Comedic production depicts sisters at odds over family business
By Jason Arndt
Editor
Independent film producers recently spent time in the Burlington area shooting a comedy called “Raffle,” which depicts two sisters at odds over a family business.
Directed and produced by Martin Kaszubowski, who previously presented an Amazon Prime film dubbed “Earlybird,” selected Browns Lake Super Stable in the Town of Burlington as the location for the film, based on his vision to create a production showcasing the popular era of general stores.
“Honestly, the store was perfect for what I wanted,” said Kaszubowski, who said he scouted countless antique stores in Wisconsin and northern Illinois before deciding on the long-time Burlington staple.
“The Browns Lake Super Stable just happened to have the right size of space, the right look and it has an old ice cream counter. I wanted the store to have a feeling like it was from a bygone era,” he explained.
Kaszubowski said the film chronicles the lives of two sisters, Frankie and Riley, whose parents have died and left them an antique general store.
However, Frankie, played by Kansas City-based actor Julie Pope, and actor Emma Knott from Chicago, who presents the role of Riley, have different visions for their parents’ general store.
While Frankie seeks to keep the store, Riley wants to sell it, putting them at odds.
“(Frankie) is kind of a never-do-well drifter,” said Kaszubowski, who added Frankie spends time attempting to prove she could handle the family business.
Other actors include Cion Evans-Gayson, Julian Solis and Chloe Skoczen, all of Chicago.
Third feature film
Kaszubowski, who is originally from Thorp, which is between Wausau and Chippewa Falls, earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in film from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
According to Radio Milwaukee, an online entertainment website, he has produced several films in the last decade and recently released “Earlybird” on Amazon Prime.
Earlybird is a comedy of errors from a hopeless independent theater that faces skyrocketing rent bumps and decides to schedule off-the-wall productions.
“The plays are a huge success, and it just goes to his head,” Kaszubowski said.
“Raffle” marks his third career feature film.
Before beginning production, he narrowed down his choices to a select few, including the Browns Lake Super Stable.
While he found the location ideal, he also considered the Burlington area a viable option, since many crewmembers hail from the Milwaukee area.
“Burlington is great. The downtown is really cute, and all the freshwater rivers and lakes are wonderful,” he said.
In addition to Browns Lake Super Stables, the production also took a trip to the Malt House Theatre in Burlington, where they shot in final scene on Oct. 25 before wrapping up production.
Additional locations included Best Bargains at Pine Crest Shopping Center, where crews filmed grocery store scenes.
Shocked by request
Lola Anderson, owner of the family-owned Browns Lake Super Stables, said she didn’t anticipate receiving a call from Kaszubowski requesting access to the business.
“I wouldn’t have expected this. It was a surprise to me that this would be a location for a film,” Anderson said. “I thought it would be great.”
For nearly two weeks, crews spent time on the property.
“They are the most wonderful bunch of people,” Anderson said. “All of them have been very kind and very considerate.”
She often observed scenes and found them intriguing and said she never would have imagined how much work needed to be done including multiple takes and breaks.
“I found it very interesting to see how much time it takes,” Anderson said.
Kaszubowski hopes to release “Raffle” as soon as 2026 with available streaming the following year.
But he plans on delivering the production at small film festivals, and even in local theaters, such as the Plaza Theater in downtown Burlington.
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