Citizen Staff
John Elliot, left, and Mark Bitney, right, lay the platform for the set in the Columbus Journal office on Tuesday morning. The man in red is unidentified.
COLUMBUS — The streets of downtown Columbus are being transformed into a set for the movie "Public Enemies."
On Tuesday, construction was in full force in several downtown businesses — including the Columbus Journal office, the front of which (along with the American Family Insurance business next door) is being transformed into an appliance store.
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. A stroll through the downtown area gives some insight on the upcoming shooting and the transformation of the town to the days of bank robber John Dillinger.
Strips of paper in the stores' front windows note to construction crews if the set design calls for a jewelry store, dress shop, etc.
"The downtown businesses will remain open, and there is going to be access to them, except intermittently on the days of shooting," Mayor Nancy Osterhaus stated Tuesday.
She said there have been "quite a few questions" from local business owners, but no major resistance.
Osterhaus was set to meet with the Historic Landmarks and Preservation Commission Tuesday night, and would like to see them encourage the businesses to maintain their new throwback looks "where appropriate."
"Sometimes it is not going to work," she said, but she believes that the appearance will draw tourists.
"It is going to make everything look more historic," Osterhaus stated. "It is really a facelift for the city, in taking us back to the 1930s."
"We were noticed by a major motion picture company, and we are bound to be noticed again," she said.
Osterhaus believes that the city will be able to recruit other movie makers to come to town in the future. She said that some of the work that was done in the process of scouting for this movie would be able to be re-used for future projects.
"Universal is making a significant investment in our city," she said.
"Public Enemies" is a Michael Mann-directed film about the life of notorious bank robber Dillinger, which will star Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.
According to a story in today's Wisconsin State Journal, the "full cast" is expected to be in Columbus to recreate the Greencastle, Ind., bank robbery.
Osterhaus said that Highways 16/60 and 73 will be closed to through-traffic in Columbus from March 10 to 20. She said that detours for those roads will be the same as those that were utilized during various construction projects over the last several years. Highway 73 will thus be detoured onto the Highway 151 bypass around the city, and Highways 16/60 will go north on Highway 151 to county roads S and T, then back to Highway 16/60.
"I would encourage people to avoid driving in the downtown between March 10 and 20," Osterhaus said. She noted that there will be limited or no downtown parking during that time period, and that the downtown street lights will also be coming down.
The state Department of Transportation has issued permits for the closing of the state highways.
The date for those closings could be extended, and internal renovations in the buildings might not be removed by March 20.
Adam Boor, location scout for "Public Enemies," said that filming for the movie is set to take place on Monday, March 17.
The streets will then be put back together, but Boor said that the work of tearing down the sets might continue on for additional time.
Osterhaus said that people will be able to see the movie being made. "There will be limited access to specific areas during the actual shoot," she said.
Osterhaus added that people will be able to watch as long as they are "quiet on the set."
"If they choose to not be quiet, then they will be moved back," she said.
Osterhaus said the scenes shot in Columbus will comprise the first day of filming for this movie, and also the first day of filming any movie in Wisconsin under the state's new tax incentive for film productions.
"This is helping our city, this provides a positive economic impact to the city," the mayor stated. "They are purchasing gas and lumber, and staying at the motel. They are eating in the restaurants, they are hiring local people. They have hired the ambulance, and they will be hiring police for crowd control."
Universal Studios has hired Heartline Medix, the city's ambulance provider, to stay on site during construction and filming, per union contracts. Osterhaus explained that the city will be reimbursed for city employees doing work related to the movie on city time.
The city of Columbus will be the focus of a news segment on WISN TV, channel 12, Milwaukee, during the 10 p.m. news broadcast on Sunday night.
Channel 12 news anchor and reporter Mike Anderson was in Columbus on Tuesday, and interviewed Osterhaus, among others.
"I see why they chose this town," Anderson said. "It's great. It just has that special quality that they would be looking for."
"They were very impressed with our town, and excited to see what was going on with our town." Osterhaus said of Anderson and his crew. She said that all Madison television stations have been in the city, and that she has also been interviewed by a radio station from Green Bay. She said that many visitors came to Columbus last weekend because of the increased news coverage.
"There is just an interest in our city," she said.
Osterhaus said that owners of cars from the period in the movie who have agreements with Universal Studios will also bring them to the filming. She said she believes that 60 cars will be coming.
She also expects to see about 100 extras, along with the car owners, and 25 semis with trailers which will set up in various locations.
The mayor said that the city is entering into a location agreement with Universal Studios, which relates to insurance coverage and reimbursement for expenses.