Ex-Tobacco Exec Discusses Movie
10/21/99
Tobacco whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand says the movie ``The Insider'' takes some liberties with his story, but is essentially accurate.
In one scene, the former Brown & Williamson executive is portrayed as hitting golf balls at a driving range while a burly man watches him.
``Did that happen? No,'' Wigand said Wednesday.
But Wigand said the movie starring Al Pacino as ``60 Minutes'' producer Lowell Bergman accurately portrays the kinds of threats he and his family faced after publicly addressing health and smoking issues in 1995. The movie opens in November.
``Its fidelity to the actual facts is acceptable,'' Wigand said.
Wigand was in Nebraska to give speeches on his experiences. He said he is donating his speaking fees to his nonprofit organization, Smoke-Free Kids, based in Charleston, S.C.
Cigarettes
