Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Makes Directorial Debut

Displaying the kind of work ethic that would make most wince, the Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is set to make his directorial debut when his feature film, 'The Sentimental Engine Slayer', receives its world premier at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (I.F.F.R.) on Feb. 4.

Written by and starring Rodriguez, the film tells the tale of a 20-something named Barlam who belatedly comes of age against a background of a drug-addled El Paso set in the near future.

Though the film isn't Rodriguez's first cinematic venture -- he also has two unreleased films under his belt, 2001's 'A Manual Dexterity' and 2003's 'Letter from Dystopia' -- this is the first of his productions to get a public release. But if that wasn't enough, it's been revealed that the prolific musician and film maker has another two productions in the can -- 2008's 'El Delvino Influjo De Los Secretos' and 2009's 'Boiling Death Request.'

More recently, Rodriguez has collaborated musically on albums and EPs with Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, former Can vocalist Damo Suzuki, post punk pioneer Lydia Lunch and the late sound technician Jeremy Michael Ward.