Depp to Film in Wisconsin, Chicago

Reports indicate the film Public Enemies is slated to begin filming March 9 and will be shot on location in Chicago, IL as well as Madison, Oshkosh and Milwaukee, WI. Production is expected to run through June.

Directed by Michael Mann, the film will star Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, infamous gangster and bank robber of the 1930s.

Depp Reacts to Oscar Nomination

The following is a statement from Johnny Depp regarding his Oscar nomination for Sweeney Todd:

"My sincere thanks to the Academy for this kind nomination. It is both an honor and a privilege to be aligned amongst such ability. My endless gratitude also to Tim Burton and the entire cast and crew of 'Sweeney Todd,' without whom I would not be here today." -- ET Online

Another Oscar Nomination

Johnny Depp has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Congratulations, Johnny!

The film has also been nominated in the categories of Achievement in Art Direction and Achievement in Costume Design.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End also garnered a couple of Oscar nods. The film has been nominated for Achievement in Makeup and Achievement in Visual Effects.

Paris Premiere Photos

I've added an album for photos from yesterday's Paris premiere of Sweeney Todd to the Events gallery. Enjoy!

Johnny Speaks of His Golden Globe Win

The following is a statement from Johnny Depp on his Golden Globe win Sunday:

"I would like to thank my beloved friends at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for bestowing such an honor on me. It is a humbling experience, especially in the company of such talent. For many years the HFPA has supported my work and for that I have always been truly grateful. While this is indeed a happy day for me, I am overjoyed at the recognition the film as a whole is receiving. Tim is a dear friend and a true artist whose vision and skill inspire us all. He is a genius. Without his unwavering trust and support, I would not be anywhere near where I am today. Also, big thanks and respect to Helena, whose simply staggering performance as Mrs. Lovett is a wonder to behold. I must send a behemoth salute to the wonderful crew and cast of SWEENEY TODD and all at Dreamworks/Paramount and Warner Bros. Pictures. In addition, I'd also like to extend my sincere gratitude to, first and foremost, my cherished friend and agent of forever ago, Tracey Jacobs; the extraordinary man and producer, Richard Zanuck; the mastermind Stephen Sondheim; and, of course, my precious family, Vanessa, Lily-Rose and Jack, for all of their love, support and pure and absolute happiness everyday. Overall, I believe it to be a proud achievement for everyone involved and on behalf of us all, I thank you."

Johnny Wins Golden Globe

Johnny Depp was honored with a Golden Globe award Sunday for his performance in Sweeney Todd.

• BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL: Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL: Johnny Depp

Congratulations, Johnny!

People's Choice Awards 2008

The votes are in, and although many stars did not participate due to the writers' strike, the results include Johnny Depp in several categories:

Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Favorite Threequel: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Favorite Male Movie Star: Johnny Depp

Congratulations, Johnny!

'Sweeney Todd' Japan Premiere

I've uploaded some photos from the Japanese premiere of Sweeney Todd to the Events gallery. Enjoy!

Wisconsin Wants Depp Film

According to the La Crosse Tribune, the Wisconsin city's convention and visitors bureau is attempting to recruit the gangster-based Johnny Depp project Public Enemies to be filmed in the La Crosse area.

Tourism director working to bring film to the area
By STEVE CAHALAN - La Crosse Tribune

The executive director of the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has confirmed he wants the proposed Johnny Depp movie about bank robber John Dillinger to be filmed in the greater La Crosse area.

“Over the last three months, I’ve had dozens of phone conversations and e-mails with people connected to this project,” Dave Clements said. “I continue to work with them to hopefully facilitate some kind of filming in the area.

“Nothing is in concrete, nothing is set in stone,” Clements said. He declined to identify area sites he has suggested for the film, in which Depp will star as Dillinger.

Last week, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton said she hopes the movie “Public Enemies” will be filmed in Wisconsin. And the Baraboo News Republic newspaper said filmmakers are looking at a local bank.

Lawton said the filmmakers have scouted at least 20 Wisconsin sites, and NBC Universal executives could decide on locations by mid-January. New tax breaks for film production in Wisconsin take effect today.

At a press conference Wednesday, state Sens. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, and Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, and Clements will speak about the legislation that established the new tax credits.

Co-Star Shares Meeting Tale

In an interview for The Event Guide, Jayne Wisener, the actress who portrays Johanna in Sweeney Todd, talks about meeting Johnny Depp for the first time.

What was it like, meeting Mr. Depp, one of your idols?

The first day I met him was quite late on, and I built myself up for it so much, because, obviously, I’ve been in love with him my whole life. Haven’t we all? The day I saw him for the first time though, I was dressed as a boy. I didn’t even have a nice dress, or anything like that. I was literally hiding from the guy, and then Coleen Atwood, the dress designer, brought me over to Johnny, and said, ‘You haven’t met Jayne yet, she plays your daughter’. And he said, ‘Hi, I’m Johnny, it’s lovely to meet you’. And I said something that wasn’t actually English.

Depp Tops Autograph List Again

Johnny Depp has been named the top autograph signer among celebrities for the third straight year in an annual list from Autograph Collector magazine.

"It's the third consecutive year Depp has topped the list of the 10 best signers," said Steve Cyrkin, editor and publisher. "Whether at a premiere, in a restaurant or on location, Depp may just be the best Hollywood autograph signer of all time."

The top ten "Best" signers are Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Rosario Dawson, John Travolta, Katherine Heigl, Jay Leno, Dakota Fanning and Russell Crowe.

The "Worst" list includes Will Ferrell, Tobey Maguire, Joaquin Phoenix, William Shatner, Renee Zellweger, John Malkovich, Julie Andrews, Bruce Willis, Teri Hatcher and Scarlett Johanssen.

Writers' Strike & The A-List

Johnny Depp is included in an article from the Los Angeles Times about response to the WGA writers' strike from A-list celebrities.

Other than a momentary appearance by Ben Stiller, not a single top-tier movie star -- including some rather high-profile WGA hybrids -- has found it prudent to say or do anything publicly to support the writers' cause.

Yes, such TV and film actors as Laura Linney, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Josh Brolin have shown up on the line or in WGA-supportive United Hollywood videos.

But where's Johnny Depp, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, Will Smith and Reese Witherspoon? They've remained deafeningly neutral, as if they were thinking that if they just stayed still and quiet enough, they could wait everybody out and avoid any partisanship.

"They don't want to be branded hypocrites," muses one manager-producer. "Because they're working on movies that are [in production]. Even if there are no writers working on those movies, it's like they're still kind of crossing picket lines to work on them. . . . I think their publicists, smartly, are telling them to not take a side. Do you really gain much by taking a side?"