By Sara Quam
Duck Days. the Cheese Festival and a night of all-you-can-eat free hotdogs have filled Bill Vander Kooi's summer weekends.
It's not that the 1996 Luverne graduate can't get enough of hokey holidays. He and two friends from St. Paul are filming a documentary on small-town Minnesota festivals.
"We've met a lot of carnies," Vander Kooi said.
Vander Kooi and one of the film partners, Jesse Corum, were in Luverne last Thursday for Hotdog Night and also covered Buffalo Days earlier this summer for their film.
Vander Kooi said Public Television in the Twin Cities has shown some interest in the project, and even if that doesnÕt work out, they'll have the finished product for their portfolios.
The trio has an avid interest in film, taking in about three movies a week, plus some video rentals. And although they don't have formal training, using digital equipment allows them to edit on home computers.
Vander Kooi started making films at home when he was as young as 7 or 8 years old. He continued to enjoy drama - behind the scenes and on stage - throughout high school and college.
"It's a low overhead doing a documentary, with no actors to pay," Corum said. "WeÕll be filming until the end of summer - as long as festivals are going on, we'll be shooting."
Although midway rides and funnel cake are common elements in most festivals, Vander Kooi said the differences are fun to observe.
He said some have a more "corporate sponsorship" flavor to them, and others are community-run. Vander Kooi said Hotdog Night ranks as one of his favorites. "I'm a big fan. It's free hotdogs."
He said, "ItÕs something the Chamber does for the people rather than them trying to draw people in."
Vander Kooi and Corum are graduates of Macalester College, St. Paul, and work at a restaurant there while working on the film. Gabe Llanas works as the on-camera personality, interviewing people for the documentary.