Movie Crew Remakes Columbus For Depp Film
Depp To Star In Dillinger Movie
Updated: 8:33 am CDT March 11, 2008
COLUMBUS, Wis. -- Set contractors are busy remodeling downtown Columbus for the movie "Public Enemies," which is expected to start shooting next week.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThey're making alterations to some stores to fit the movie about bank robber John Dillinger, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. The workers have been transforming storefronts and businesses so they'll pass in the Depression-era flickHollywood set decorators like Rafael Lopez, who made the journey from Los Angeles, are working to helping turn back the clock."It's freezing but I like it though," Lopez said. "(It's) something different than L.A., something more challenging."Lopez said that the workers have more work to do."(We're) going to paint the whole street, both sides," he said. "We'll be here another week, starting shooting Monday."Pat Thiesenhusen, who is a 1958 graduate of Columbus High School, said that she's pleased to see the city venture down memory lane."It's exciting to see for the past 50 years how Columbus has grown, and now they're going back to what I grew up with," she said.Kim Bates, the owner of the West James Street Art Gallery, said that her modern-day art gallery will be returning to its roots so it will pass for a bank target of the Dillinger gang."This was the First National Bank," Bates said. "(The) facade (was) put on in 1916. They are using it because they like the way it looks."Bates said that she knows a little about what action will be captured in front of her business."This is the bank, front of the bank for movie. Dillinger (will be) running out and getting out into getaway car and speeding away," Bates said.Director and University of Wisconsin grad Michael Mann said that Columbus has just the right history for the movie location.There are more than 240 homes and businesses on the National Historic Registry. In fact, the entire downtown is a historic district.NBC Universal plans to spend $20 million of the movie's $150 million budget in Wisconsin.Columbus Mayor Nancy Osterhous said that the local lumberyard, restaurants, hotels and other businesses are the beneficiaries of that spending.Osterhous said that Columbus has plenty of snow cover, but she said that the movie makers will add some artificial snow to shoot the winter scenes.Shooting is set to begin next Monday, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThey're making alterations to some stores to fit the movie about bank robber John Dillinger, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. The workers have been transforming storefronts and businesses so they'll pass in the Depression-era flickHollywood set decorators like Rafael Lopez, who made the journey from Los Angeles, are working to helping turn back the clock."It's freezing but I like it though," Lopez said. "(It's) something different than L.A., something more challenging."Lopez said that the workers have more work to do."(We're) going to paint the whole street, both sides," he said. "We'll be here another week, starting shooting Monday."Pat Thiesenhusen, who is a 1958 graduate of Columbus High School, said that she's pleased to see the city venture down memory lane."It's exciting to see for the past 50 years how Columbus has grown, and now they're going back to what I grew up with," she said.Kim Bates, the owner of the West James Street Art Gallery, said that her modern-day art gallery will be returning to its roots so it will pass for a bank target of the Dillinger gang."This was the First National Bank," Bates said. "(The) facade (was) put on in 1916. They are using it because they like the way it looks."Bates said that she knows a little about what action will be captured in front of her business."This is the bank, front of the bank for movie. Dillinger (will be) running out and getting out into getaway car and speeding away," Bates said.Director and University of Wisconsin grad Michael Mann said that Columbus has just the right history for the movie location.There are more than 240 homes and businesses on the National Historic Registry. In fact, the entire downtown is a historic district.NBC Universal plans to spend $20 million of the movie's $150 million budget in Wisconsin.Columbus Mayor Nancy Osterhous said that the local lumberyard, restaurants, hotels and other businesses are the beneficiaries of that spending.Osterhous said that Columbus has plenty of snow cover, but she said that the movie makers will add some artificial snow to shoot the winter scenes.Shooting is set to begin next Monday, WISC-TV reported.
Previous Stories:
- March 10, 2008: Casting Call For Depp Movie Held In Oshkosh
- February 29, 2008: Northwest Indiana's Lake County Jail Preps For Johnny Depp Visit
- February 28, 2008: Columbus Prepares For 'Public Enemies' Film Shoot
- February 26, 2008: It's Confirmed: Johnny Depp Is Coming To Wisconsin
- January 28, 2008: Hollywood Scouts Looking For Vintage Cars For Depp Movie
- January 9, 2008: State Officials Continue To Lure Johnny Depp Film To Wisconsin
- December 27, 2007: Lt. Gov. Confirms Depp Movie Could Film In Baraboo
Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
