David Wenham’s newest comedy film Spit screens in Toowoomba after filming in the Garden City
Iconic Australian film character, Johnny Spiteri, known for asking the court who will pay for his bus fare in Gettin’ Square, returns to the big screen to teach us all a bit about mateship. Find out how Toowoomba got a starring role:
Entertainment
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More than 250 people made their way into Toowoomba CBD Strand cinema on Tuesday night asGettin’ Square character Johnny Spiteri made a comeback on the big screen which featured Toowoomba’s Wellcamp airport and quarantine facility.
It marked a special pre-opening screening of David Wenham’s newest comedy film Spit, in which he described filming was “one of the most creative experiences” of his life.
Ten years of working with the foundations of a script by writer Chris Nyst (Gettin’ Square), “what we’ve ended up with is a really fascinating film that swings between great comedy and great pathos”, he said.
“It’s amazing sitting in the audience and watching the audience react to this film, hearing the bellows of laughter and then seconds later – complete silence.”
Spit follows small-time criminal and ex-addict Johnny Spiteri (David Wenham) as he returns to Australia after 20 years on the run and must face enemies who are out to settle scores.
He is first arrested at his arrival in the airport and then lands in immigration detention, where he teaches other immigrants his version of “mateship”.
It’s here where Toowoomba’s own controversial Wellcamp quarantine facility, built at the height of Covid in 2021 for $230m by the Queensland government, had its starring moment.
The facility, which has mostly languished emptily on the outskirts of Toowoomba, found new life for a few weeks in April 2024 when it was turned into a movie set.
David Wenham, who plays the main character, was initially concerned about how the crew would take it, both shooting and staying at the facility.
“They all absolutely loved it because it meant we could shoot all through the day, then we had people catering for us, and then we had some places to go out and spend the night,” Mr Wenham said.
Johnny Spiteri embodies an “incredibly non-judgmental mythological character” that “Australians like to think represents who we are”, Gettin’ Square and Spit director Jonathan Teplitzky said.
“He’s a universal character that people can relate to with a great deal of empathy and humanity,” he said.
Johnny’s idea of mateship runs throughout the film, something that Mr Teplitzky said “exists within the DNA of Australians”.
“He is someone you want to be mates with and you could trust even though he’s a junkie, or he used to be a junkie”, he said.
Known for his decades of contributing to Australian cinema and TV, from Cosi to Gettin’ Square, or his role as Diver Dan in Seachange, Mr Wenham has also picked up roles in films such as Lord of the Rings (Faramir), and Van Helsing (Friar Carl).
Initially wanting to be a stage actor Mr Wenham said his career took a “very strange left-handed turn very early on”.
“So I’ve spent most of my career working in front of the camera which I just absolutely love,” he said.
“I’m always just obsessed with the creative process, and that’s what fires me up and gets my neurons going.”
Whether or not Toowoomba’s quarantine facility starring in his film will put the city on track to be Australia’s Hollywood is unlikely, said Mr Wenham.
“It’s got other fantastic things, but you know, I don’t think Toowoomba wants to be,” he said.
“You don’t want to be invaded by thousands of people here all the time.”
Spit includes the returning creatives from Gettin’ Square writer Chris Nyst, director Jonathan Teplitzky, producer Trish Lake, and actors David Wenham – as Johnny Spiteri – David Roberts, David Field, Helen Thomson and Gary Sweet.
It also includes a mix of talent including New Zealand’s Arlo Green, and Toowoomba Sudanese writer and actor Ayik Chut.
Spit opens in cinemas March 6, 2025.
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