Quirky 'Mulligan' set to film on Lutsen's links
Independent filmmaker hopes to make slapstick classic
By Chris Casey News-Tribune staff writer

Golf. Gas station. Guy talk. Golf cart girl. Gone-to-God football players. These disparate elements figure into a goofball movie that Tim VandeSteeg, an independent filmmaker from Minneapolis, wrote and plans to begin shooting around July 11 in Lutsen.
VandeSteeg, 28, describes "Mulligan -- a Golf Comedy" as "Caddyshack" meets "Clerks" meets "Swingers," the latter two being critically acclaimed independent films thick with quirky dialogue and deadpan dudes.
"It's like we took the guys from 'Clerks' and the guys from 'Swingers' and let them play this unbelievable game of golf."
He added, "It's like this game of golf kind of parallels their life -- it's deep."
Most of that golf will take place on Superior National Golf Course near Lutsen. Filming in the Lutsen-Tofte area, including the Mountain Inn, will last about three weeks.
Greg Leland, head pro at Superior National, said the filming won't cause any disruption on the 27 hole course.
"If they need to have hole No. 17 open for a few hours we can accommodate that," Leland said.
VandeSteeg, who is also the films director, landed Subway sandwich stores as a sponsor. He began hunting for sponsors after finishing the script in September 1997.
"I've talked to so many corporations where the people would blow you off, but at Subway the people were real. They were so willing (to help)," he said.
So you can bet the duffers in "Mulligan" will be munching on a Subway sandwich or two. VandeSteeg has landed about 25 sponsors, including Golf Minnesota magazine, Mr. Movies, Suncountry Airline and Adidas golf.
VandeSteeg, who directed short films that aired on the Independent Film Channel in addition to freelancing on commercials, said he raised a "half million to a million" dollars for the movie.
Riki McManus, director of the Upper Minnesota Film Office, said VandeSteeg's irrepressible door knocking for sponsors is an "unusual way to get a movie made," but one that's effective.
"You can't tell him it's not going to work because he 's going to get it done. My hat's off to this guy." McManus said. McManus, who recently traveled to Los Angeles with a contingent of other Minnesotans, including Gov. Jesse Ventura, to promote the state as a shooting location, said she believes VandeSteeg has a winning concept.
"We need more slapstick movies like that," she said.
Needless to say, there won't be any pretentiousness factor in this flick, which VandeSteeg hopes to enter into some of the well known independent film festivals, such as Sundance, by the end of the year.
"I'm tired of looking at independent films that are black and white and boring," said VandeSteeg, noting the films target audience is 18- to 34-year-olds. "I want everyone to be a part of this -- make filmmaking fun again and make Minnesota (look) positive. Were not all hicks. We're Viking-crazed fans that like good films."
In fact two Vikings players -- quarterback Randal Cunningham and receiver Chris Carter -- served as inspiration for the project, VandeSteeg said. The players, both born again Christians, attributed their spirituality to their resurgent careers.
They personify "taking a mulligan on life, a second chance, and not being afraid to do it." VandeSteeg said.
One of the four main characters -- played by Twin Cities based actors -- is a Gulf War vet who returns as a born again Christian. Another is the lecherous Langer, who is convinced that the fetching golf cart girl is the centerfold in his magazine "The Nude Confidential."
VandeSteeg is proud that his film company, Vandy Productions, is demonstrating that filmmaking can take place in Minnesota -- courting Hollywood be damned.
"There is so much talent around here, but you have to organize it. And that's what we did."
Just don't dare show up at a VandeSteeg film set wearing green and gold.
"There are two rules about my films: I don't want no prima donnas or Packer fans," he said.