Ben Affleck Makes a Difference with 'Argo'

By DAVID WEINER

October 12, 2012

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Ben Affleck paid it forward Thursday night in Hollywood with a special charity screening of his new thriller Argo, drawing attention to Eastern Congo Initiative and Children Mending Hearts: "Sometimes this business seems like a lot of just celebrating itself, and I think it's nice and appropriate to those who are far less fortunate," he exclusively told The Insider.

Video: Ben Affleck: Politics is 'Thorny' Territory

"I think it's okay to slide in a little medicine with the sugar," added Ben of using his celebrity and his new, critically acclaimed movie as an opportunity to draw attention to worthy causes. Ben recently gave out a lot of Theo Eastern Congo chocolate bars; he founded the Eastern Congo Initiative, and has lent his time and efforts to help the war-torn region. The other big charity of the evening, Children Mending Hearts, is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth through educational and arts programs that build empathy and global citizenry.

"It's great to have something that celebrates the possibility of humankind, and that's what Argo does," says Ben's co-star, Bryan Cranston. "The message from Argo is 'what is possible when there's cooperation,' and it's the same thing with the charities – only through cooperation can we make a difference."

Video: Watch the Trailer for Affleck's True Hostage Tale 'Argo'

In theaters today, the true tale Argo finds Ben as a CIA "exfiltration" specialist who comes up with an audacious plan to get six Americans safely out of Iran in the midst of the late '70s Iranian revolution and hostage crisis -- devise a fake Hollywood sci-fi movie called Argo as a cover to allow a rescue team in behind enemy lines to pull it off.

Watch the video to see what Ben also had to say about the presidential debates!


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