Clooney in Canadian Caper / 'Argo' / Escape from Tehran

by Katiedot Tue 21 Dec 2010, 02:29

We're going to have to hope that the infamous fake George Clooney not only exists, but can also act because judging by the number of films he has lined up next year, there's no way on earth he's going to get through them all and summer in Como too.

Here's this from the ever reliable Ottawa Citizen

Clooney eyes 'Canadian Caper'
Operation Argo saw rescue of Americans from Iran in 1980
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen

December 19, 2010

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Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney is making a movie about the "Canadian Caper," the story of how six Americans fled Revolutionary Iran in 1980 with the help of Canadian diplomats and a CIA agent's clever plan.

Once thought too far-fetched even for Hollywood, the true story of Operation Argo, in which the Central Intelligence Agency used a fake Hollywood studio to rescue a group of Americans trapped in Tehran during the Iranian revolution, is to be turned into a big-budget film by the star.

Clooney wants to play Tony Mendez, a CIA agent who specialized in "identity transformations," or smuggling people in and out of hostile countries in disguise.

Mendez planned the Tehran exfiltration with a civilian consultant named in CIA documents as "Jerome." This was John Chambers, a Hollywood prosthetics artist who shaped Leonard Nimoy's pointed ears for the Star Trek character Spock and won an Oscar for the makeup in the 1968 film Planet of the Apes.

Mendez and Chambers focused on rescuing the six American diplomats in hiding without causing any further problems for the 53 Americans held hostage at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

The lucky six had slipped out of the embassy minutes before a baying mob of Iranian militants swarmed through the front door. They took refuge in the homes of Canadian diplomat Ken Taylor and his chief immigration officer, John Sheardown, who still lives in Ottawa.

Mendez flew to Los Angeles and set up a fake film company called Studio Six and placed phoney ads in the Hollywood trade papers announcing the company was seeking locations to shoot a film to be called "Argo."

Despite its denouncement of Hollywood movies, the Iranian government was thirsty for U.S. cash and invited the company to send a location scouting team to Tehran.

Mendez was known in Tehran so he dressed up as a Hollywood mogul, including a bright Irish green turtleneck sweater and, friends of Chambers claim, a false nose. He arrived with six Canadian passports, each with bogus entry stamps and exit permits.

The six escaped diplomats were instructed not only on the details of the Argo script but also how to change their appearance to play on Iranian prejudices about Hollywood types. One darkened his beard with very-obvious mascara. Another wore a shirt buttoned halfway up to reveal a hairy chest and silver medallion. He acted "slightly effeminately." A woman diplomat donned "Bohemian" glasses and carried a sketchbook filled with Argo sketches prepared by Jack Kirby, the cartoon artist who created X-Men. Improbably, the disguises worked.

On Jan. 28, 1980, 80 days after they had fled the embassy, the six Americans met nervously in the departure hall of Mehrabad airport in Tehran, carrying passports that identified them as Hollywood location scouts. They sailed through security without raising more than a sneer.

Hours after the group had flown to safety on a Swissair flight, Studio Six closed its doors on Sunset Boulevard.

The incident made a legend of Taylor. The Canadian diplomat was seen for years as the mastermind behind the rescue operation and was presented the Congressional Medal of Honour by late U.S. president Ronald Reagan.

Mendez, who retired to a farm in Maryland to work as an artist, was awarded the CIA's prized Intelligence Star.

In 1997, the CIA also named him as one of the 50 all-time stars of the U.S. spy trade and presented him with its prestigious Trailblazer Award.

Chambers was awarded the CIA's Intelligence Medal of Merit, which is rarely given to civilians.

With files from The Sunday Times, London and Citizen archives

by Katiedot Tue 21 Dec 2010, 10:11

Kind of hoping this one's true. It sounds right up George's street - a quirky, black sense of humour.

by lucy Tue 21 Dec 2010, 13:25

I remember after SL, and before and during Goats, reading about GC doing the Tourist, True Grit, Long Ranger, UP, and the film he;s now working on. Reporting is pure speculation now a days.

by Admin Tue 21 Dec 2010, 15:53

That's so true. At one point he was supposed to be producing a film starring Bruce Willis. I wonder what happened to that project?

by Merlin Tue 21 Dec 2010, 16:01

Hmmm the Long Ranger what was that one about Lucy Cool

by Katiedot Tue 21 Dec 2010, 16:34

Merlin wrote:Hmmm the Long Ranger what was that one about Lucy

Ahahahahaha!!! Maybe it's a slow-moving yet intelligent film about Freudian slips?

by lucy Tue 21 Dec 2010, 17:54

OK OK OK!!!! What a bunch of dirty minded women! My favorite kind. It was 6:30am, and dark, I had just gotten out of bed, was typing by the light of the monitor, is that enough excuses? Not that I haven't wondered if that might be one of the reasons women in the know-------want to get him alone!

by Merlin Tue 21 Dec 2010, 18:02

Sorry Lucy...Pantomime Season for us English Posters LOL....

by melbert Wed 22 Dec 2010, 02:04

If they are even part way right, that means that George could be busy ALL year and maybe he won't even go to Como this summer!!!

by Merlin Fri 04 Feb 2011, 11:55

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Ben Affleck Set To Direct George Clooney-Produced Political Thriller

Producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov are staying political. And they want Ben Affleck to jump on the bandwagon, taking onthe poly-thriller Argo. As director. The duo has picked up the rights to the Wired magazine article “How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran,” written by Joshuah Bearman and published in April 2007, from which the film is based.

The article tells the story of the CIA’s attempt to rescue the six U.S. diplomats trapped in their embassy after Iranians took it over in 1979. The operatives disguised the six diplomats as a movie crew scouting locations for a fictional film called Argo.

Comics legend Jack Kirby provided sketches and designs for the fictional film in order to make it more real. The plan worked and the diplomats were returned home safely. Chris Terrio wrote the script for the hopefully soon-to-be real movie, which is apparently a drama with slices of comedy throughout. It sounds right up Clooney’s alley, and it’ll be interesting to see Affleck take on a film with some political heft. [THR]

What do you think of this news? Will Argo get off the ground?

by melbert Fri 04 Feb 2011, 15:01

Actually it sounds kind of good. I hope they can work it out.

by PigLove Fri 04 Feb 2011, 19:16

Doesn't say GTC will be in it. He produced The Informant! with Matt Damon, too.

He and Grant have a good sensibility, imho.

by Merlin Fri 01 Apr 2011, 07:08

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Sources say George Clooney and Ben Afleck will scope out Bulgaria for a film production

Balkan Business News Correspondent - 31.03.2011
Sofia News Agency reported that Hollywood stars George Clooney and Ben Afleck may come to Bulgaria at the beginning of April on a business trip, connected to a film project. The schedule of Clooney's production company "Smokehouse Pictures" reportedly included Bulgaria and a scout has been sent to Sofia to talk to the CEO of the "Nu Boyana Film Studios" in Bulgaria, David Varod, the Bulgarian Blitz media reported. However, Nu Boyana Film Studios refused to give any information or details about the project, which is expected to be realized in Bulgaria.

by Atalante Fri 01 Apr 2011, 19:59

This place, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ? With Ben Afleck, a new project ???

by Merlin Fri 01 Apr 2011, 21:08

I think we've already talked about it on here somewhere Atalante...

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Ben Affleck to direct George Clooney Movie

February 8th, 2011

Ben Affleck to direct George Clooney Movie. Ben Affleck knew the fame being an actor, however is his role as director that has give him all the recognition from the public and critics, considered him one of the great promises of the new generations of filmmakers in Hollywood.
After The Town, one of the best action and crime movies of 2010, which Ben Affleck starring and directed, it seems that now, the actor is consider participate in Argo, a politic drama film produced and starring George Clooney.
Argo is based on real events about hostages at the end of the 70’s, when in Iran; a group of six North American people was trapped during manifestations of radical Islamists. The movie tells the story about a rescue plan, which consists in create false passports and a false film project called “Argo”.

We hope that the name of Ben Affleck as director of this movie comes soon. Besides Clooney, David Klawans and Grant Heslow will also be producers of the film.

by Atalante Sat 02 Apr 2011, 21:32

I know, my memory went blank for a moment, sorry ! Very Happy

by Merlin Sun 12 Jun 2011, 08:27

Alan Arkin Cast in Ben Affleck's "Argo" Tehran Hostage Crisis Film
Posted: June 11th, 2011

Back in April we reported that Ben Affleck signed on to direct "Argo," a Tehran hostage crisis film that will be produced by George Clooney. Now comes word that "Little Miss Sunshine" star Alan Arkin is the first actor to be cast in the film.

"Argo" centers on how, during the occupation of the American embassy by Iranians in 1979, a rescue effort was mounted by the CIA and the Canadian government to extract six US diplomats.

The CIA used a disguise expert and concocted a scenario that involved the six being a Hollywood crew scouting a movie titled "Argo." Under those disguises, they were able to flee the country. Legendary comics creator Jack Kirby's movie designs and drawings were used by the CIA to sell the existence of the movie.

Arkin will play Hollywood producer Lester Siegel, an OSS veteran described as equal parts bookie and rabbi.

Source: Variety

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by Katiedot Sun 12 Jun 2011, 18:21

Looks like we've got two threads about this film. so merging them both into one.

by Merlin Sun 12 Jun 2011, 18:26

Thanks Katie...didn't realise that was the same film....

by Katiedot Sun 12 Jun 2011, 18:47

No, I didn't either! I'm just about to rearrange the films section into current ones (being filmed, or pre-release stage) and those that have been released.

I think it'll be easier for us to find stuff because I'm clicking around like a blue arsed fly sometimes trying to find the right film!!

by Merlin Sun 12 Jun 2011, 19:37

Ha ha ha showing your Englishness there Katie...blue arsed fly I use that all the time...

by sandwiches Mon 13 Jun 2011, 01:55

This sounds like a very interesting film! I personally love the name Canadian Capers. Very Happy

by playfuldeb Mon 13 Jun 2011, 03:27

I hope this is true also. This is the kind of stuff George likes to do

by Katiedot Tue 21 Jun 2011, 19:08

Ok, as far as I can see, this one project has three different names. No idea which one they're going for!!

by Katiedot Sat 25 Jun 2011, 11:48

Looks like the title is now called 'Argo'.

From cinemablend

John Goodman In Talks To Join Ben Affleck's Argo

published: 2011-06-24 20:35:56

Author: Eric Eisenberg

If there was ever a movie made about you, what actor do you think casting agents would hire if they were going on looks alone? Because 9/10ths of us are superficial assholes, chances are that most people would say George Clooney or Scarlett Johannson instead of Steve Buscemi or Chewbacca. We can't all look like Brad Pitt. Some of us look like John Goodman, and there's nothing wrong with that. Let's hope former make-up artist John Chambers' surviving family doesn't take offense.

Variety reports that Goodman has entered talks to play in Argo, the political thriller being directed by Ben Affleck. Based on true events, the film is about a secret CIA mission during in 1979 to rescue six American hostages being held captive in Iran. The unit was successful in their mission by pretending that they were part of a film crew scouting locations in the area. The title comes from the name of the fake movie, which was originally supposed to be an adaptation of the Roger Zelazny book "Lord of Light" that was never made. Already attached to the project is Alan Arkin, who will be playing Lester Siegel, a Hollywood producer hired to make the "film production" seem more authentic. Chambers, whom Goodman will be playing in the film, is best known for his work on all five of the original Planet of the Apes movies.

There's nothing about this project thus far that suggests it will be anything less than amazing. Affleck has now twice proven that he's a bigger talent behind the camera than in front of it and between Arkin and Goodman he already has the makings of an incredible cast. The only way I would be more excited would be if they were going the Wag The Dog approach and playing up the lighter side of the situation, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

by lucy Sat 25 Jun 2011, 13:31

I would love to see John Goodman & George together again on film. Gonna hope and keep everything crossed that this happens.

by Guest Tue 28 Jun 2011, 02:58

Ben Affleck picks 'Argo' lead: Ben Affleck
Alan Arkin, John Goodman in final talks to co-star

By Jeff Sneider

Affleck
EXCLUSIVE: Finding a leading man can be difficult these days, but director Ben Affleck has found the perfect one for "Argo": He cast himself.
Affleck is set to star as Tony Mendez, the CIA exfiltration expert who created a fake Hollywood production to get six Americans who were hiding out at the Canadian ambassador's out of Iran.

Alan Arkin and John Goodman are in final negotiations to co-star in Warner Bros.' Tehran hostage crisis pic as Hollywood producer Lester Siegel and Oscar-winning makeup artist John Chambers, respectively.

George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing the political drama through their Smokehouse banner along with David Klawans ("Nacho Libre").

Chris Terrio adapted Joshuah Bearman's April 2007 Wired magazine article, titled "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue American from Tehran," which told how the CIA and the Canadian government teamed to rescue six U.S. diplomats who'd been taken hostage at the American embassy by a group of Iranians in 1979. The CIA's ruse involved the explanation that the six hostages were actually a Hollywood film crew scouting a movie titled "Argo," and using those fake identities, they were able to flee the country.

Affleck previously directed himself to both critical and commercial acclaim in WB's "The Town," which went on to gross more than $154 million worldwide. Helmer just started negotiations to direct a remake of French thriller "Tell No One" for Warner Bros and Universal, and he's also producing "Father Daughter Time" for the studio. As a thesp, Affleck recently wrapped Terrence Malick's next untitled pic.

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by lucy Tue 28 Jun 2011, 03:07

Boooooo would of picked George over Ben.

by Katiedot Tue 28 Jun 2011, 12:57

Hahaha, had to laugh at the headline on Hollywood.com: Ben Affleck to Star in Next Ben Affleck Movie

So it's not clear to me now what part George is playing in this. Or is it only a writer/producer role?

by Guest Tue 28 Jun 2011, 16:23

Yes Katie George and Grant are only producing it and Ben Affleck is directing and starring in it

by Katiedot Tue 19 Jul 2011, 11:43

Wannabe stars in this film should head over to this casting call.

From examiner.com

Open casting call for Warner Bros. Pictures film 'Argo' in Los Angeles
Add a comment Alan Baltes, LA Acting Auditions Examiner
July 17, 2011 - Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.
. SharePrintEmail SharePrintEmail.The feature film "Argo," will begin filming in August, 2011 and the extras casting director wil be holding an open casting call at the end of July in Los Angeles. They are seeking thousands of Iranian/Persian men and women between the ages of 18-75 years old.

Academy Award winner Ben Affleck will direct "Argo" from an adapted screenplay written by Chris Terrio. The film is based on "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue American from Tehran," an article that Joshuah Bearman wrote in the April 2007 issue of Wired magazine.

Affleck will also star in the movie, playing the role of Tony Mendez, the real-life CIA operative who came up with the idea of an elaborate ruse the CIA ran during the Iran hostage crisis. George Clooney and Grant Heslov's production company, Smoke House, is producing.

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Details on the open casting call can be found on the following "Argo" auditions post: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Warner Bros. film 'Argo' Los Angeles Open Casting Call

by Guest Tue 26 Jul 2011, 01:51

'On Friday we had Ben Affleck and George Clooney shooting a film in the house. If we had told her George Clooney was here she would have jumped out of bed on one leg.

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I only copied the info concerning George. You can read the rest of the article. I think it's kind of cute/sweet!

by sisieq Tue 26 Jul 2011, 02:10

I guess we know why George is still in Los Angeles. Great find!

by Guest Tue 26 Jul 2011, 02:50

Thanks for the finding Cinderella!

by sarah ali Tue 26 Jul 2011, 02:53

thx 4 the post! Smile

by Katiedot Tue 26 Jul 2011, 04:33

Wow, when did filming begin?

by LornaDoone Tue 26 Jul 2011, 04:53

What are they filming?

by Katiedot Tue 26 Jul 2011, 05:08

I'm assuming it's Argo, directed by Ben.

by LornaDoone Tue 26 Jul 2011, 05:12

Ah, when I first looked it up in IMDB I didn't see George as one of the cast then I see he's a producer. Is this based on a true story? Just wondering based on the small blurb about the storyline of the film.

by Katiedot Tue 26 Jul 2011, 05:28

There's a whole section about the film right here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by LornaDoone Tue 26 Jul 2011, 05:32

Ooo, thanks Katiedot - I missed that whole thread...

by Dexterdidit Tue 26 Jul 2011, 06:48

Back to work for George he hasn't had a very relaxing summer!

by fluffy Tue 26 Jul 2011, 08:46

Good find Cinders, no rest for the handsome/lovely/cute/adorable/huba/huba!!!!

by cindigirl Tue 26 Jul 2011, 14:28

Zsz Zsa is 94 years old. Wow.

Being as he was filming in her house I wonder if he popped into her bedroom to say hi! Even at 94 I bet that would have made her day. LOL

by pattygirl Tue 26 Jul 2011, 16:21

cindigirl wrote:Zsz Zsa is 94 years old. Wow.

Being as he was filming in her house I wonder if he popped into her bedroom to say hi! Even at 94 I bet that would have made her day. LOL

Don't know about her, but if he popped into my bedroom (maybe for more than a Hi, it would surely make my day, month, year, even my life.

by MyGirlKylie Tue 26 Jul 2011, 16:53

I'm surprised her husband, Prince Von A-hole, hasn't used their being there to get some free press. Rolling Eyes

by cindigirl Tue 26 Jul 2011, 16:57

Maybe he did and it's not released yet.

by watching Fri 29 Jul 2011, 08:31

@lucyyhale
Was just informed George clooney and Ben affleck are filming next to us for a few months. If I'm arrested for stalking, don't judge me.
12 hours ago

This girl works on the tv show (??) called Pretty Little Liars that films in Burbank and is made for ABC Family and they film at Warner Bros lot. It will be a little Warners reunion for George. At least getting to work won't be hard for him.

That reasonably confirms George will be in LA for the next few months. Now the question is will he be pap accomodating as he has two films coming out and the attention is good for box office or will he do his LA disappearing act that he seems to have perfected over the years and we only ever see him when he goes out for dinner somewhere?

by fluffy Fri 29 Jul 2011, 11:03

Good luck Watching, keep us desparados updated!!! Is LA a compact place then for easy stalking??!!!!

by watching Fri 29 Jul 2011, 12:35

Fluffy - George seems to have perfected the skill of being reasonably invisble in LA when he wants to except when he occasionally he gets papped coming out of some restaurant. There are many places to easily avoid if you aren't seeking the attention but the paps do find him in his car or on his bike every now and then. But with 2 films out this year, will the paps let him be (and he will be on set at Warners a lot of time when not promoting the films) or will they chase him for the shot? That I don't know. But he was pretty comfortable being papped in going to and whilst in Paris so maybe he is open to it so the films continue to get mentioned when a picture and write up of him out and about hits the blogs.

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