If you would have walked up to me 5-6yrs ago and told me that I was going to be screening a film at the NXNE with Randy Rampage in attendance, and then after the screening that he was gonna tell me to keep doing what I am doing because he really enjoyed it…I would have kicked ya in the nuts/box for bullshitting me. Today has been inspirational, surreal, amazing and a dream come true.

This film has been in my head since I was 16yrs old. I wanted to show the world that Punk is a scene for kids to come out have fun and be themselves. I call it the NO BULLSHIT ZONE because people call you out on yr own bull and you better have the balls to stand by yr own bull cause if you dont, you’re not just a bullshitter you’re also a coward and a liar.I love this scene, and I am proud to be part of the Canadian scene.

We opened for Susanne Tabata’s Bloodied But Unbowed (www.thepunkmovie.com) and I finally learned about the scene where some of my heroes grew up in and for the amount of bull that they had to deal with, us ‘00 punks have it easy, we can now speak our minds, stand for what we believe in and be a community without having jocks beat the shit out of us (not like it doent happen but it’s not a constant threat)I just wanted to say thank you so much to Susanne for letting me know how festivals work, Randy Rampage for those encouraging words, Cam Carpenter and Ambrose Roche for letting our film into such a great festival and (Ambrose) thank you for those great words on the film it means a lot.

To everyone that helped out on the film, Izzy, Mark, John Tard (singer from the 3tards), and Liz Worth. To the 150 people that showed up at the concert  that we put together for the film cause we’re too cheap to buy CBC and/or CTV footage. (most of the people had signed the release as FUCK OFF you will never be forgotten)

To my crew who created an amazing final product even when we we’re feeling down or negative about things.and finally but not least to my awesome boyfriend who put up with sleepless night and panic attacks and my awesome beautiful Mom who has listened to my complains, panics, rants, has helped me go beyond what I thought I could ever achieve and who pogo danced with me to D.O.A’s Fuck You in a Hamilton bar when I was 16 and she got us tickets because she knew it meant the world to me.

I will keep working my ass off as long as people wanna see the films I make, I will never take anyone for granted and I am forever thankful to all the supporters out there. WE ARE HOLDING A FUNDRAISER FOR THE FILM ON JULY 3RD AT THE 460 CLUB ON 460 SPADINA AVE SO FAR THE LINE UP IS SUBURBAN DEATH SQUAD FROM ST.CATHERINES AND THE SOFISTIFUCKS FROM TORONTO, WE’RE LOOKING FOR A HEADLINER OR JUST A 3RD ACT!! if interested please email me at mariawrites@live.com or facebook me at Maria Martinez <i am the one with a russian hat :D

Maria Martinez
Writer/Producer of DIVE & DIMINUTION: A PUNK STORY