Filming Public Enemies

I wrote the following to be considered for an article in a mock 1930s newspaper coming out as part of the Public Enemies Premier – the “Extras Northwoods Premiere” on July 1st in Woodruff, WI and 2nd in Eagle River, WI.  These events will feature many of the extras who filmed at Little Bohemia, as well as myself and others who filmed at other locations.  Feel free to read through and comment.  I’ll let everyone know if any of it gets published.

I have 5 brothers (and 2 sisters), and the 6 of us boys all have what I would consider a vintage 1930s look about us.  So, when the call for extras for the big budget Hollywood film Public Enemies came to Oshkosh, I called my brothers to see if they wanted to go… I thought we could work some family angle that might be appealing to Joan Philo, the extras casting director.  Anyway, the only one I could talk into joining me was my 67 year old Father.  I received my first call to be in a scene that was to be filmed in Columbus, WI.  However, I was let down hours later when I received a call back indicating that I hadn’t made Director Michael Mann’s final cut.  I was disappointed of course, but happy to be considered at least.  I was given a glimmer of hope by Philo that I would be considered for other scenes.

At the casting call, we had instructions not to cut our hair.  So, for months I had gone without a haircut.  Needless to say, people were starting to notice.  So after the first call fell through, I broke down and went for a haircut despite the chance that I might get called again.  Plans were on for filming in Oshkosh, WI, and I had given up hope.  As it would happen, the night I had my hair cut, I got the second call.  This time I was in for sure!  I was thrilled!  I was scheduled to show up the next day for wardrobe fitting and a haircut…  I was convinced, however, that I would show up and they would say “sorry, your hair isn’t long enough, thanks for coming… next”.  In reality, they didn’t say a word.  They touched up the edges a little to reflect 1930’s styling, but that was it. 

At wardrobe, I found out that my role was “Assistant to the Prosecutor”.  What an opportunity – a big budget Hollywood film being shot in Wisconsin, and I was going to be part of it!  I was told to arrive at noon the next day at Wittman Airport in Oshkosh where I would be filming through the night.  The scene I was to be in was filming at a hanger at Basler Flight Service.  They had given a Basler airplane hangar a facelift to look like a 1930’s era hangar, and would be flying Johnny Depp (John Dillinger) in on a vintage 1930s Ford Tri-motor they had obtained from the EAA.

During filming, we stood on the tarmac for 8 hours in sleet and rain.  The temperature never broke 40 degrees.  I LOVED IT!  I would do it again without hesitation.  I was in a group of people waiting to greet John Dillinger as he arrived at the airport in cuffs after being arrested and extradited to Indiana.  As was done in the 1930s for nighttime filming of news reels, they lit the scene with hand-held flairs.  The bright flash and smoke given off by the flairs, the air-chopping din of the landing prop plane, the gurgling idle of the waiting 1930s police escort…  The combined effect resulted in an artistically mesmerizing scene that I think will become one of the hallmark scenes in this film.  It has already been featured in many pictures and trailers that have been released for the film. 

I have always been a big movie fan, and even have a small collection of movie props.  When filming Public Enemies, I was fortunate enough to use my own shoes and gloves, when they were approved by Oscar winning Costume Designer Colleen Atwood for the scene we filmed at Basler Flight Service.  They will be on display this summer at the Oshkosh Public Museum in their “The Era of Public Enemies: A Wave of Crime and Troubled Time” exhibit from June 27th to October 18, 2009.  These will be a wonderful addition to my collection, complete with the story that I can share with my family and friends for years to come.

I truly enjoyed my experience filming Public Enemies, and you can bet that the next time a Hollywood film comes calling for Extras in Wisconsin, you’ll find me at the casting call.

                  - Mike Lauer

Mike's Head Shot for Public Enemies

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like to take a look at some of the pictures from the shoot.