Robert Rodriguez of “Shorts”

Shorts director Robert Rodriguez tells ARTISTdirect.com the music he plays for his kids and how they’ve inspired him in this exclusive playlist feature…

A Taste:

AC/DC, The Cars, The Police

Robert Rodriguez never has to go too far for inspiration.

The director laughs, “My son actually came to me with the initial idea for Shorts. We wanted to make shorts with a bunch of kids, and it worked out because I love doing short stories!”

Rodriguez is also really good at making them too. Shorts is the best family adventure all year because of Rodriguez’s penchant for innovative storytelling and fast-paced action. In fact, some of the more high-octane sequences could stand alongside his best action work like Desperado—minus all of the bullets, blood and four-letter words.

Rodriguez’s kids definitely inspire him, but he’s always turning them on to good music. He continues, “I grew up listening to classic rock. I play my kids the stuff I listened to as a kid. They think The Police is really cool! That was the first album I got. My kids have got Rock Band, and they’re playing all of those songs. It’s hilarious to see that they’re into stuff that I was into when I was their age.”

Right now, he’s just cranking movie tunes. “I play a whole mix of stuff—a lot of soundtracks. I’m really just listening to different scores. They’re all jumbled together.”

Check out some of the bands Robert has turned his kids on to below, make sure to watch our cast interviews and don’t miss Shorts when it hits theaters this Friday. It’s a blast!

Robert Rodriguez’s Playlist:

1. AC/DC

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Jimmy Bennett & Jolie Vanier of “Shorts”

The stars of Shorts, Jimmy Bennett and Jolie Vanier, give ARTISTdirect.com a look at what’s on their iPods in this exclusive feature…

A Taste:

Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N’ Roses, Paramore

Jimmy Bennett and Jolie Vanier had a blast making Shorts.

“The entire filming process was so much fun, especially when I was shoving Jimmy in a trash can,” laughs Vanier with a big smile.

For Vanier, fun wasn’t simply relegated to shoving her co-star in the garbage though. She got to play slightly evil as Helvetica Black, and she had the chance to participate in some of the movie’s most imaginative action sequences—including a high speed bicycle chase.

What more could a kid ask for?

Luckily, Jimmy didn’t spend too much time in a trashcan for the film. He had his fair share of adventures as well—wielding a wishing rock that makes all of his character’s wildest dreams come true and squaring off against a bevy of mythical creatures including The Booger Monster.

“Every boy in the entire United States is going to love the Booger Monster,” he exclaims confidently. There’s no doubt about that. It’s a pretty awesome monster.

Both of the kids spent some time listening to music on set in order to get pumped up for the big scenes. They shared their playlists with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check them out below and catch Shorts this Friday!

Jimmy Bennett’s Playlist:

1. Ozzy Osbourne — No More Tears

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Jon Cryer of “Shorts”

Jon Cryer of Shorts gives us a look at what he’s cranking on his iPod in this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature…

A Taste:

Radiohead, Weezer

“I loved playing Dad Thompson because I didn’t even have a first name [Laughs]. That’s the way it should be,” laughs Jon Cryer about his part in Shorts. “It’s great to make a kid’s movie because you just have fun shooting it. You don’t have to take yourself seriously, and as an actor you can just be silly.”

Cryer definitely got into the paternal role because it was so much fun. However, the film’s intriguing narrative structure pulled him in even deeper. He continues, “It’s like the same structure as Pulp Fiction, but it’s a kid movie. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t think anyone is going to get shot in the face!’”

Luckily no one does! Cryer shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out in the video below and catch him in Shorts this Friday!

Jon Cryer’s Playlist:

1. Radiohead
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