Filming on Bruce Robinson’s The Rum Diary shifted to the narrow streets of Old San Juan on Monday morning, with the cast and crew congregating at a beautiful yellow five-story building bearing a new neon sign which read “The San Juan Star.” That happens to be the name of the (fictional) newspaper where Hunter S. Thompson’s protagonist, Paul Kemp, finds a job, but it could just as easily refer to the film’s leading man, as crowds began to gather early in the day in hopes of seeing Johnny Depp. They were not disappointed. Filming began at 7:00 a.m., and JD ventured out on his lunch break, around 1:00 p.m., to wave to the crowd. He was accompanied by security chief Jerry Judge. To see a larger photo of JD and Jerry, CLICK HERE.

Renowned Panamanian musician and sometime actor Ruben Blades dropped by the set to visit with JD; the two appeared together in Robert Rodriguez’s 2003 film, Once upon a Time in Mexico. Many thanks to Emma for sharing several articles from Puerto Rican newspapers and websites; thanks also to Marijose for help with translations. You can read much more about The Rum Diary on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet