Robert Rodriguez & go90 Ink Programming Deal; Unveil New Series With Michael Madsen, Danny Trejo, More

Verizon’s go90 is partnering with the studio division of Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network on a programming deal that includes a new animated short series and an independent filmmaking event inspired by Rodriguez’s career.

Animated short series Explosion Jones, starring Michael Madsen, Jaylen Barron, Carl Weathers, James Hong, Danny Trejo and Vivica A. Fox, will debut September 5 on go90. Rebel Without a Crew, an independent filmmaking event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of El Mariachi, Rodriguez’s filmmaking debut, will begin production this fall.

Rebel Without a Crew is designed to mentor and inspire a new wave of independent filmmakers. Rodriguez created his first feature-length film El Mariachi on a budget of just $7,000. To mark the 25th anniversary of the film, Rodriguez will invite five amateur filmmakers to take on the same challenge. They will write, shoot and edit a brand-new feature length film with only $7,000. Go90 will stream the six-episode, one-hour series capturing the filmmakers’ process as well as their final feature films. As the selected filmmakers work on their projects, Rodriguez also will write, shoot and edit a new feature film for $7,000.

Go90 also will stream a 12×10 docuseries that documents his journey, explores the philosophy of his process and shows him re-experiencing ultralow-budget indie filmmaking.

In the 1980s-set 12-episode animated short series Explosion Jones, Bruce “Explosion” Jones is an ex-Special Forces commando-turned-rogue detective/single dad just trying his best. Jones fights through endless armies of mercenaries, smarmy mini-bosses, old friends, new enemies and just might dig too deep to reveal a plot that goes all the way to the top.

Explosion Jones is produced by El Rey Network’s studio division and the animation house Octopie Studios.

“I wanted to re-create my El Mariachi experience with up and coming filmmakers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film’s release,” said Rodriguez. “I think the young, tech-savvy go90 audience will appreciate and be inspired by the inside look at the ultralow-budget independent feature filmmaking process. Also, I am a huge fan of animation, and our new series Explosion Jones is cool content you can watch on any device in any location.”

Applications for Rebel Without a Crew can be found here.