JohnnyDepp-Zone.com

After a one-day trip to the Lafayette County Courthouse, Michael Mann’s PUBLIC ENEMIES returns to Columbus, Wisconsin today, to wrap up the bank robbery sequence filming there. Some additional footage of the main streets of Columbus will be shot, and interior and exterior shots outside of downtown also will be completed, Mayor Nancy Osterhaus told the Portage Daily Register. The filming has been a boon to Columbus: “The number of tourists (this week) I would place in the thousands,” said Osterhaus.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, who led the development of the film industry tax incentives that attracted PUBLIC ENEMIES–and a $20 million cash infusion–to Wisconsin, will greet the cast and crew of the movie at 11 a.m. at the Columbus Visitor Center . . . soon to be better known as the bank Johnny Depp “robbed” earlier this week. [The Visitor Center and the West James art gallery occupy the same building.]

Mayor Osterhaus praised Johnny Depp for being so gracious to the crowds who have filled Columbus this week. “He did sign autographs Tuesday evening and was very polite, very focused, and a bit quiet,” Osterhaus said. “They had just come off the shoot (as he was wearing the same coat and hat as in the film).” To see a larger photo of Johnny as Dillinger standing outside the Columbus Visitor Center with his gang, click here: http://tinyurl.com/yqrrka

Today’s filming will conclude the shooting in Columbus for now; the company plans to come back again in warmer weather, but no dates have been scheduled.

The Zone thanks Emma for the Daily Register article; you can read it in full on the Zone’s News & Views forum, in the “PUBLIC ENEMIES in Columbus News Thread.” –Part-Time Poet

The third day of filming on Michael Mann’s PUBLIC ENEMIES took Johnny Depp’s John Dillinger to court for an arraignment scene; the scene was filmed inside the historic Lafayette County Courthouse in Darlington, Wisconsin. Several hundred people gathered around the court house to see Johnny arrive and enter the building. Wearing a costume of brown wool trousers and vest with a white shirt, Johnny paused several times as he climbed the courthouse steps and turned to wave at the cheering crowd. “Call the ambulance, I think I’m having a heart attack,” one woman called out as Johnny ascended the long flight of stairs to the courthouse entrance. Fortunately, she recovered without medical assistance . . . .

According to the Monroe Times, the mayor of Darlington, David Breunig, as well as several elected officials from Lafayette County, were chosen to appear as extras in the courtroom scene. The mayor found his new profession very enjoyable, even the numerous retakes: “I was one row behind Johnny Depp,” he explained.

Suzi Osterday, director of Darlington Chamber of Commerce-Main Street, said the filming was “a great day” for her city. She added, “I hope they enjoyed being here as much as we have hosting them.”

To see a larger photo of Johnny Depp inside the Lafayette County Courthouse, click here: http://tinyurl.com/ys5cdk and to see a photo of Johnny waving to the crowd, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2erjgy The Zone thanks Emma for the many articles she has posted from Wisconsin media outlets; you can find the ones about today’s shoot in the News & Views thread called “Depp holds court in Darlington.” Thanks also to Bonnie, AnaMaria and Carasun for the beautiful pictures of Johnny Depp at work. –Part-Time Poet