Big news in Wisconsin, home to the Bank Note Reporter offices, is that the film Public Enemies is currently shooting at locations all around the state. The film is about John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and others who were part of the crime wave of 1933-1934. The film is based on the book by Bryan Burrough titled Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34.

Star Johnny Depp and director Michael Mann have already spent at least a day filming in Columbus, Wis. The movie also stars Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum and more actors you'd recognize.

Tomorrow filming reportedly continues in my old hometown of Darlington, Wis.

This is exciting on a personal level. I enjoy watching and discussing films. I was a founding member, along with fellow blogger Tom Michael among others, of a movie discussion group that continues to be active after more than a dozen years. When I was growing up in Darlington, I participated in summer children's theater productions and in productions throughout high school — I really enjoyed it and have great memories of the people involved.

I hope high school drama director Leona Havens and current Darlington area students interested in theater and drama get some opportunities to be involved in this show business activity.

How is this numismatic? Well, I've been known to acquire a National Bank Note or two from Darlington (though the large-size note shown here is not mine).

And, like many National Bank Note collectors, I've always hoped Mark Hotz would swing through the town on one of his national bank tours for his Bank Note Reporter columns. I may have to revamp my 1999 article on Darlington NBNs for use when the film comes out.

Maybe I see the root of a neat exhibit here: Nationals from the towns where the film was shot.

I don't know what sort of prop paper money they're using for the film. Any thoughts?

Wisconsin filming locations that I've seen in online reports include Columbus, Oshkosh, Manitowish Waters, Richland Center, Madison and Milwaukee. Other sites scouted, and thus perhaps possibilities, included Baraboo and Viroqua, among others. Non-Wisconsin sites mentioned for filming include Chicago, Ill., Crown Point, Ind., and unnamed spots in Florida. None of this is from official sources.

The Darlington film location is reportedly the Lafayette County Courthouse. According to the Lafayette County web site, "The Lafayette County Courthouse was built between 1905 and 1907 at a total cost of $136,556.17. When Mr. Matt Murphy from Benton, Wisconsin, died in 1903, he bequested that 70% of his estate be used toward the construction of a County Courthouse. Today, Lafayette County has the distinction of having the only Courthouse still in use in the United States that was paid (for) solely by one man."

The film is scheduled for 2009 release. Think there's any chance they'd have the premier in Wisconsin?