Johnny Depp and PUBLIC ENEMIES return to Columbus, Wisconsin–shooting today!

After several postponements, the cast and crew of PUBLIC ENEMIES, including Johnny Depp as charismatic gangster John Dillinger, have returned to the town of Columbus, Wisconsin, where shooting of the film began last March 17th. Director Michael Mann is scheduled to film interior scenes at a private home (the Poser mansion) today. Zoner Bringmethathorizon confirms that Johnny is in Columbus; she saw him this morning, in makeup, “making a quick dash into the Poser house.” We thank DepplySmitten for passing along the message. A few scenes were shot at the Poser mansion the last time PUBLIC ENEMIES was in town; to see a photograph of the mansion’s lovely owner, with Michael Mann on her left and Johnny Depp on her right, click here.

PUBLIC ENEMIES will wrap up shooting in the Columbus area tomorrow (Tuesday, May 13th). Location scout Adam Boor told Jason Maddox of the Daily Register that the filmmakers will report to Beaver Dam on Tuesday morning to film scenes at The Rogers hotel. Later on Tuesday afternoon, they will return to Columbus to shoot scenes in the 100 block of James Street. The Zone thanks Emma and Bringmethathorizon for the Columbus news, and FANtasticJD for the photo. –Part-Time Poet

Great news–the Zone Birthday Project raises $2,000 in our first week!

The Zone is happy to announce that in the first week of the 2008 Birthday Project, we have raised more than $2,000 for the Child Life Fund of American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, as our birthday gift for Johnny Depp. Many thanks to all of our donors for their generosity, and thanks to those of you who donated directly to the hospital, for letting us know of your support for the Birthday Project. We’re off to a great start!

To read more about the Zone’s 2008 Birthday Project, or to make a donation via Paypal or directly through the American Family Children’s Hospital website, click here. –Part-Time Poet