One of 2017鈥檚 most memorable pictures 鈥� taken by an Alberta woman 鈥� has made its way into a Hollywood hit.
Cecila Wessels took a photo of her husband Theunis casually mowing their lawn in the shadow of a towering tornado that struck Three Hills, Alta., in June that year.
The image was shared around the world and was seen by the producers of 鈥榁ice,鈥� a biopic of former U.S. vice-president Dick Chaney. The producers of the film asked Wessels if they could use it for their movie.
The photo appears for a few seconds as Cheney, played by award winning British actor Christian Bale, decides how to proceed following the 9/11 attacks.
鈥淲hen I saw my picture, it was really lovely. I do appreciate how they used it and when they used it,鈥� Wessels told CTV Calgary.
鈥淚 really want to thank my daughter for waking me up so I could take this photo. Otherwise this all would have never happened.鈥�
Cecila and Theunis would not reveal how much they were paid for the picture.
鈥淚t was a one-time licensing fee and it was only allowed to be used with the movie 鈥榁ice鈥� and any of the production about 鈥榁ice鈥� itself,鈥� she said.
The movie, which has already earned Bale a Golden Globe and counts Brad Pitt among its producers, is expected to pick up Oscar nominations when they are announced on Tuesday.
Wessels has been contacted by soldiers who served in Afghanistan, who said her photo reflected their experience while stationed there.
鈥淭hey just had to do their work with this storm so the picture was actually used personally for the soldiers mentioned in the movie but they used it to identify with the vice-president,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t means a lot to a lot of people.鈥�
