Emrys James

Back in the days when everyone believed in magic, a horrifying fire-breathing dragon terrorized the sixth-century British countryside. The only hope for the beleaguered citizens is an aging sorcerer (Sir Ralph Richardson). But when he is killed before he can save the people, the task falls on his young apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol). Galen’s mission is complicated by resistance from the king - and by falling in love - but his biggest challenge comes when he is suddenly face to face with the dreaded monster. Is his magic enough to save him?

DRAGONSLAYER documents the transgressions of a lost skate punk falling in love in the stagnant suburbs of Fullerton, California in the aftermath of America’s economic collapse. Taking the viewer through a golden SoCal haze of broken homes, abandoned swimming pools and stray glimpses of unusual beauty, DRAGONSLAYER captures the life and times of Josh “Skreech” Sandoval, a local skate legend and new father, as his endless summer finally collides with the future. Set to the alternately roaring and dreamy soundtrack of bands from the indie labels Mexican Summer and Kemado Records—including Best Coast, Bipolar Bear, Children, Dungen, Eddy Current and the Suppression Ring, Golden Triangle, Jacuzzi Boys, Little Girls, Real Estate, The Soft Pack, Saviours, as well as DEATH and Thee Oh Sees —DRAGONSLAYER is a punk-rock manifesto to youth, love and learning to survive after the decline of western civilization.

A horrifying fire-breathing dragon terrorizes a sixth-century British countryside. The only hope for the beleaguered citizens is an aging sorcerer. But when he is killed before he can save the people, the task falls on his young apprentice, Galen.

Filmmaker Tristan Patterson spends several months following the seemingly aimless path of a semi-pro skateboarder in this documentary. Josh "Skreech" Sandoval lives in Fullerton, California and earns his living as a skater -- he competes in international events and has racked up a few endorsements, but he lacks the discipline to be a major figure in the sport. Instead, Sandoval prefers to lead a nomadic existence, wandering from neighborhood to neighborhood, looking for the perfect abandoned swimming pool or skate spot, and frequently self-medicating with alcohol and drugs. Sandoval has a girlfriend, Leslie Brown, who is willing to deal with his sometimes mercurial personality, and he has a young son from a previous relationship, Sid Rocket Sandoval, but for the most part Sandoval is a loner who focuses on an endless now rather than consider a troubled past and uncertain future. Dragonslayer focuses less on Sandoval's career in skateboarding and more on his personality, as he negotiates the peaks and valleys of a culture in flux. Dragonslayer received its world premiere at the 2011 ~South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi