Local
'Spotlight' company settles complaint over made-up dialogue

By Associated Press
Posted: 3/18/2016

BOSTON (AP) -- The distributor of the Oscar-winning film "Spotlight" has acknowledged that filmmakers fabricated dialogue that made it appear as if a Boston College spokesman downplayed the extent of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal. Jack Dunn, a top spokesman at the Catholic university, said he became physically ill when he saw the film and retained a lawyer to demand that the scene be removed. Open Road Films said in a statement announcing the settlement March 15 that "Spotlight" contains "fictionalized dialogue that was attributed to Mr. Dunn for dramatic effect." As part of the settlement, Open Road agreed to make donations in Dunn's name to Boston-area charities. Dunn said March 16 he felt vindicated. The movie is about The Boston Globe's investigation into the abuse scandal. Dunn was portrayed in the film by Gary Galone.