Michael Bay Film Tells Story Of Benghazi Attack Survivors
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A powerful film tells the true story of six elite ex-military operators who fought back against overwhelming odds in the September 11, 2012, attack on an American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
Michael Bay directed the film"13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" based on the book '13 Hours.'
"I read about where your mom said don't take this [the movie] on," Petrillo asked Bay.
"She said don't do Benghazi. I'm a news junkie and I thought I knew about Benghazi but the politics overlooked this large story. It's a great inspirational story, a heroic story, a tragic story," Bay said.
Mark "Oz" Geist, John "Tig" Tiegen, Kris "Tanto" Paronto are three real men who fought that night. They were on set in Malta with Bay - where the film was shot.
"What was it like for you to make sure they got it right?" Petrillo asked the three real life heroes.
"It was easy because all they wanted to do was get it right, from the actors to Michael Bay to Paramount" said Geist.
"It came together and the timing was perfect," said Tiegen.
"It was important they got it right because the story had not been told correctly ever," said Paronto.
John Krasinski plays former Navy Seal Jack Silva in the film - part of the team of CIA contractors who took it upon themselves to defend the compound during the attack.
"I come from a huge military family. It's something I'm so proud of. You realize that in a world of super hero movies, we celebrate all the time, and I love superheroes movies too, these are the guys like you and me but they chose to do this. They dedicated their lives to doing this. That's what makes it extraordinary. So having these guys on set was super emotional for me," said Krasinski.
As for the men who miraculously survived and saved lives without the help from their own government, they had a surprising answer when Petrillo asked if they'd go back.
"I'd go back in a heart beat," said Paronto. "That's what we said after we saw the movie."
"We love the job.That's who we are," said Tiegen."I told Michael after I saw the movie and asked 'what did you think?' I said I want to go back. We love the job and that's says how accurate the movie is. I went back to Benghazi when I was watching."
The film "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" is now playing in movie theaters.