Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Argo DVD to include Saskatchewan-made documentary

Nov 14, 2012 | 9:21 AM

One of the top films in North America is Argo about a secret operation between the CIA and Canada in 1980. It also happens to be based on a true story that Saskatchewan filmmakers documented over 10 years ago.

When filmmakers from Partners in Motion first tried to contact Ben Affleck about Argo, the star actor and director had already heard about the documentary Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option.

Chris Triffo with Partners in Motion set out to direct a documentary focusing on those six people – who looked to the Canadian Embassy for sanctuary and escape.

“This was probably the most and still is probably the most dramatic hostage rescue situation in both U.S. and Canadian history and Canada was knee deep in it all the way along,” explained Triffo.

When Ben Affleck set out to make a movie about the same thing, the CEO of Partners in Motion, Jeff Stecyk, decided to call him.

“As soon as I got wind of it, about I think it was like eight months ago, I initially contacted them just to pursue this opportunity,” Stecyk explained.

“They had already been aware of it so I’m assuming that they used our show as research throughout the film.”

After months of negotiations, Partners in Motion now have a deal with Warner Home video. The Saskatchewan-made 46-minute documentary will be one of the special features when the Argo Blue-ray comes out.

“It was very exciting to see a documentary that I had done years ago which is non-fiction, brought to life in a theatrical way, it was very exciting,” Triffo said.

Triffo says he loved the movie Argo, especially since he knows so many of the people depicted in it.

“I kept looking at the people beside me and wanting to say hey I met that guy and he’s exactly like that, so it was exciting to see,” he commented.

Triffo says even Argo's main character Antonio Mendez was very close to the real life CIA agent, who now lives a quiet life in Maryland.

“I think Ben Affleck actually nailed his character because Antonio Mendez is very quiet and doesn’t have a lot of expression in his face so that must be difficult for an actor to pull off – which I think he did,” Triffo said.

Both Stecyk and Triffo agree that this deal for a special feature on DVD is huge for a film that was made in Saskatchewan. Stecyk says it’s one of the biggest deals Partners in Motion has made.

news@panow.com