Gee, what a concept! snirt ;)
http://www.wiscnews.com/pdr/news/275781Depp fans start trek to Columbus for March 17 film startBy Terri Pederson, Capital Newspapers
COLUMBUS — Along with construction on the set of the movie "Public Enemies," false sightings of the movie's star, Johnny Depp, have begun, and fans are starting to visit Columbus in hopes of a chance of seeing the Oscar-nominated actor.
"Someone told me that they saw Johnny Depp near Westgate theater in Madison this week," said West James Gallery owner Kim Bates. "Last week someone thought they saw him in town here."
"Public Enemies" is a Michael Mann-directed film about the life of notorious bank robber John Dillinger. It will star Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.
Robin Salzwedel, owner of Secret Garden Floral at 115 N. Ludington St., heard similar rumors of the stars popping up around the city.
"There has been a lot of curious people," Salzwedel said. "It's brought a lot of people in the shop. A lot of people want to know what we heard. Someone already told me that there was a sighting of Johnny Depp in town. We just laughed."
Appleton residents Tanya Vegetabile and Rebecca Schinke visited Columbus on Wednesday to scout the location.
"We're checking it out so we will know our way around when the movie is being filmed," Schinke said.
The two spent their time filming the crews working on the buildings.
Bates said she is glad about the attention that Columbus is getting from the filming of the movie, set to begin March 17.
"Hopefully, people will see how wonderful Columbus is and come back," Bates said. "I think it is great that they are using Columbus for the movie."
Many downtown buildings are receiving new awnings and window panels that will take them back in time to the 1930s, along with temporary interior set pieces that will cover the insides of the buildings during filming.
Sharrow's Pharmacy, which has been in business since 1889, will remain a pharmacy on the James Street side of the building and a clothing store on the Ludington Street side of the building. "It was going to be a bakery, but they decided to make it a drugstore," co-owner Nick Sharrow said.
Sharrow's will start to undergo its transformation today. Sharrow said that they will move some merchandise into the basement and move some of the over-the-counter merchandise so crews will have room to put up the false wall.
Salzwedel's sign has already been removed and a former inhabitant, "Nitche Market," is now seen in the front of the building. Salzwedel said the building was a tavern when it was built in the 1800s and was a meat market in the late 1920s.
"We've joked that we should start asking people if they want meat or flowers," she said.
Bates's gallery used to be First National Bank, built in 1916. The building will be called Green Castle Bank in the movie.
"My father told me that Dillinger used to hang out in Green Castle, Ind.," Bates said.
In the movie, Depp will be running out of Bates's store in a bank-robbing scene.
"I guess they picked us because we're centrally located," Bates said. "And the facade of the building was from a bank in the era that they needed one from."
Bates said she realizes there will be a lot more people in the city when the movie is to be filmed, but she thinks the city will be able to handle the extra guests. After all, Columbus does fill up with visitors every July 4 for the city's Independence Day celebration.
"Of course, we're not bringing porta-potties in for the people coming in for this," Bates said. "But I think we can handle everyone for one day."
Columbus resident Marsha Sparks agreed that the publicity is a good thing for the city.
"Who knew they would find Columbus from all the towns in Wisconsin?" she said. "The only think I hope is he puts a little Johnny Depp in Dillinger."