About this project
$20,261
121
TRAILER
THE BEGINNINGS
It all started with a picture of a man paddling his giant pumpkin boat and I was hooked. A little more research uncovered images of pumpkins as big as cars, so I delved deeper to find the story behind this amazing fruit. We started interviewing groups of pumpkin growers in Utah, Napa, and Oregon, amassing incredible stories of the great pumpkin that is such a powerful image of magic and wonder in our world. Since then it’s been a blazing path of incredible people, intriguing stories and surprising excitement about giant pumpkins that can gain over 50 pounds in a single day!
TODAY
We’ve gathered jaw-dropping footage and wonderful stories as we follow the best growers in the world. We even went to a jail where they grow giant pumpkins in a 2.5 acre garden as part of a rehabilitation program making for some real Cinderella stories.
Are you curious why we eat pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving or carve pumpkins at Halloween? We've also interviewed experts like Cindy Ott Ph.D., and author of Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon, who talks of the profound impact the pumpkin has on American culture.
WHY WE NEED THE FUNDS
Rise of the Giants is 95% done in shooting and we are now editing . I'm asking for your help to push the film to completion so it can be seen on the big screen this fall (just in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving).
These funds will be used for two main purposes:
1. HOWARD DILL FARM An expedition to Nova Scotia to document where Giant Pumpkin growing began: Howard Dill's Farm. We’ve been invited by Howard’s son to come to the farm for an exclusive look at archival scrapbooks and photos.
2. POST-PRODUCTION The rest of the funds will be used to finish editing, purchase music rights, get great motion graphics, sound mixing and final color mastering and marketing the film to attract the best buyer to get this film out to the world.
I need your help to complete this wonderful iconic American story. If you are a grower, someone who loves pumpkins, or if you want to see a positive story about community, the earth and farming, please join our campaign and share it with your friends.
Thank you,
Daria Matza
Risks and challenges
There are always challenges in filmmaking, but with these funds we can finish the film by late summer/early fall. We are almost done with production, so it's time to focus on the edit and bring the 25 hours of footage we have into a entertaining compelling feature film.
The Rise of the Giants team has years of experience and many accolades for making independent films/documentaries and we will overcome any challenge with skill, teamwork and creative confidence.
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Funding period
- (30 days)