The Pumpkin Lady of Fond du Lac- WI Documentary

November 1st., 2023

We had an absolutely incredible and fantastic weekend. So many people came out to talk to us at the Farmer's Market it was amazing. I am so happy that others have as warm memories about the WFON Halloween Radio Party and the Pumpkin Lady as I did. We were greeted on the street and all around town with smiles and welcomes. It was truly an incredible experience and I can not wait to see how the story takes shape from here!

October 21, 2023

A week ago we hit our second production goal of 10k. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, shared the link and supported us to get this far. We are deeply grateful.

We are incredibly excited to be heading to Wisconsin next week, October 26th, to film Halloween in Fond du Lac. After we return we will continue raising funds via Go Fund Me while exploring grants and other sponsorship opportunities to help us fund animation and post production .

The over all estimate for this film is quite high, but slowly and surely we will get there. We have made huge steps thus far and with all your positive support we know anything is possible.

Thank you.

jean

September 6, 2023

Extending our goals...

I can't believe we hit our first goal and smashed the $7k needed for us to film in Wisconsin this Halloween. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed and shared this fundraiser. The fundraising will continue since we have many stages to pass before we are done. I hope you keep checking in on our progress and I will keep updating as we continue into filming next month!

ONWARD!

www.thepumpkinladyoffonddulac.com

xo - Jean

September 1, 2023

Hi!

I am an independent Producer and Filmmaker who currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, but I will always be a native Wisconsinite at heart. It is because of my love and appreciation for my home state that I feel compelled to make this film.

The Pumpkin Lady of Fond du Lac is about the annual Fond du Lac (WFON/ KFIZ) Halloween Radio Party that started back in 1974 by Loula Beckman, aka The Pumpkin Lady. This tradition began in Fond du Lac after the murder of nine-year-old, Lisa French on Halloween in 1973.

The overall tone of the film celebrates how the town created a safe and fun environment for the children of the community after this tragedy. It was because of community members like The Pumpkin Lady that many of us have very fond memories of Halloween nights sitting around the radio, eating our candy and hoping to get a call from her. It's not the traditional way most kids around the US celebrate this holiday, but to kids in Fond du Lac county, this was all we knew and we thought it was awesome.

I am planning to return to WI this Halloween to film the live Halloween radio show, interview community members at events in the area, and of course, capture the afternoon trick-or-treating on the Saturday before Halloween. By contributing to this project, you will help make it possible for me and my small film crew to capture footage of Halloween in Fond du Lac this year.

I hope that through this story I can share with a larger audience what makes Wisconsin and specifically Fond du Lac, so unique. It is a town that cared about its young people so much that they changed the way Halloween was celebrated for the last 49 years to keep us safe. And just as importantly, they found a way to keep us safe and let us be kids and enjoy Halloween!