Tourism Director Working to Bring Film to the Area

By Steve Cahalan, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

Jan. 1–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.

Steve Cahalan can be reached at (608) 791-8229 or scahalan@lacrossetribune.com.

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