It's lights, camera, ignition for these movie stars

Lake County has a chance to land a few budding movie stars on the new movie "Public Enemies."

It's being shot now, and the hopefuls already have hung out with A-list celebrities Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.

While they'll never have the fame of other local stars -- Vince Vaughn and Marlon Brando, to name a few -- an oil change and bath now and then is reward enough when you're a car.

Seven sleek 1930s-era automobiles from Ingleside could land a spot on the silver screen to help give an authentic feel to the gangster movie set for release next year.

They were included in scenes shot in Chicago and Crown Point, Ind. In particular, a black 1933 Franklin could be seen rolling through shots outside a courthouse.

"They loved the cars, but the filming was brutal," said Rein Fischer, who owns the cars. "One day, we were parked in our cars for over 25 hours without a break."

It was a day that left his green 1933 Franklin covered with stage dirt sprayed on to make the vehicle look dingy.

"They said they would wash it off for me," the 76-year-old Fischer said. "But after sitting there without heat for 25-some hours, I just wanted to go home. I said I would wash it myself."

Fischer, owner of Unique Auto Storage in Ingleside, has been collecting cars for more than 50 years. His entire collection of seven pre-1933 classic autos was used in the filming.

Aside from the two 1933 Franklins, his collection includes a 1931 Model A, a 1928 Franklin, a 1927 Franklin, a 1931 Cadillac, and his favorite, a 1931 Packard.

Fischer provided the cars, hauled them to and from the locations, and arranged for seven drivers during filming.

He said he was contacted by Howard Bachrach, a picture car captain with Universal Studios, and asked if he had any cars available for filming.

They met in Schaumburg where pictures were taken of the cars and shown to movie director Michael Mann.

Bachrach said Mann liked the cars and asked to bring them in.

"He (Fischer) has beautiful cars and we were happy to have them in the film," Bachrach said.

Because more than 600 cars from that era were used in filming, Bachrach admitted the shots of Fischer's cars could end up on the editing room floor.

"I really hope not," he said. "His cars are in great condition and really added to the scenes."

Fisher said while he was paid for the use of his cars -- $290 per car per day -- showing off his classics is the main reason he was involved in the movie.

"It wasn't much, but I wasn't doing it for the money," he said. "I thought it would be an honor to have my cars in the movie."

Fischer said his favorite moment during shooting was watching one pivotal scene unfold in Crown Point.

A gunfight erupted in front of a courthouse as Fischer drove the 1933 Franklin past the hail of bullets.

Fischer said it took him back to a time when gangsters seemed invincible.

"Being a bank robber was an actual occupation back then," he said. "And, seeing the sets and the action, it all came flooding back to me."