Private Project

The Volunteer DragonSlayers

Throughout the United States, there is a group of men and women that stand ready to protect their communities by facing Hell on Earth. "The Volunteer DragonSlayers" delves into the lives of those community volunteers and seeks to explain who they are, what they do, and most importantly, why they do it.

  • Brian "BLT" Tan
    Director
  • Steven "Doc" Bernard
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 4, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director - Brian "BLT" Tan
Director Statement

When I first heard that more than 70% of fire departments were volunteer-based, I was simply shocked. After the initial surprise wore off, the questions soon followed – Who are they? What made them sign up? How do they do it? And most importantly, why do they do what they do? Scouring the Internet for material, I realized that no documentary has ever been made answering these very questions.

I knew I had to act. Luckily, Steve ‘Doc’ Bernard, one of my closest friends and colleagues used to be a volunteer firefighter himself, and thanks to him, we were able to journey all the way to Winter Harbor, Maine, to put a volunteer fire department there on film for the very first time. Though the production was not without its challenges, I am proud of the dramatic events we recorded and the earnest interviews we captured. Going forward, it is my sincerest hope that we will be able to continue making more videos like these to raise awareness of their struggles and highlight the valor, bravery, and dedication of these unsung heroes, also known as the Volunteer DragonSlayers.

Cheers,

BLT