Midwest Movie Maker

Director Brandon Lazenko chats with 'October Roses' leads >>>  What happens when you get the opportunity to produce, direct and write an adaptation of one of the world’s most notable horror masters? You fulfill a few lifelong dreams. Just ask Brandon Lazenko . His most recent film, October Roses , is an adaptation of the short story Nona from master storyteller Stephen King. Lazenko got the opportunity to adapt the story through King’s recently sunsetted Dollar Baby program . The Dollar Baby program allowed aspiring filmmakers to buy the rights to one of King’s short stories for $1. Created in the late 1970s, this program was designed to support new filmmakers by offering access to King’s works. The only rules? Filmmakers could not distribute their adaptations commercially, limiting screenings primarily to festivals and academic settings. King’s program, which ended in 2023, significantly impacted the film industry. Frank Darabont, for example, directed The Shawshank R...

The heroine (maybe?) from 'Sweetest Day'  > > > A new film festival in Akron, Ohio, kicks off the spooky season on Sept. 16, but The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival is less about grisly visual effects and jump scares. It’s about community, says festival director Neil Sudhakaran.“It’s community building,” Sudhakaran explains. “It’s about giving artists a stage and an audience to showcase their work.” As if to underscore the festival’s commitment to community, films will unspool at The Akron Civic Theatre , which has a rich tradition of funding and producing local programming led by local artists. “We want to give these filmmakers the most eyeballs and exposure to their work as we can - and horror brings in eyeballs,” Sudhakaran says. We sat down via email with Sudhakarn recently to learn more about the new film fest. Q&A with Neil Sudhakaran, director of The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival Midwest Movie Maker: How important was it to show...

Jason Woods' 'Copley Rd' A quick online search reveals dozens of haunted highways throughout the U.S. Spooky roads on which ghosts regularly appear, trying to hitch a ride or seemingly stuck in the place where they read their final chapter. Add another to that long list: Copley Road. Though this time the haunted throughway, which connects Medina County with downtown Akron, Ohio, is merely fictional, born from the imagination of filmmaker Jason Woods. “ Copley Road is a horror anthology about five strangers whose lives intersect when they all witness a paranormal confrontation between two supernatural entities,” Woods explains. “Each of the five strangers leave this experience with a dark presence now haunting them.”  Woods, who was born and raised in Akron, graduating from Buchtel High School, returns home from Los Angeles to shoot Copley Road on location. We had a chance to chat with Woods via email recently to learn more Woods and his new film: Mi...