Oshkosh benefits from “Public Enemies”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

Seeing movie star Johnny Depp was enough of a reward for many.

But the movie “Public Enemies” also provided millions of dollars for the state’s economy at a time communities greatly needed it.

According to early estimates by Film Wisconsin and The Associated Press, film crews spent more than $5.6 million on hotels, restaurants, supplies and local workers like stagehands. Scott Robbe, executive director for Film Wisconsin, said the complete figures should be compiled in about two months. He expects the total impact to be more than $10 million.

“The preliminary numbers really indicate that there’s definite economic power for the state in terms of developing the film and television production industry here,” Robbe said.

From March 17 until June 30, “Public Enemies” filmed in Madison, Manitowish Waters, Oshkosh, Columbus, Milwaukee, Darlington, Beaver Dam, Eureka and Oregon and around Mirror Lake in Wisconsin as well as Indiana, Illinois and Los Angeles.

The movie was the first big-budget film shot in Wisconsin since tax incentives for filmmakers took effect in January.

Tony Hozeny, spokesman for the Department of Commerce, said NBC Universal hasn’t provided production expenses yet but he expects them by the end of the year.

According to preliminary numbers, crews and others spent $1,213,128 for three days of filming in Milwaukee, $189,706 for three days in Madison or nearby Oregon, $3,465,000 for four days in Oshkosh and $750,000 for seven days in Columbus.

Some figures don’t include tourist spending, supplies and location fees and none include catering, local extras, nonunion hires and hair and makeup artists.

Since there is no universal method to track economic impact for the individual communities, Film Wisconsin and the commerce department plan to create one, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton said.

The film generated more than 3,700 days of good-paying work for 240 workers in the IATSE, the union of professional stagehands, motion picture technicians, and allied crafts, Robbe said. And it happened during cold weather months when few tourists are traveling the state.

But Robbe doesn’t expect the benefits to end. Oshkosh, Columbus and Milwaukee are all creating exhibits about the filming, Robbe said. And Lawton expects people to keep visiting areas where crews filmed, much like people going to see where “Field of Dreams” was shot in Iowa.

The movie is a screen adaptation of Bryan Burrough’s 2004 book “Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34.” It describes the FBI’s transformation when confronted with crime sprees by bank robbers John Dillinger, Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd and Lester “Baby Face Nelson” Gillis. It is being directed and produced by University of Wisconsin graduate Michael Mann.

Depp stars as Dillinger, and Christian Bale co-stars as FBI agent Melvin Purvis. Recent Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard is Depp’s love interest. The movie is set for release July 1.

Under the film incentives law, a production company qualifies for a tax credit of 25 percent of the wages paid to employees to produce a film, video, electronic game, broadcast advertisement, or television program in the state. Credits for sales tax, construction, wardrobes, clothing and visual effects also are included in the law.

About half a dozen movies have filmed in the state since January, along with about a dozen TV shows, Robbe said.

Crews also spent a lot of time in some cities preparing for shoots. In Oshkosh, crews spent six to seven weeks before filming.

Wendy Hielsberg, director of Oshkosh’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it made a huge impact in the community, particularly in hotel and general visitor spending. It didn’t hurt that Depp shook the hand of each of the 6,000 or so people who lined a street near the set one day.

“It was pretty amazing,” Hielsberg said.

Stephen Dedow, business representative in Oshkosh for IATSE, said the Oshkosh-based office’s gross payroll with benefits was more than $2 million last year. This year, for just about five weeks of work, those members earned $741,522.