete from the “Spy Kids” movies.
Rodriguez discussed the evolution of his Mexploitation (a word he confessed to have invented) film and how Trejo excitedly called him several times a day for years, before the director, who is loathe to spend much time on the phone, kindly asked his would-be Mexican superhero to email or text him. SPOILER ALERT: That request led a faux steely Trejo to respond, “Machete don’t text,” a hilarious line the writer would hold onto until filming.
An ebullient Trejo has slid into the role of leading man for the first time in his career with an apparent joy and ease and made several third-person jokes about his character: “Machete makes onions cry … When the police stop Machete, they try and talk themselves out of it.” Just fancy him a Mexican Chuck Norris with blades instead of roundhouses (or hairpieces).
As for that cops line, it may have been born from a story Rodriguez told the crowd about being pulled over on the way to Austin. After the long trip from Venice, and having missed their connecting flight to Austin, Rodriguez, Trejo and one of the film’s producers rented a car and sped to Austin for the premiere. The group was pulled over, and when the producer in the driver’s seat informed the cop that he was with the director and Machete himself, the cop calmly (wisely?) removed himself from the situation and sent the men on their merry way.
Classic Machete.
But just to make it clear that leading-man status had not gone to Trejo’s head, Rodriguez said that on days of shooting during Austin’s historic heat wave last year, on days when the actor was not on the call sheet, he would be on set in his shorts passing out Gatorade to cast and crew.
Classic Trejo.
Anyone who has seen the film, or has an Internet connection, has likely heard that “Machete” has some political overtones, to put it lightly. Rodriguez briefly made it clear he believes the immigration issue (which he had intended to use as a backdrop well before the fiery public debates and the law passed in Arizona) is a red herring for a greater issue of corruption centered on economics.
Following the discussion, many of those in attendance headed over to the expansive Austin Studios lot for an after party featuring many of the low-riders used in the film, along with a DJ set by co-star Michelle Rodriguez (no relation), who was joined briefly at the turntables by Trejo and Robert Rodriguez as she pumped out a remix of “Cha Cha Cha” by the Tommy Rome Orchestra that served as a prelude to an explosion of fireworks.
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