Lights! Camera! Action!
Golf in the Kingdom — The Movie (Part 2)
Well, “Golf in the Kingdom — The Movie” is finally looking and feeling like a reality. As reported here a few weeks ago, filming has now begun on this project which has taken at least 20 years to get to fruition.
I arrived at Bandon Dunes on a Sunday evening and attended a cocktail party sponsored by the producer for friends, investors, crew, cast and various members of the Bandon Dunes staff... Everything seemed as it should be, yet I must admit that past disappointments still clouded my expectations... But, when I reported for duty as an “extra” the next morning, what had until that moment, merely been hope, turned into true belief. McKee's Pub, a favorite watering hole for Bandon Dunes patrons was serving as the location for the bar scene at the Burningbush Golf Club where Shivas Irons and young Michael Murphy get together for some drinks and conversation between their round of golf and their dinner and whiskey fueled “singing the praises of golf” at the home of Agatha and Peter McNaughton. The key piece of dialogue in this scene is when Shivas (playe
d by Scottish actor David O’Hara) gives eloquent counsel to young Murphy (Mason Gamble) on the virtues of walking in golf...
“Ye’re makin’ a great mistake if ye think the gemme is meant for the shots,... The gemme is meant for walkin’.... if ye enjoy the walkin’, ye can probably enjoy the other times in yer life when ye’re in between. And that’s most o’ the time; wouldn’t ye say?”
McKee’s Pub is named for Howard McKee, one of the pioneers in the creation of Bandon Dunes and a significant inspiration for the environmentally sustainable nature of the resort’s development. Howard, who passed away in December of 2007, was a dear friend, both to me personally and to the Shivas Irons Society. Ironically he was not a golfer but he loved the land on which it was played and shared with anyone who asked the joy he felt just walking the well laid out course... clubs, balls and shooting a score were definitely not a necessary 
part of his pleasure. I was especially moved to know that the scene being filmed that day was dedicated to Howard McKee’s memory and even included a portrait of him on the mantle above the roaring fire as the Scotsman who taught us how to “get the spirit o’ it yersel’ and learn to enjoy each and every step...” (For more on Howard’s legacy: <<click here>>
When I reached the set at the appointed hour the first thing I noticed was the array of movie making gear — assorted lighting equipment, huge reflectors, camera dollies, rolls of cable and electrical wire, hand trucks, ladders, mirrors, tripods, sandbags, piping and a number of esoteric items that I cannot name. Moving among all this paraphernalia like ballet dancers were the members of the film crew. I knew this was not “a major motion picture” but yet they were all there... the people with the titles that I associate with the credits that roll during the exit music for just about every film I have seen in the past 30 years. There were grips and gaffs, a swing gang,
the director, a 1st and 2nd assistant director, a wardrobe coordinator, a director of photography, an assistant camera person... I’m sure there was even a “best boy” on hand. There must have been! And, like any well choreographed dance each person seemed to know where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to be doing.
Everyone seemed to have walkie talkies, many carried clipboards and most wore “accessory belts” adorned with all kinds of clips, D rings, carabiners with canvas loops sporting rolls of brightly colored tape, leather gloves, tool kits and an assortment of other specialized gear. Although I was especially impressed with the number of young folks on hand, there was little doubt that they were a crew of professionals... and, as no one was shy about reminding me, that one of my most important responsibilities that day was to watch my step and stay out of
the way.
It was comforting to know that I was not the only “amateur” hanging around and disrupting traffic. There were at least fifteen of us, including Michael Murphy, who had come together to perform as extras in the background of the scene. Since the story takes place in the late nineteen fifties, we had been asked, as best we could, to supply our own wardrobe appropriate to the era. Many succeeded, but for those who needed help there were racks filled with quite a choice of “antique” clothing that looked like they had been lovingly rescued from any number of Goodwill Shops in Los Angeles.
At about 10:30 AM director Susan Streitfeld met with us to explain our role and make clear what we could expect for the rest of the day. She started by telling us that the next 12 hours would be pretty
intense as she and the crew were challenged to accomplish in that time what would probably take a large studio production at least a week. I do not know the exact numbers but I believe that these 12 hours of filming were to be devoted to what would eventually amount to no more than ten or fifteen minutes of actual screen time. She also suggested that we were going to learn why the professional actors who normally serve as extras were pretty well paid for their work... and she was right. For me the day was fascinating and fun, but were it not for my special interest in this particular film it could have easily been a day of immense monotony and boredom. There was a lot of standing around and waiting, but when we were called upon to be present we had to be available, attentive—and quiet. The quiet part was particularly difficult. Our job as extras was to appear to be enjoying ourselves while drinking and having conversations in the background of the scene... but because it was the dialogue of the principal actors that was being recorded, we had to do this without making any sound (we learned that these sounds would 
be filled in later by the “foley artists”). I cannot imagine what it must be like for those folks who do this on a regular basis... long hours, hot lights, costumes. Multiple takes of the same few seconds of actions over and over again... great for one day but not nearly as simple as I would have guessed.
A highlight came late in the day when the crew did several final takes of the principal actors in close-up that did not require the need for extras in the background. This gave me the opportunity to be standing close by to watch and listen as David O’Hara, in the role of Shivas Irons, delivered the complete “Golf is made for walking...” speech for the camera. Howard McKee’s memory was well served... Michael Murphy grinne
d from ear to ear... and like a scene from an old Hollywood movie about Hollywood movies... I joined with the assembled crew and cast in a spontaneous and robust round of applause.
It’s been a long time coming and right now it feels as if it’s going to be worth the wait. I only had a brief glimpse of a large project but I am appreciative of the hard work and sincere efforts I witnessed at Bandon Dunes. I wish the best to Mindy Affrime, Susan Streitfeld, Michael Murphy and the cast and crew of “Golf in the Kingdom — The Movie” in their efforts to do justice to a piece of literature that we all love.
And, if in the process, I get 10 or 15 seconds of screen time... FANTASTIC!
(Click on one of the images below to visit a full gallery of images from the film shoot)
