When Andy Warrener went to Villagio Cinemas in Carrollwood last week, he wasn’t going merely as a movie patron.
He was there to see the Florida premier of “The Black String,” a movie which the Odessa native co-wrote and co-created.
For Warrener, the film’s Florida debut was a moment that was years in the making.
“I’ve been in the screenplay format since I was 19,” he said. “Screenplays became a creative outlet.”
A photojournalist by trade, Warrener made a transition into the film industry. His love for literature also compelled him into that line of work, he said.
He moved to Los Angeles in 2002, where he lived for almost seven years.
While there, he met director Brian Hanson, who introduced a screenplay idea that Warrener found intriguing.
The concept dealt with a psychiatric patient who couldn’t distinguish between delusions or reality.
“I’m like ‘I love it. Let’s talk more about it,’” Warrener said. “Subsequently, we had meetings and sessions, and we fleshed out the idea. Next thing you know, there was a script.”
However, the two screenwriters began to focus their attention elsewhere, putting the script aside.
It wasn’t until 2017 that producer Richard Handley read the script, found it interesting and wrote a newer version – ultimately becoming the film’s storyline.
Jonathan, the main character of “The Black String,” is played by Frankie Muniz.
Muniz rose to prominence as a child actor starring in the television series “Malcolm in the Middle,” as well as several movies.
Initially, the film premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2018.
The film also has been released on DVD, Red Box and Google Play.
Warrener, who considers himself a “horror film buff” said “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity” are some of his favorites.
“What makes those movies so scary, to me personally, is that it’s something that could happen to anyone,” he said.
He thinks “The Black String” is a film that resonates with viewers.
Although this was Warrener’s first screenplay to become a film, he has written nine others.
He also noted that he’s teaming up with Hanson again, and this time they’ll be working on a mystery-thriller.
And, Warren, who lives in Odessa again, said he’s not ruling out using Tampa Bay as the setting for future projects.
Published November 06, 2019
