In 1996, a little independent feature titled Bottle Rocket launched the careers of Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson. (Okay, Luke Wilson was in it too.) The story, written by (Owen) Wilson and Wes Anderson centers on two friends who along with another buddy, scheme to go on a vague crime spree of some sort.
Just to be clear, to say it launched their careers is a little disingenuous as the movie largely bombed at the box office. It did, however announce their arrival and Hollywood (eventually) took notice.
But that’s not the movie we’re here to talk about. Rather, we’re looking at the student film the two shot in 1992, also titled Bottle Rocket which was the basis for the feature. Making a short with the intent of turning it into a feature really can work!
In the original Bottle Rocket, we see our lovable buddies make their way through a crime “spree” of sorts. The film was shot in black & white on 16mm film. Most of the film feels… Accessible: The performance and shots aren’t necessarily miles beyond other student films. However, especially in the last half, some of those Wes Anderson flourishes start to bubble up, and the Owens Brothers chemistry draws you in. No wonder it was accepted at Sundance in 1994.
So if you need some early-career inspiration, here’s a look at the student film version of Bottle Rocket: (You might need to click through to YouTube to see it.)
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