A-list talent and real-life husband and wife duo Alison Brie and Dave Franco star in Together, the debut horror feature for Melbourne indie filmmaker Michael Shanks, opening in international cinemas this July.

From the outset, director Michael Shanks, who is born, bred and based in Melbourne, and producer Michael Cowap, from Princess Pictures were committed to making horror feature Together in Melbourne.

“We always wanted Together to be an Australian production. There are financial reasons for that, but I also really liked the idea of making this film in my hometown.”

Michael Shanks, Writer/Director

It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie who play a couple that relocate to the countryside and encounter a supernatural transformation of their love, lives, and flesh. The film had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in the midnight section this year, where it was acquired by Neon.

Brie and Franco set up camp in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton for the duration of the shoot, which predominantly took place at Docklands Studios Melbourne, as well at locations across the state including Olinda, Sassafras, Upwey, Sherbrooke, Port Melbourne, Melbourne’s CBD, Mount Evelyn, and Ivanhoe.

“It was such a delight for me to be able to film at Docklands Studios. I’m used to filming in my friend’s dad’s abandoned shed or whatever. So, walking into an actual film studio, even just getting into the car park, I was like, ‘The dream’s coming true.’”

Michael Shanks, Writer/Director

Working with a talented team of heads of department was inspiring, Shanks says.

“It’s true, we do have world class facilities and world class crew here…if I’m ever lucky enough to make anything else I’d really try and keep it in Melbourne.”

Michael Shanks, Writer/Director

VicScreen was instrumental in supporting the production through the Victorian Production Fund, Shanks says, as well as supporting the post-production effort including detailed VFX sequences produced by Framestore with support from VicScreen’s Victorian Digital Screen Rebate.

With extraordinary locations, highly skilled crews, a generous rebate system, and a proven track record of international success, why not make Victoria the next choice destination for your production?

To learn more about VicScreen’s leading incentives contact VicScreen’s Head of Incentives, Joe Brinkmann.