Ben Affleck Testifies at Congo Hearing

Actor Ben Affleck was in Washington, D.C. Wednesday working to cast a spotlight on the suffering in the Republic of Congo.

Affleck, the founder of the East Congo Initiative, testified at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the crisis in Congo.

USC Cinema expert Norman Hollyn said celebrities speaking out for causes is nothing new. Affleck and other big name actors are in a unique position to call attention to little known problems. He also said moves like this are not likely to change the public's perception of celebrities as a whole, but can still create change in the world.