Chicago in the Movie Scene

Today's Chicago Tribune Magazine features Johnny Depp on the cover. Depp will be playing John Dillinger in the upcoming movie "Public Enemies."

I actually had the chance to almost walk right on the set while they were filming in Chicago back in July.

As I was walking on Wacker Drive, a security guard came up and said they were filming ahead and that we couldn't walk into the scene. Sure enough, a camera was positioned at the corner of the street and a pack of vintage cars drove across the bridge.

Individuals dressed in period costumes strolled on the sidewalk just ahead of me. It was a cool experience to witness the filming firsthand (although I unfortunately didn't get a glimpse of Johnny Depp or Christian Bale), but movies set and filmed in Chicago is certainly nothing new.

Some of the most notable movies filmed in Chicago (at least partly) include: "The Blues Brothers," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "High Fidelity," "Home Alone," "Risky Business," "Road to Perdition," "The Sting," "The Fugitive," "In the Heat of the Night," Ordinary People," and "Batman: The Dark Knight."

Ironically, the Best Picture Oscar winner not filmed at all in the Chicago area? The musical "Chicago."

Not only the films themselves, but many famous actors have connections to Chicago as well.

Richard Jenkins, currently up for Best Actor for his work in "The Visitor," was born and raised in suburban DeKalb. Harrison Ford, Terrence Howard, Virginia Madsen and John C. Reilly were also born in the city. While Joan Cusack was not (she was born in New York City), the Cusack family moved to suburban Evanston.

The youngest-ever Best Actress winner, Marlee Matlin (who is almost entirely deaf), was born in Morton Grove, Ill., and attended high school in nearby Arlington Heights.

Lastly, the ultimate Oscar connection to the city? The Oscar statuettes are made in Chicago.

The Academy Awards officially start tonight at 8:30 PST on ABC.