COVER STORY COVER STORY L to R: Co-directors Peter Spierig and A photograph of the real Sarah something like Jigsaw and try and Michael Spierig on the set of ‘Jigsaw’. Winchester, who is portrayed put our spin on it is great. There’s by Helen Mirren in the Spierig brothers’ film. other material coming our way that we’ll do the same thing with.” The twins, who are from Brisbane, now spend quite a bit of time in the US. But Peter says when talking to Americans about bringing projects down under, the response is always positive. “Jigsaw was out of our control, but I would have loved to have taken that back to Australia as well. That would be our dream, to take American money, and come back to Australia. That I think is the ideal scenario for making movies, and usually it works out okay if the dollar’s strong. We’ve got such good THE SPIERIG crews and such great facilities here that it’s very realistic.” Michael adds that part of the of them have done all our films. Also somebody like Jason Clarke vicious. It's still gore-y and goo-ey reason he likes working in Australia, BROTHERS There’s an element of family and has never done a horror movie, and sort of fun stuff, but it's a less and with Australian actors, is trust, and shorthand when you do or… a haunted house type thriller vicious version of the series. because “it just feels like you’re Genre specialists Peter and Michael Spierig (Daybreakers, Predestination) are set to things quickly. And this film was movie before.” “We sort of went in with that working with friends all the time.” deliver the Saw franchise’s latest instalment, Jigsaw, into cinemas this November, while shot very, very quickly.” Peter adds: “One of the things pitch, assuming that they were “But we’ve had nothing but their anticipated feature Winchester – starring Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke – is slated Peter adds: “It’s funny, here we Michael and I loved about the going to say no. But they really liked great experiences working in for release early next year. The directors speak to Jackie Keast. are making a film about a Californian story was that it is about a woman our take on it.” the US too, so I think we’ve been house, shot in Melbourne, directed who is haunted by... an invention Michael says the end film is “wild really fortunate. That’s where the by Australians and starring an that killed millions of people. You and awesome”, and that taking on blockbusters are I guess. If you he Winchester Mystery Michael adds they were further And it actually didn’t take much “It was a very weird thing to go English woman. And the great thing can make parallels to the modern an established franchise was a fun want to play in that field you have to House is considered to be drawn to the project after a trip out ultimately to convince her to do to the actual house, then go to the is you can do that. day, absolutely.” change from their other work. go there.” one of the most haunted to the house itself. “The house is the movie.” stage and it’s almost identical,” “We’ve made three films that While Winchester is slated for “Every time we finish a movie, Peter believes that what houses in America. so mesmerising and so fascinating The directors also asked Sarah says Michael. we’ve shot in Australia that are release early next year, the Spierigs to spend two years developing our makes him and Michael stand out Firearm heiress Sarah that we instantly fell in love with Snook – one of the stars of their last “Our production designer set in American cities. The level of have also helmed Jigsaw, the eighth next project can be quite arduous. over there is that they do their TWinchester began building the it and we felt we had to tell a story film, Predestination – to join the Matthew Putland – he did talent in Australia, especially actors, film in the Saw franchise, due in And Peter and I love being on set – I own thing. extravagant San Jose mansion in about it.” film at Mirren’s request. our first movie Undead[ ] and is really, really good. We always feel cinemas in November. think that's what we do best. So to “We’ve always said ‘this is how 1884. She believed she was haunted The brothers worked on the script “Helen really loved Sarah's Predestination – did such an we can confidently bring projects Michael says Lionsgate, who take on someone else's writing – to we’re going to do it. We might lose by the spirits of people killed by for around two years, which Peter performance in Predestination, amazing job recreating things as back here and fool everybody.” released Undead and Daybreakers take on an established franchise, I the job by pitching it this way, but the Winchester repeating rifle, and says is standard for the two of them. and said 'Can that girl come play accurately as possible.” Michael says audiences should in the US, approached them to really liked it.” this is how we’re going to do it.’ saw the house’s construction as a “It’s always a long process writing my niece in the movie?' and I said While Winchester is an American expect Winchester to be a “creepy direct. While they were initially Peter says while he expects that “And Michael and I aren't the kind way to keep the evil spirits at bay. a script. Michael and I have written ‘absolutely, I'll give her a call’.” tale, Michael says they chose to haunted house movie in the classic hesitant, he says the script was he and Michael will always continue of people that will just sit around Labyrinth-like, the house has over all our movies with the exception of The twins shot a portion of the shoot in Australia – where they sense” with fascinating, real clever and had an attractive thriller to write and develop their own and say yes to every studio note. 160 rooms. Jigsaw, which we did do a polish on film at the real Winchester house have made all of their films except characters steeped in mythology. investigation element. projects, he agrees he doesn’t want That's just not how we operate. The Spierig Brothers’ upcoming the script of as well. – these days a popular tourist Jigsaw – in part because they have “What’s exciting about that is that “We went in and sketched our to always sit “in a dark room writing We've got some pretty clear ideas film,Winchester, is based on “The scriptwriting process is, attraction – but recreated many an established team here. Helen has never done this type of version of a Saw movie. Our version all the time.” on how we want to make something Sarah's story, and packs an almighty I believe, the hardest part of the of its rooms to scale at Docklands “We’ve done three or four movies movie before, and I don’t know why. of it was going to be less brutal, less “To get a piece of material, and why we want to do it.” cast in the form of Helen Mirren, whole filmmaking process. To stare Studios Melbourne. with a lot of the same people; some Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook, Angus at that blank page and to come up Sampson, Eamon Farren and with something that is going to On the set of ‘Jigsaw’. Bruce Spence. connect with people is daunting. The twin writer-directors, Peter “When you're dealing with real and Michael, were first introduced people as well, you have these Expert Film Insurance Solutions to the Winchester story when they responsibilities and you want to do were finishingPredestination at it right.” Product Knowledge. Experience. Reliability. Sony; an exec showed them a copy In terms of cast, Michael says of a draft script penned by Tom Helen Mirren was always their first Vaughan. pick to play Sarah Winchester. Film & TV Packages Professional Indemnity “Michael and I dug into that “It was a dream – you know: ‘Who Errors & Omissions Directors & Ocers material and basically did a page would be great for this?’, ‘Helen Equipment &/or Liability Statutory Liability one re-write. [We] delved into Mirren would be great for this.’ Contact Your Drones Instruments the mythology of the real place, “We were fortunate enough to Insurance Team Studios, Buildings, Property Business/Management and we were fascinated by Sarah go out to her and she responded David McEwan | Founding Director Cyber Attack Workers Compensation Winchester – which is the lead part extremely positively. Peter and Tim McGrane | Head of Broking Australia that Helen Mirren plays – and her I met her and she’s a wonderful true story,” Peter tells IF. person; really kind, really smart. 88 8 Australia Wide | Global Solutions Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Perth | Adelaide 16 INSIDEFILM #179, OCT - NOV 2017 Galvaniize Pty Ltd (CAR471763| ABN26600154354) Corporate Authorised Representative and David McEwan (AR471764) Authorised Representative of www.galvaniize.com.au Westcourt General Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd AFSL238447 ACN 009401772 (a subsidiary of IAG Ltd who are listed Australian Stock Exchange). Galvaniize Pty Ltd are not agents of any insurer and act in the best interests of their clients..