Skip to content

Word on the Hill: The Anatomy of an Oscar Winner

'Spotlight' is featured; The Capitol also celebrates Hawaiian culture and Muhammad Ali's life

Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., left, asks for an autograph from actor John Slattery, right, as Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., looks on before the start of The Creative Rights Caucus event. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., left, asks for an autograph from actor John Slattery, right, as Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., looks on before the start of The Creative Rights Caucus event. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The creators of the Oscar-winning film “Spotlight” used their story to push for intellectual property rights on Capitol Hill.  

On Wednesday, the Creative Rights Caucus invited the film’s producers, actors and production designers to join Ben Bradlee, Jr. and Mike Rezendes of The Boston Globe.  

“Joining us today are a group of people who can speak to us about what it takes to create an Oscar winning film ,” Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., said, who chairs the caucus with Doug Collins, R-Ga.  

Bradlee and Rezendes are the journalists whose explosive investigative work about child sex abuse and the Catholic Church was the basis for the film.  

“With their contributions to this movie, millions of people throughout the world learned stories about abuse and justice,” Chu said.  

The discussion, titled, “Anatomy of a Movie: Script to Screen,” featured “Spotlight” producers Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust sharing the difficult process of having an idea in 2008, finding their writers in 2010 and winning an Oscar in 2016.  

“By the time the actors are enlisted, the thing has been going on for seven years,” said actor John Slattery, who is also in AMC’s  “Mad Men” and HBO’s “Veep.” “We wanted to ensure Congress sees the importance of these industries so we can have conversations about how to support them,” Chu said. “We need to make sure that stories like ‘Spotlight’ continue to be told.”  

“My question for you is: What’s your dream in this room? What’s your dream for just a moment?” Collins asked the audience.

Yarmuth Leads Congressional Condolences for Ali

The condolence book outside Yarmuth's office. (Photo courtesy of Yarmuth's twitter)
The condolence book outside Yarmuth’s office. (Photo courtesy of Yarmuth’s twitter)

The late Boxing legend Muhammad Ali had a good friend in Congress, Rep. John Yarmuth .  

As a native of Louisville, Ali shared the same hometown as the Kentucky Democrat. Yarmuth is celebrating Ali’s life with a condolence book outside his office.  

The book was placed outside for signers on Tuesday morning and since then, a few members have stopped by to write a note. On Wednesday, the congressman brought it down to the House floor to get even more signatures.  

Native Louisvillians who work in the Capitol have stopped by, too, including staffers, Capitol Police, Capitol grounds staff as well as visitors.  

Yarmuth will keep the book outside his office until the end of June, and then give it to Ali’s family.

Mazie Hirono Shows Off Hawaii’s Best

From left, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) taste the spam musubi during the Taste of Hawaii event. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
From left, Sens. Chuck Schumer, Mazie Hirono and  Amy Klobuchar taste the spam musubi during the Taste of Hawaii event. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

What’s not to love about Hawaii when you can walk around with a lei on and eat candy? That’s what Sen. Mazie K. Hirono brought to the Capitol on Wednesday — nothing but love, culture and good food.  

Lines of staffers and several lawmakers came out for the third annual Hawaii on the Hill , which showcased the happiest state’s best businesses and products.  

New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer walked in and announced his three favorite things: Spam musubi, Mazie Hironi and cameras as Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ate the Spam musubi.  

Every guest wore a pink lei around the room, including fellow Hawaiian Brian Schatz and colleagues Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, among others.  

Beer, wine, cigar and lei companies handed out goods while everything from pulled pork, ice cream and Hawaiian sweet rolls were brought in.  

A shellfish station gave out crab, clams and oysters while candy companies handed out various types of chocolate bars.  

The best handouts were from the Maui Chamber of Commerce—which had an array of coffee, nuts, hand sanitizer, sausages and Maui crisps, which are chips made out of beef.  


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.

Recent Stories

Capitol Lens | O’s face

Mayorkas impeachment headed to Senate for April 11 trial

Muslim American appeals court nominee loses Democratic support

At the Races: Lieberman lookback

Court says South Carolina can use current congressional map

Joseph Lieberman: A Capitol life in photos