Introduction
Centuries old and enjoyed by tens of millions of people worldwide, golf is seen by many as more than a sport. Yet what do we know about the other person on the course? The man or woman behind the player carrying the bag. In a narrative never before covered in any feature length documentary, Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk explores the incredible personal bond that a golfer and a caddie develop through hours of time together.
It is often said that a good caddie does three things: show up, keep up and shut up. But a great caddie wears many hats. They’re the player’s psychologist, mother/father figure, technical advisor and confidante. The film unveils the working dynamic between famous partnerships like the heartfelt story of Tom Watson’s and caddie Bruce Edwards. Conversely, it delves into the making of a caddie’s career with stories like Greg Puga — a young Bel Air Caddie from East Los Angeles who fought his way to Augusta to play in the Masters as a Mid-Amateur Champ. Whether familiar or new, these are stories that will make you re-think the way you look at Golf, and especially the job of the Caddie.
Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk is a visual tour de force shot on the iconic courses of Pebble Beach, Augusta National, St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Prestwick, Ballybunion, and Lahinch. Crafted in the spirit of documentaries like “20 feet from Stardom”, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” and “Step into Liquid”, the film is a must-watch documentary of the game of golf as you’ve never seen it before.
For LOOPERS, our visual approach is a blend of traditional documentary work intercut with stylized frames bringing the viewer into the action, presenting an intimate and authentic view of the game’s emotional ride. Our team has years of experience working in difficult global production situations. By utilizing an elite small unit of essential crew, we have been able to travel the globe to some of the world’s most prestigious golf courses, telling stories that span over 100 years of golf history.
We feel that our approach could be described as lean and efficient and yet we committed our resources to using the best possible camera equipment. Principal photography was captured via RED Dragon digital cinema mixed with a variety of steady system rigs, allowing us to take the viewer “on a walk” with our characters. Modern, sit down interviews compliment years of extensive research, show casing iconic historical archive footage of golf’s past.
The combination of past and present together tell this timeless tale of friendship in a format that sweeps decades.
Through the years, I’ve dug my heals in as an independent documentary filmmaker, traveling the world in search of human stories that resonate with global audiences on a genuine, deep-rooted level. I love working with real people and strive for an intimate, honest style that celebrates the simple beauty in everyday life.
That said, I’m a fan of the movies, and I aim for my work to blend the worlds of documentary and narrative storytelling. The best stories are often discovered, not fabricated, but only if approached with an artful eye for cinematic moments and a discerning sense of story. I was ecstatic when Tiburon Productions contacted me about this project. I grew up playing golf with my dad and his brother. I have great memories of walking 18 early on a Sunday so we could get home and watch Nicklaus, Faldo or Crenshaw finish.
As I grew older my interests shifted but this project has reconnected me with a special time in my life and I feel inspired to tell this unique and relatively unknown story of the caddie. My previous independent films, “Bella Vita,” “One California Day” and “Singlefin: Yellow” are soulful narratives that explore the global surfing sub-culture. Known for their visual beauty and authentic portrayal of the surfing experience, I’m eager to take what I’ve learned from those projects and explore the world of Golf. I see it as a world steeped in beautiful landscapes, colorful characters and great stories. Set in the middle, is the caddie golfer relationship, something to date never explored in cinema. I look forward to the journey ahead, sharing their stories with you.
- Jason Baffa
