Alan Arkin (left) and Greg Kinnear (right) in "Little Miss Sunshine." They'll reunite for "The Convincer."

By Colin Covert

Sounds like the recipe for a Coen brothers feature: a snowbound swindle by Midwestern con artists, set in a rundown insurance office, a violin shop, a minor-league casino, a suburban rambler and an old farm house. Actually, it's the latest film from the Sprecher sisters. "The Convincer," a sardonic comedy starring Greg Kinnear and Alan Arkin, begins a 40-day shoot in locations around the Twin Cities on Monday, Feb. 8.

Like the Coens, Madison, Wis. natives Jill and Karen Sprecher make films solely from their own screenplays and share directing and producing duties. The Sprechers' earlier films include the 2001 Matthew McConaughey-Alan Arkin-John Tuturro ensemble piece "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing" and the 1997 office dramedy "Clockwatchers," starring Toni Collette, Parker Posey and Lisa Kudrow. Their latest reunites "Little Miss Sunshine" costars Kinnear and Arkin in a tale of greed, fraud and naivete.

"We're thrilled because it's unusual to have a feature shooting in the Twin Cities in the dead of winter," said Lucinda Winter, executive director of the Minnesota Film and TV Board. "It's got a nice sized budget, a fun cast and a crew of about 70 people," mostly Minnesota residents, she said. The company has already opened production offices in Hopkins.

The $5 million film comes from Minneapolis-based Werc Werk Works, headed by Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine Walker. Werc Werk Works' first produced film, "Life During Wartime," comes from another indie favorite, Todd Solondz. Its second, "Howl," starring James Franco as Beat poet Allen Ginsburg, will have its world premiere at the Sundance film festival later this month.