Journeys
Special Events
By: Linda Bustamante

The Red Queen & The Hard Way Heroes
In the summer of 2008, I completed my first feature film as an actress, stunt double, and assistant stunt coordinator; The Red Queen. The Red Queen is a story about Gabriella Salinas (Linda Bustamante) who has spent her entire life yearning for a connection with her mother, who died during childbirth. Desperate to know where she comes from, Gabby presses her father Jose Salinas (Valente Rodriguez) for details but he doesn’t say much. As Gabby uses the internet to search for information on her maternal heritage, she sets in motion a series of events that upends her world. Despite many trials and obstacles, including determined and dangerous opponents, she finally gains the connection with her mother that she has always desired.

Throughout these two years, The Red Queen has received awards in which I would like to share. Currently, the film has gotten an Honorable Mention in the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival and a Bronze Remi at the 43rd Annual Worldfest Houston International Film Festival. WorldFest is the third oldest international film festival in North America and this year had more than 4,400 category entries competing from 33 countries, as well as more than 50 entries in its division. The film has also received 2nd place in the University and Video Association Conference Screenwriting Competition and was an Official Selection at the 2010 Cine Las Americas International Film Festival in Austin, Texas, its world premiere screening. Most recently, the film received a Silver Palm at the 2010 Mexico International Film Festival, in which The Red Queen competed against 20 films in its category. The Red Queen is now available for purchase through Echelon Studios.

In July 2009, I finished my next film called The Hard Way Heroes. In this film I had the honor to work alongside Mr. Leo Fong, a living legend and a world renowned martial artist. Mr. Fong is best known for his innovative approach to the martial arts and close ties and friendship to the legendary Bruce Lee. To me, his greatest attributes are his humbleness, his free spirit, his big heart, and his giving nature; Mr. Fong continues to be a great mentor and a true friend to me as he was during the filming of The Hard Way Heroes. The Hard Way Heroes is the story of Sodom, a small town overrun by crime and corruption. The power behind this corruption resides with a man by the name of Superfly (Mel Novak) whose lucrative business consisted of prostitution, drugs, and kidnapping. Superfly operated his clandestine business without interference until he made the mistake of kidnapping a young lady by the name of Roxie Adams (Linda Bustamante). When Roxie’s father heard that his daughter was missing, he hired the Hard Way Heroes (Leo Fong, Patrick Johnson, and Hedo Davis) to find his missing daughter, but she found them. Roxie was able to escape the clutches of the evil Superfly and his henchmen by using her martial arts skills. With the help of Roxie, the Hard Way Heroes descended on the town of Sodom and all hell broke loose. After an all out war, the Heroes brought down Superfly and his army of evil doers. This is film is due for a DVD release in the spring of 2011.

Continued Growth in the Martial Arts
The ultimate honor and achievement one can acquire in any style of the martial arts would be the knowledge to protect yourself and your family if the time ever comes where you need to use self- defense. Confidence in yourself, determination to continue learning, and humility to always remember where you came from: I believe that these are what the martial arts is all about. Every martial artist must have confidence to fulfill whatever one chooses to set their mind to, determination to broaden one’s knowledge in the arts, and humility that demonstrates gratefulness and appreciation for the ones who helped you get where you are today. So, when one earns his/her black belt, it’s much more than just the belt; it’s the hard work one puts in achieving that ranking, but the most important thing is knowing that earning your black belt is not the end but rather just the beginning of a long and fruitful journey in martial arts. For me, that day started on January 30, 2006 when I earned my 1st degree black belt in the art of Goju Ryu Japanese Karate Yellow Tiger System. This particular style focuses on the hard and soft aspects of the martial arts; “Go” means hard, closed hand techniques and straight linear attacks while “Ju” means soft, open hand techniques and circular movements. In 2008, I earned my 2nd degree black belt and on October 20, 2010 I tested and ranked to my 3rd degree black belt. Also, on December 19, 2010, I earned my 1st degree black belt in the art of Tae Kwon Do. Earning my latest ranking reminds me of my continued growth and I am looking forward to my next step on my path through the martial arts.

Martial Arts World News & Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine
Growing up with martial arts being such an influential art in my family, I remember so clearly being 8 years old, following my dad’s instructions as he would guide me through every stretch, strike, block, and kick, and it was due to my father’s early teachings that made me respect and devote myself to the martial arts. Now, when I reflect back on my childhood and realize where I am today in my martial arts journey, I know that the passion, drive, and love I have for the arts is due to my father’s early teachings. After my father would have a lesson with me and we would get back into the house, he would sit me down and talk to me about people that influenced and motivated him, and then he would pick up one magazine (out of the plethora of martial arts magazines that my mom and dad had purchased throughout the years) and he would educate me about the living legends we know today. Every month was brand new as my mom would take me to our book store so that I could familiarize myself with the legends that my dad would be telling me about. Now, looking back, it must have been a sight seeing a little 8 year old (me) navigating her way to the magazine section and getting all the martial arts magazine she could find. Many of those covers had familiar faces such as Bob Wall, Chuck Norris, Leo Fong, Karen Sheperd, Gene LeBell, and the legendary Bruce Lee, just to name a few. These individuals, whether it has been big or small, have inspired me to work hard and to keep my dreams alive--to incorporate my martial arts into commercials, television, and film, be featured in martial arts magazines, and ultimately become the next female martial arts star.

Bringing up these martial arts icons brought back a found memory of The 1st Annual Festival of Martial Arts in Los Angeles in the year 2005. That year was the first year I got to meet Bob Wall at the World Black Belt booth, and my father and I had the pleasure of talking with him. He was such a nice, respectful man and continues to be that and more throughout the years I have known him. Also, during the festival, I got to meet Karen Sheperd, who was and still is one of the leading ladies in the martial arts industry and a person I can proudly call my friend. And even though I wasn’t able to meet Bruce Lee, I was very lucky to have met his daughter, Shannon Lee. Another wonderful aspect of the festival was that I auditioned for an up and coming reality showed called “Who Wants to be The Next Martial Arts Superstar”. I auditioned against thousands of talented martial artists from around the world and was very fortunate to have been one of the youngest contestant’s (I was 16 years old at the time) selected as part of the 20 finalist. What a memorable time in my life I will always hold dear to my heart.

After the audition, I remember being ecstatic as we came home, and my father and I drove to our local Barnes and Nobles to purchase more martial arts magazines and seeing the same stars I had been blessed to have met at the festival gazing at me again through the covers. I remember thinking to myself that this was a great way to showcase ones hard work, persistence, perseverance, and love for what they do by featuring them on a magazine.

Now, 6 years have passed, and a lot of amazing things have happened to me within my journey. I have had the pleasure of meeting great people with the films I have worked on, I am furthering my knowledge in the arts, and I am being featured in Martial Arts Magazines. On the September/October 2010 Issue of the International Magazine called, Tae Kwon Do Times, I was chosen to be featured on the Killer Kicks Section and on December 2010, I was featured on a magazine called Martial Art World News as The Next Female Martial Arts Star. Who would have ever thought that a small town girl would be gracing the same cover that Bob Wall and Chuck Norris last graced, it’s truly an honor. Another wonderful aspect of my journey occurred on December 2010. It seems like just yesterday I graduated from high school, got accepted and earned a full scholarship to attend college. I graduated from The University of Texas Pan American on December 18, 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in Science. It just shows that through hard work, dedication, and persistence, ones goals can be achieved.

By the way, if you all are at your local Barnes and Nobles, check out the latest issue of Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine, the March/April 2011 Issue. I was chosen to have a feature story titled Becoming a Star under the section called Black Belt Beginnings. Let me know what you all think. I just want to take the time to thank all the people who support me on my continuing journey through the martial arts. Feel free to write me at LindaBustamante@worldblackbelt.com.

God Bless.