Growing up all I wanted to be was a professional skateboarder. The only thing that got in my way is that almost any time I fell I would end up crying.
So instead of actually trying to get over this watery hurdle and realize my dreams of shredding pools and jumping down handrails, I decided to spend most of my time reading skateboard magazines.
I can’t really kick-flip at all, but because of my rampant consumption of skate-magazines, I do know every pro and amateur skateboarder that was sponsored between 2002 and 2008.
But for whatever reason, I have no idea who Josh “Skreech” Sandoval is, a pro-skater who is the subject of Tristan Patterson’s insanely punk rock documentary, Dragonslayer.
Due to a media embargo, I’m not really allowed to tell you much of anything about the film, but I liked it. If I could describe it in a few words, they would be something like this: puke, shred, party, gnarly. There is definitely a strong emphasis on “puke.” You will see this man fall and puke a lot.
But for a movie with such an awesome title and prime viewing time during the AFF, there was barely anybody at the screening; I’m talking maybe 40 people in the theatre.
That was okay though, because in the very first row sat Mark Little—not a big surprise, considering this is a documentary entitled Dragonslayer.
Not everyone was down with the quirky doc though. While leaving the theatre, some guy with the worst moustache I have ever seen wouldn’t stop talking about how much he hated the film. He faulted the film for its narrative style and editing choices, which were a pretty weak argument, considering the documentary was funded by Drag City records and follows the exploits of a punk-rock skateboarder. Maybe he thought he was going to see Cave of Forgotten Dreams?
But after the Norm MacDonald as Burt Reynolds look-alike left the theater, out came Little, who was stopped by a volunteer asking for a paper slip handed out to all moviegoers during the AFF for rating each feature. He didn’t have one, so the volunteer quickly grabbed a ballot, all while complimenting him on his success with Roller Town. He thanked her, and stuffed the ballot box before walking away with a smile.
Now of course, I didn’t go up and ask him exactly what he rated the film (remember, I am the guy who cries while skateboarding, so my confidence is pretty low), but from his smile, I assume he liked it a lot, which is worth more to me than some guy yelling his opinions who looked like he walked off the set of Cannonball Run.
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2011.