JohnnyDepp-Zone.com

The Zone’s book club, ONBC, is currently running a lively and fascinating question-and-answer session with Bryan Burrough, the author of PUBLIC ENEMIES. We wanted to share Mr. Burrough’s appreciation of ONBC and the tremendous job that its moderators, Liz and DeppintheHeartofTexas, have done presenting background tidbits on the Dillinger era and leading the book discussion. Although not all of the Noodlemantras’ observations about PUBLIC ENEMIES were flattering to the author, Mr. Burrough didn’t mind ONBC’s candor: “I have had the *best* time reading the ONBC posts,” he wrote to Liz. “Your readers are so thoughtful, they pointed out things I’d never recognized in the book, both good and bad.”

When Liz asked what Mr. Burrough had enjoyed the most about the ONBC discussion of PUBLIC ENEMIES, he replied, “What excited me about reading the ONBC posts is how thoughtful they were. I mean, your readers obviously spend a good deal of time actually reading the book and thinking about it. Plus, you know, an author never really gets to hear people talk honestly about his own work. Friends, well, they’re always kind, maybe too kind. Only some place like ONBC can you see what people think. It’s painful sometimes, but hey, I’m a big boy.”

Burrough also recognized the intense preparation Liz and DITHOT did on the ONBC “tidbits” for PUBLIC ENEMIES. “The tidbits were fantastic. I felt you guys did almost as much research as I did!” wrote Burrough. “Your whole setup just struck me as what the Internet ought to be. Here is this little haven for kind discussion among people who obviously like each other. I have to say, I thought ONBC posters were among the most polite I’d ever read. That’s one thing that often bugs me about chat rooms and the like, rudeness.”

Congratulations, Noodlemantras! We couldn’t be prouder of all of you.

The ONBC interview with Bryan Burrough is currently running on the forum, and a new question is posted daily. It’s a great way to celebrate the filming of PUBLIC ENEMIES; many thanks to Mr. Burrough for participating, and to Liz and DITHOT for making it possible. –Part-Time Poet

The incredible traveling Johnny Depp roadshow, otherwise known as PUBLIC ENEMIES, has set up shop this week in Crown Point, Indiana; the photo at left shows Johnny arriving in Crown Point. Intrepid fans, determined to catch every minute of the filming, began to assemble in downtown Crown Point around 12:30 a.m. , braving 20-degree F. temperatures in the hopes of seeing the actor at work. According to local reporter Lauri Harvey Keagle, “While word in and around the set was that filming would be taking place solely indoors, those who braved the chilly early morning temps weren’t about to budge. The onlookers saw a lot of trucks and trailers, crews bustling about in and out of the old sheriff’s house and the Hall of Justice, some Crown Point police officers and guards from a private security firm. But no Depp . . . .”

That situation changed ” just before 11 a.m.,” reports Keagle, “when a black Ford Expedition pulled up in front of the old sheriff’s house on Main Street and out popped Depp. The crowd of more than 100–some of whom had been waiting for nearly 12 hours–erupted into loud cheers as Depp dashed into the old sheriff’s house.”

Crown Point native Nicole Vega didn’t mind standing in the cold for seven hours for a chance to see Johnny Depp: “It’s the most fascinating thing in Crown Point since Dillinger broke out of jail and (Rudolph) Valentino got married at the courthouse.”

The Zone thanks Teacher for the Keagle article; you can read it in full on the News & Views forum in the thread called “PUBLIC ENEMIES in Crown Point.” To see a larger version of the photo of JD in Crown Point, click here: http://tinyurl.com/3ycdku and to see a photo of the downtown Crown Point set, click here: http://tinyurl.com/36q48w The Zone thanks AnaMaria and emma for the photos; special thanks to Doctor Beef on-site in Crown Point. –Part-Time Poet