Journalists go fangirl over Johnny

This confession from some reporters from the SouthtownStar is kind of entertaining. ;-) Too bad they didn't actually get to meet him.

Knee-deep in Depp fans
June 22, 2008
By Kristen Schorsch and Donna Vickroy, Staff writers

Is it his pirate swagger in the Caribbean trilogy? His charming, carefree demeanor in "Chocolat"? Or the way he could cut hair in "Edward Scissorshands?"

What is it about Johnny Depp that turns normally sane, practical journalists into work-ditching, responsibility-dodging women on the prowl?

It's D, all of the above.

In addition to loads of talent, Depp's got a mane of dark hair, a brooding mysterious glare and a body that can go from pirate garb to gangster threads in the skip of a heartbeat.

Which explains why three SouthtownStar female employees begged off work early last Wednesday so we could head to Lockport to try to track him down. We'd heard a rumor that the star of "Donnie Brasco" and "Finding Neverland" was going to be filming a scene for his new movie, "Public Enemies." Depp plays notorious bank robber John Dillinger in the film set to be released in summer 2009.

You might call us Depp groupies. We prefer to call ourselves connosieurs of fine works of art - living art, that is.

So imagine our surprise when we encountered more than 200 people - most of them teens and tweens - packing 11th and State streets.

Humph!

Didn't these folks get our memo: He's ours. All ours.

We were ready for whatever the day might bring and whatever obstacles we might have to overcome to make our dream happen. Neighborhood Star editor Kim Brehm, who referred to herself as the world's greatest "21 Jump Street" fan, called in some markers at Mamma Onesti's restaurant on State Street, giving us a place to hide out during the filming.

SouthtownStar features writer Donna Vickroy thought about throwing together a "stalker kit," replete with scissors, baggies, paper, running shoes and a bail bond card.

"I settled for some permanent markers and two cameras," said Vickroy, whose favorite Depp flick is "Chocolat." "You can't be arrested for that, right?"

We found a gaggle of local middle school-aged girls sipping milkshakes. They, of course, loved Depp too. So much they couldn't stop raving about the actor they hoped to see and match up with their mothers.

"Personally, I think he's hot," said Courtney Lovelace, 12.

"He'd be OK for my mom," said her friend, 12-year-old Chloe Scherh.

"Darn tootin'," said Vickroy. "Why don't you girls just head on home?"

Commentary editor Karen Sorensen, who also swoons over "Chocolat," got right to work shaking down other members of the media, as well store owners.

"Where is he? Tell us what you know," she said, restraining herself from grabbing their lapels.

When we all got word that actor Christian Bale, who plays Melvin Purvis in the film, was supposed to join Depp, Sorensen nearly lost her mind.

"Now my purpose is clear," she said. Now she understood why she had worked late the night before and gotten up before the sun that day to enable her to enjoy a free afternoon of clandestine man-hunting.

"For Christian Bale, I'll gladly put myself in a difficult spot."

From 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. we walked the streets, looking for signs of a town transformed into the 1930s. All we found were windows that covered an air conditioning box on Lockport Vacuum, 1040 S. State St., and white lace curtains strung from top windows at Mamma Onesti's Italian restaurant across 11th Street.

We bought some chocolate at Hollinger's candy store, where we chatted up a grandma, who had no idea who Johnny Depp, was and her teenage granddaughters, who were determined to deliver sweets to Depp and company.

Outside, the streets were lined with crazy fans. Some people dressed up in 1930s clothing hoping to be extras. Others wore pirate costumes, a nod to Depp's character in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. One mom brought a 6-foot-tall cardboard cutout of the actor, hoping for an autograph for her daughter.

As the sun moved west and the clock ticked on, we began to suspect our star wasn't going to show.

So Hollywood.

The whole operation got canceled about 7:30 p.m.

Sure, we were disappointed. But we can forgive him. If we can forgive that haircut he had in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," we can forgive anything.

Other film sites Johnny Depp's upcoming movie "Public Enemies" recently has filmed in several other Chicago locations. Not that we're stalking him, but we did take note:

* Chicago's Lincoln Park and River North neighborhoods
* Crown Point, Ind.
* Joliet Correctional Center
* Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.
* Paramount Theater, Aurora
* Stateville Correctional Center