JohnnyDepp-Zone.com

Donald G. Asher is an award-winning journalist–a Pulitzer Prize nominee, no less–but he had never stepped before the cameras until he answered a casting call for extras for Michael Mann’s Public Enemies last year. The director wanted actual reporters to play the reporters in that scene where a captured John Dillinger meets the press. Mr. Asher won the role of “Reporter #1,” and he asks that famous question that we’ve heard in the Public Enemies trailers. He has also used his journalistic expertise to write about his experience filming Public Enemies, and it is a wonderful read, packed with careful observation and telling details. Great pictures, too! Mr. Asher’s article, called “Public Enemies Confidential,” appears in Shore Magazine. You can read it via a link on the Zone’s News & Views forum–many thanks to Emma for finding and sharing the Asher article–or CLICK HERE.

The Zone congratulates Donald G. Asher on his film debut and thanks him for sharing his behind-the-scenes experience. We loved reading it! –Part-Time Poet

More good news for European Deppheads: Public Enemies will screen as part of Festival Paris Cinema, a 12-day celebration of the best films from around the world. Public Enemies will have its Paris premiere on the opening day of the festival, Thursday, July 2nd, at UGC Normandie. The festival website lists Michael Mann, Marion Cotillard and Johnny Depp as “presenting” the film, so we will look forward to seeing them there! The Zone thanks Emma for breaking the news and sharing the new photo from Public Enemies. To see a larger version of the photo of John Dillinger and Billie Frechette dancing, CLICK HERE. –Part-Time Poet

Johnny Depp celebrated his 46th birthday on June 9th with a two-stage party in old San Juan. The first began after 8 p.m., as filming finished for the day, and the Rum Diary production staff presented Johnny with a cake. This impromptu celebration took place on the balcony of a house overlooking O’Donnell Street and was captured by an enterprising videographer who posted the video on You Tube. To see the video, CLICK HERE, and to see a screencap of Johnny blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, CLICK HERE. Joining Johnny on the balcony as he receives his cake are Rum Diary director and screenwriter Bruce Robinson and director of photography Dariusz Wolski–and that’s security chief Jerry Judge carefully removing the extinguished candles from the cake afterward. How charming!

San Juan newspapers report that the party continued at midnight in a more formal setting: The Parrot Club, on Calle Fortaleza in Old San Juan. “Johnny Depp was the soul of the party, and shared and took photos with everyone,” says El Nuevo Dia. Actors Michael Rispoli, Giovanni Ribisi, and Amber Heard joined Bruce Robinson and about 150 crew members at the Parrot Club. Johnny’s birthday gifts? A vintage guitar and that sweet circa-1960 red Corvette featured prominently in the film.

The Zone thanks Emma for news articles and the Parrot Club photograph, AnaMaria for the You Tube screencap, and Evochka, Clare d(london), and Theresa for the video clip. To see a photo of Johnny at the Parrot Club with its owner, Emilio Figueroa, CLICK HERE. –Part-Time Poet