Brandon Lazenko
He is the filmmaker of October Roses Dollar Baby film.
SKSM: Could you start by telling me a little bit about yourself? Who you are and what do you do?
Brandon Lazenko: Sure, I’d love to share. My name is Brandon Lazenko, and at the core of it all, I’m a filmmaker with a passion for horror and the macabre. I’ve directed a couple of projects that I’m really proud of, including “October Roses,” which introduced me to the Dollar Baby community and allowed me to work with some incredibly talented individuals, many of whom are Kent State University alumni like myself.
Beyond the directors’ chair, I find a lot of fulfillment in my role as a group therapy coordinator, where I can impact young lives through different activities and games. It’s a role that challenges me to use creative thinking and adaptability, seeing to it that every session is unique and engaging. I’ve learned through both worlds that it’s all about making a difference, one frame or one game at a time.
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become a filmmaker?
Brandon Lazenko: Back in high school, I directed a stage production of ‘The Outsiders.’ It was my first experience in a leadership role of that kind, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Then I wasted a few years in college before I met a group of students who took filmmaking seriously and it all just sort of fell into place.
SKSM: When did you make October Roses? Can you tell me a little about the production? How much did it cost? How long did it take to film it?
Brandon Lazenko: Making ‘October Roses’ was an adventure, to say the least. We shot it over six intense days in August 2022. But the journey didn’t start or end there – it was sandwiched between a year of prep and a year of polishing it in post-production. To be honest, it was the toughest challenge that I’ve ever faced. Going in, my expectations for what we could achieve were sky-high, maybe even too high. But despite hitting what felt like a major roadblock every day we were filming, we somehow managed to keep everything on track. As for our budget, let’s just say it wasn’t cheap and possibly up there with some of the most ambitious Dollar Baby projects in terms of scale and production value.
SKSM: Why did you change the original title from Nona to October Roses?
Brandon Lazenko: When I got the first draft from the writers, I took some time to dive back into Stephen King’s original story. It hit me then that there have been other adaptations titled ‘Nona’ but what we were creating felt distinct, with our own unique creative decisions. Rereading King’s work, I was struck by his mention of ‘dry October Roses’ on the first page and it resonated with me. The writers and I were on the same page about it. ‘October Roses’ wasn’t just a new title; it is a nod to the story’s roots and our fresh take on it.
SKSM: How come you picked Nona to develop into a movie? What is it in the story that you liked so much?
Brandon Lazenko: Choosing ‘Nona’ for our project really came down to brainstorming with Shelby, who’s not just one of the writers but also my fiancé. They did the heavy lifting initially, combing through all the Dollar Baby options and narrowing it down to ‘Nona’ and ‘One for the Road’ as top contenders. Knowing my leanings toward a noir style in filmmaking, Shelby thought these stories were a great fit.
To really get a feel for what we were getting into, we decided to take a road trip up to Bangor, Maine, to soak in some of Stephen King’s world and original inspirations. The trip was very helpful – listening to the audiobooks, diving into discussions about each story, sometimes even butting heads over our visions for them. In the end, ‘Nona’ felt like it was more within our wheelhouse, something we could truly bring to life given our resources and creative direction.
SKSM: Can you tell us about your unexpected moments on this Dollar Baby film? Was everything planned ahead, or did things change during filming?
Brandon Lazenko: Going into production, we had a solid plan in place, but as with any film project, adaptability is key. While we aimed to stick to the original vision and schedule, the reality of filmmaking is that things can and often do change. But all our hurdles and logistical changes are what gives our film character.
SKSM: Were there unexpected moments or difficulties during the making of the film that have become a new point of view?
Brandon Lazenko: One of the most unexpected and rewarding twists during the making of ‘October Roses’ was how we partnered with horror industry icon Robert Kurtzman and his wife, Marcy King. I decided to cold call Kurtzman on my lucky day, Friday the 13th. His wife, Marcy, initially answered and seemed ready to let me down easily. But I just went for it and told her I had nothing to lose. That got a laugh out of her, and we ended up having a great conversation. From that call, both Robert and Marcy joined us, not just bringing their incredible expertise in special effects makeup but also coming on board as executive producers. Their involvement wasn’t just about adding their incredible skills to our project; it turned into a genuine friendship and taught me a powerful lesson about creating your own opportunities.
SKSM: Technology has changed a lot since the first Dollar Baby films began to be filmed. The special effects are incredible and very impactful, making this film even better. Who was responsible for this masterpiece?
Brandon Lazenko: Robert Kurtzman and his wife, Marcy King, were behind the special effects that really set ‘October Roses’ apart. Kurtzman, who directed the cult classic film Wish Master is a big deal in the horror industry having worked with directors like Quentin Tarantino and Wes Craven. It was kind of cathartic to work with the man who had created some of my childhood nightmares.
SKSM: Many of the scenes in the film are in heavy rain. Was it real rain or did you use technology?
Brandon Lazenko: The rain scenes were a mix of real rain and movie magic. I’ve always seen rain as a crucial element in the noir genre – it adds that essential atmosphere and depth. Given that the original King story happens during a blizzard, we wanted the weather to play a significant role in our film. However, to achieve that consistent rainy backdrop, we needed more than just natural weather. We actually teamed up with the fire departments from nearby cities. They came out and shot water into the air to create our ‘rain.’ It was an incredible effort and added a level of authenticity and control you can’t always get with natural rain. Though rain does bring a ton of challenges to set – like potential damage to equipment and costumes, not to mention the cold and discomfort for everyone involved in the 12–14-hour shoot.
SKSM: Did you have any personal contact with Stephen King during the making of the film?
Brandon Lazenko: Directly contacting Stephen wasn’t something I expected during the making of ‘October Roses.’ The closest connection came about when my alma mater wanted to host an alumni event and film premiere for the movie. To pull that off, we needed the green light from King himself. Given the rights involved with his Dollar Baby program. So, I put together a detailed email, crossed my fingers, and sent it off to the Dollar Baby team. They forwarded me message to King, and to my surprise, he read it and gave us approval for the premiere.
While I’m not sure if he’s seen the full film, I’ve heard that he watched our trailer and has seen our poster. Just knowing he is aware of our project and gave his nod for the premiere is something I’m very grateful for.
SKSM: Do you plan to screen the film at a particular festival?
Brandon Lazenko: Getting ‘October Roses’ as much exposure as possible is a big goal for us, so festivals are definitely on our agenda. We’re thrilled to announce that the film will be screened at the Chicago Horror Film Festival this May. It’s an opportunity for more people to experience the movie, and we’re excited to see where else this journey takes us.
SKSM: Are you a Stephen King fan? If so, which are your favorite works and adaptations?
Brandon Lazenko: Of course, I’m a big Stephen King fan. ‘IT” holds a special place for me because the 90s made-for-TV movie was my first dive into King’s mind. It really hooked me and set the stage for my appreciation of his storytelling. The recent remake of ‘IT’ was also top-notch – it lived up to the original’s impact and brought those childhood fears back to life.
SKSM: Did you have any personal contact with King during the making of the movie? Has he seen it (and if so, what did he think about it)?
SKSM: Do you have any plans for making more movies based on Stephen King’s stories? If you could pick -at least- one story to shoot, which one would it be and why?
Brandon Lazenko: Right now, I don’t have any immediate plans to make more movies based on Stephen King’s stories, but if King’s people ever approached me with an offer, it would be difficult to turn down. I’ve always thought it would be interesting to expand on the ‘Children of the Corn’ universe through a modern miniseries adaptation. I’d love to put my own noir spin on it.
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Would you like to add anything else?
Brandon Lazenko: I’d just like to say thank you to your readers and to keep an eye out for my future projects. As we continue to grow our audience, the hope is that increased demand will naturally lead to more supply – more films, more stories, more of what you love.
