Jeremy Warner, born in Idaho Falls and best known for his work on “Studio C,” has released his long-awaited movie “Villains Inc.”
Warner has always wanted to “make movies” and as a child he adored many directors and creators for their work. He recalls a moment where he watched a film recommended to him by a friend and it unlocked something in his brain—he knew movies were what he was meant to do.
“It is a dream. I never thought it would happen, but I worked towards it. And now it’s happened … [if you have a dream] the goal is to keep doing it … once you accomplish [it], you keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t stop believing, as Journey once said,” Warner said.
Warner’s film, “Villains Inc.” follows the journey of three hench people — Beatrix, Harold, and Cain — as they navigate life after the death of their villainous boss. Becoming their own people with their own aspirations, they plan on taking over the world, one where superheroes will be standing in their way.
Warner says he used personal experiences and even his favorite movies like “Ghostbusters” to develop authentic characters, ensuring that each character’s dialog felt like them and remained true to their individual traits.
There were several memorable moments from the set, Warner says, including unexpected mishaps and his wife going into labor mid-production. The COVID-19 pandemic put the movie on pause for two whole years. Feeling discouraged, he almost gave up on the project all together.
“[When production resumed] I was very cautious, cautiously optimistic … I just wanted to make sure that we were going to finish it … [When filming was complete] I just stood in a corner and cried … then went back and gave everybody a hug. I felt I could release the emotion that I had held onto for two years in that moment,” Warner said.
It was an emotional journey, and while his film gains both praise and criticism, Warner is only grateful for the opportunity to share his long-awaited project with audiences. His movie is now playing in over 300 theaters nationwide, making the overall experience surreal, he said.
You can now watch Jeremy Warner’s feature film “Villains Inc.” at the Paramount 5 and Fat cats in Rexburg, Edward’s Grand Teton Stadium 14 in Ammon and the Blackfoot Movie Mill.