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Beyond the Screams, a film by Martin Sorrondeguy
Most of us know Martin Sorrondeguy (ex-Los Crudos, current Limp Wrist
vocalist) as the soft-spoken guy who tells us his thoughts and feelings
between songs and then transforms into a raging pitbull to get his
messages across. But in 1999, Sorrondeguy turned to the medium of film to
document the Latino/Chicano hardcore and punk scene in the US. The
45-minute film Beyond the Screams is still a favorite amongst hardcore
conventions and activist film festivals for its clear look at how the
activism and punk scenes are intrinsically linked.
Jason Schreurs interviewed Martin Sorrondeguy by email and asked him
about that link and the state of the Latino/Chicano hardcore scene today.
Email interview conducted in mid-February, 2003.
How are the punk/hardcore scene and the activism scene connected?
Punk, since the beginning, has always had an extreme view of the world
and the things it was most discontent with the punks would fight
against or try to change. Activism and punk have always been one and it is
impossible to have one without the other. Some people from the outside of
the culture may not see a connection but from within it is very clear.
Why do you think the Latino/Chicano punk scene is centered on political
messages?
What occurs with the Latino/Chicano punks is also what occurs to the
communities they come from. So if they are living in corrupt countries or
communities where poverty, drugs, gangs, etc. are part of the every
day, this adds to their struggle for change. Punks may be seen as
outsiders from a voyeur's perspective but these same punks may go home with
their families and deal with life as it affects them all. Also a lot of
the Latino/Chicano punks living in the US still have ties to family and
friends in Latin America and those ties are strong, so when things get
desperate or intense in Latin America it is a concern for many living
here as well.
What has been the response to your film?
The response to my film for the most part has been positive. I have
heard a few negative criticisms about it. Many punks complained that it
was too short, so that is not too bad of a critique. I am sure there are
those who may find it interesting and others who just may not see the
point in a film like Beyond the Screams.
What was the purpose of the film?
The purpose was to really document what we were a part of. I knew that
I did not want to wait until someone felt it was worth writing about,
so I took it upon myself to start this project. It was my thesis for
grad school and it was a huge project but it needed to be done. I also
felt we needed to leave something behind for other punks to see in the
future, but also for folks who never come in contact with this underground
scene of people. I wanted people to understand that there is reason to
why we do what we do, so the film was made.
How does it feel to know people are still screening this film three
years after the release?
I am actually quite surprised. I have already thought it was going to
be shelved for good on several occasions, but it turns out that when I
think it has had it's time, it pops up again.
I know the hardcore/punk scene you document was pretty vital in the
mid-'90s. What is the current state of that scene? Are those bands still
around? Have new ones taken their places? Is the scene still as strong
as the video showed?
The scene is still very strong and it never fades away. It is strong in
specific cities in the US, such as Chicago and Los Angeles, Texas, the
Southwest, and of course in Latin America. As for the specific bands in
it; most are gone now but punk has a life of its own and I am happy
that there are new bands who are around and bringing something new to the
world.
Are you still singing in Limp Wrist? Are you playing other bands?
Yes, I am still doing Limp Wrist. I played drums in a band in Los
Angeles called Tragatelo but I will soon start another project. It is
something I need to do. Music and punk have always been a part of me and it
mixes well with other things I do, like my art, etc.
How long have you been involved in the punk/hc scene? What got you into
it? How long have you been politically active?
As for punk, I have been involved for over 18 years now. I was exposed
to it via some older cousins in New York and I was fascinated by it and
I knew someday I would get into it. As for being political, that goes
pretty far back. It comes from home, from my mother who has always been
educating my brothers and sisters on what is going on in the world, so
those roots go far back.
For more information on Beyond the Screams, or to order a copy, go to
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