NEWPORT BEACH, California, USA (April 19,2019) – “Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk” (www.loopersmovie.com, @loopersthemovie), the most thorough feature-length film documentary ever developed on golf’s historic caddie profession, will have two showings at the Newport Beach Film Festival – Saturday, April 27 and Monday, April 29. The film, narrated by actor and former caddie Billy Murray, has drawn critical acclaim in early 2019 as it continues on the international film festival circuit in the weeks following the Masters Tournament and prior to a June 7 United States theatrical release in approximately 25-50 United States markets.
The “Loopers” showings are scheduled for The Lido on April 27 at 5:30 p.m., PDT and The Triangle Theater in Costa Mesa on April 29 at 6:15 p.m., PDT. The Lido is a historic theater, built in 1938 and recently restored, and is located one block from the Pacific Ocean. As of April 18, the Saturday showing had approximately 200 tickets sold and is one of the largest selling films prior to the festival opening next weekend. A live Q&A featuring Director Jason Baffa, Executive Producer Jim Packer and Producer Clark Cunningham – all native Californians with Cunningham residing in Newport Beach – will follow the screening.
For tickets to either showing, go to ww.newportbeachfilmfest2019.tix.com.
“Loopers” was the recipient of the “Ad Hoc Docs” award at the Cleveland International Film Festival in early April and had a requested third showing during its film festivals debut in early February at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Reviews of the film have touted the film’s accuracy and interest beyond just golf:
“… wishing ‘Loopers’ could be a series with each vignette an episode. Better yet, with striking panoramics of St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Bandon, Carnoustie and other world-renowned courses, “Loopers” is reminiscent of the BBC’s “Planet Earth” series, educating while aesthetically captivating.” – Golf Digest (March 2019)
“This weaves history with personality in telling a handful of specifically amazing golfer-caddie pairings, and is great even for those who hate golf.” – Santa Barbara Independent (January 30, 2019).
“I’ve only played a handful of rounds of golf in my life, and I don’t particularly care about the sport. Still, I found ‘Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk’ compelling. Any time you get somebody talking about their life’s work you’re probably going to get some good stories.” – Filmthreat.com (February 15, 2019).
“Loopers charts the history of golf from its origins in Scotland to modern times. Traditionally, the caddie’s mantra was to ‘show up, keep up and shut up.’ They were banned from the clubhouse and treated poorly. However, they became an important part of the sport, acting as the player’s technical adviser, psychologist and confidant.” – Sunday Times, Ireland (February 2, 2019).
The film also includes interviews with World Golf Hall of Famers Sir Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange and former Masters Tournament and U.S. Open champion Fuzzy Zoeller. Professional caddies who participated include Steve Williams (Tiger Woods’ former caddie), Carl Jackson (Crenshaw), Fanny Sunesson (Faldo), Pete Bender (Greg Norman and others), Michael Greller (Jordan Spieth) and Jariah “Jerry” Beard (Zoeller at the 1979 Masters). Longtime golf journalists Rick Reilly, Michael Collins and Ward Clayton are also interviewed.
The unknown stories are revealed, such as Greg Puga, who grew up in East Los Angeles, went on to caddie at Los Angeles’ Bel-Air Country Club and qualified as an amateur to play in the Masters Tournament. Another is the compelling legacy of caddie master Mike Kiely, who has been the caddie organizer at historic Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland for a half-century and guided many caddies toward successful lives.
“Loopers” was filmed at some of the more iconic locations in golf such as the Augusta (GA) National Golf Club, Pebble Beach (CA) Golf Links, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, numerous other vaunted courses in Scotland and Ireland such as Carnoustie, Prestwick, Ballybunion and Lahinch and Bandon Dunes (OR).
“Loopers” is directed by Southern California filmmaker Jason Baffa, who has directed successful independent films on the global surfing sub-culture, including “Bella Vita,” “One California Day” and “Singlefin: Yellow.” Baffa’s first film on golf harkens back to his days growing up when he played golf with his father and uncle.
Screening Dates/Times: April 27, 5:30 p.m., The Lido in Newport Beach; and April 29, 6:15 p.m., The Triangle Theater in Costa Mesa.
Screening Locations: The Lido, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach, Callif., 92663; The Triangle Theater, 1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, Calif., 92627.
Tickets: www.newportbeachfilmfest2019.tix.com
Trailer: Go to www.loopersmovie.com
Interviews and Information: Contact Ward Clayton, jaxclayton123@gmail.com
Directed by Jason Baffa (@jasonbaffafilms)
Produced by David Brookwell, Jim Packer, GEM Pictures, Clark Cunningham, Ward Clayton
Written by Carl Cramer (worked with Baffa as film editor on his previous films)
Narrated by Bill Murray
Animation sequence by artist Damian Fulton
Country - USA
80 minutes
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