Tom Cruise: I expect a lot and I’m upfront about it
Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise has explained his approach to filmmaking.
Tom Cruise always imposes high standards on all of his film sets.
The 64-year-old actor has developed a reputation for setting high professional standards, and Tom doesn't have any regrets about his approach.
The Hollywood star told GQ magazine: "So movies are — this is about humanity. I have nothing against cable or TV or Netflix. I think it’s great. Create jobs and everything. But what I like about cinema is it is all of us coming together in a room and sharing an experience.
"When I’m working with people, I’m not afraid to, as I’m acting, to look foolish, to do it. It’s like: That’s not what this is about. It’s finding our tone, finding these tools together and having an experience. And look, I work hard, and people that work with me, they know. I expect a lot and I’m upfront about it.
"It’s like: ‘The rumours are true. And do you want this?’ I’m like, ‘Trust me, the rumours are true. I’ll be here before you. What experience do you want?'"
Tom likes to assume a leadership role on all of his film projects.
The Mission: Impossible star said: "I’m very open. It’s not like we don’t have a plan. We have scripts, we have plans, we’re going through it. But I also feel that level of responsibility for — I guess, for everyone.
"Even when I was a kid, they were like, ‘Oh, come on, Tom. You’re so intense.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know what to say. I am intense!'
"I got a very good sense of humour about it, but it was like: when I’m interested in something, I want to learn it. I want to understand it. And you want to blast through the confusion and build up that ability."
Tom keeps his phone "as far away from [himself] as possible" when he's on set.
The veteran actor explained that he wants to be fully engaged with what he's doing.
He said: "I’m looking and listening, and I want the least amount of time on it. And my crew and people know it’s like, ‘Don’t send me a detailed email. Come talk to me.’ I like to talk to people."
Meanwhile, Hayley Atwell previously hailed Tom as a unique figure in the movie business.
The actress starred alongside Tom in the money-spinning Mission: Impossible film franchise, and Hayley admitted to being wowed by the Hollywood icon.
She told the Guardian newspaper: "When I started, I was very aware of the rarefied air around him and how there is no one like him. And there never will be because actors aren’t made like him any more.
"He is a one-man studio and, to me, very kind, very professional. And because of that, I felt I was able to try lots of different things. There was never a risk of failure or being unsafe. Tom really likes people to thrive on set."
