Interview Key Points

Early Ambitions and Self-Education

Tom Cruise discusses his lifelong dream of making movies, which began at age four. He highlights his proactive approach to learning and developing his craft, even without formal film school.

• Lifelong Dream: Decided at four years old he wanted to make movies, travel, fly jets, and jump off buildings.
• Goal Setting: As a child, he wrote down his goals but stopped sharing them when some people found them unrealistic.
• Self-Taught Filmmaking: Did not attend film school; his education came from watching and analyzing films.
• On-Set Learning: On his first film, "Taps," he actively studied every department and asked numerous questions of the crew, cinematographers, and producers.
• Evaluating Careers: Studied the careers of actors, cinematographers, and directors by watching their films from beginning to end to understand their choices and evolution.
• Embracing the Present: While he reflects on past achievements, he emphasizes being very much in the present and focused on the future.
• The Four-Year-Old's Inspiration: When asked about the specific films or moments that inspired his childhood dream, he describes a sense of adventure and a desire to understand life and people.

Developing a Unique Approach to Filmmaking

Cruise explains how his unconventional education and personal experiences shaped his distinctive method of filmmaking, emphasizing collaboration and diverse perspectives.

• Creating His Own Film School: He views his career as creating his own film school, absorbing knowledge from various viewpoints within the filmmaking process.
• Multiple Perspectives: Valued understanding films from the perspectives of editors, cinematographers, directors, and other artists.
• Personal Experience: Believes that his experience and feelings about a story are paramount, and he seeks to connect with audiences on that level.
• Audience Connection: Enjoys the collective experience of cinema and how audiences bring their own lives and stories to their viewing experience.
• Independent Evaluation: Prefers to experience art and culture for himself rather than relying on others' opinions, though he listens to advice.
• Studying the Industry: Extends his learning beyond filmmaking to include the studio system and distribution.
• Global Perspective: Early on, he recognized the importance of a global market for films, contrasting with a more Hollywood-centric approach.

Mentorship and Early Career Development

Cruise highlights the crucial role of mentors and collaborators in his early career, detailing how he actively sought out and learned from experienced professionals.

• Seeking Out Mentors: Actively sought to meet and interview influential filmmakers like Scorsese, Sidney Pollack, and Spielberg.
• Learning from Industry Leaders: Received guidance from cinematographers like Owen Roisman, who taught him about lenses and film.
• The Importance of Mentors: Emphasizes the significance of mentors and sounding boards for advice and learning.
• Finding One's Own Voice: While valuing mentors' lessons, he stresses the importance of artists finding their own truth and voice.
• Understanding Tools: Encourages artists to understand and evaluate tools like the camera and story structure for themselves.
• Purpose of Story: Believes the purpose of a story is to create drama, humor, and engagement, and he personally connects with the audience's experience.
• "Leading is to Serve": His philosophy of leadership in the industry is rooted in serving and helping others.
• Applied Knowledge: Prioritizes practical, applicable knowledge over pure theory.

Navigating Early Success and Making Choices

Cruise recounts the rapid ascent of his career after "Taps" and "Risky Business," and how he learned to make informed decisions about projects and creative environments.

• Rapid Career Trajectory: Experienced quick success after "Taps" and "Risky Business," with opportunities arising rapidly.
• Learning from Diverse Experiences: The contrast between the supportive environment of "Taps" and a less quality-focused film ("Tijuana") taught him valuable lessons about project selection and creative intent.
• Taking Responsibility: He emphasizes that he makes his own decisions and is responsible for them.
• Interviewing Agents and Collaborators: Interviewed his own agent and sought out specific filmmakers, demonstrating an early strategic approach to his career.
• Workshops with Coppola: Participated in workshops with Francis Ford Coppola, calling it an amazing experience.
• Choosing Projects: Chose "Risky Business" over "Rumble Fish" and reflects on the opportunities presented by Coppola.
• Creating Environments for Creativity: Sought to create and be part of creatively rich environments.
• Training Through Movies: Used his early earnings to create a home cinema setup for intensive movie study.

Key Film Roles and Character Development

Cruise delves into the motivations and processes behind some of his iconic roles, highlighting his commitment to character creation and immersive performance.

• "A Few Good Men": Discusses the experience of working with Rob Reiner and Jack Nicholson, the significance of the courtroom scene, and Nicholson's mastery of dialogue.
• Nicholson's Generosity: Describes Nicholson's supportive off-camera presence and his deep understanding of acting for the camera.
• Understanding the Lens: Emphasizes the importance of actors understanding filmmaking technicalities like the lens and lighting, citing Brando and Newman as examples.
• Mastery of Skills: Believes in training oneself in various skills, drawing parallels to vaudeville performers like Chaplin and Keaton.
• "Magnolia": Explains how he took the script and developed the character of Frank T.J. Mackey, including writing the opening monologue and creating the character's persona.
• Instinct in Comedy: Discusses how comedic instincts and logic guide his choices, using Les Grossman as an example.
• Being in the Moment: Focuses on fully inhabiting a character in the moment of performance.
• "Born on the Fourth of July": Describes the role as a crucible for testing his abilities and a powerful experience working with Oliver Stone.
• Simultaneous Projects: Mentions working on multiple films concurrently, highlighting his ability to transition between characters and projects.
• Collaborative Development: Emphasizes the two-year journey of developing characters and the story for "Born on the Fourth of July" with Ron Kovic.

The Art of Producing and "Mission: Impossible"

Cruise details his transition into producing, his vision for the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, and his dedication to pushing the boundaries of action filmmaking.

• Early Desire to Produce: Felt a desire to produce early on and identified "Mission: Impossible" as his first project.
• Appeal of "Mission: Impossible": Drawn to the theme music and the idea of adapting a Cold War TV series into an action film.
• Focus on Motion and Action: Studied silent films and musicals to understand motion and its application in action sequences.
• Pushing Technological Boundaries: Worked closely with technology and stunt teams to develop innovative camera techniques and safety measures for action sequences.
• Collaborative Creation: Emphasizes that filmmaking is a collaborative and evolving process, with stories often developed and refined on set.
• Digital Filmmaking: Discusses the early use of digital cameras in "Collateral" with Michael Mann and experimenting with different camera technologies.
• "Mission: Impossible" Success: Acknowledges the phenomenal success of the franchise and expresses excitement for future installments.
• Teamwork: Credits his collaborators, including Christopher McQuarrie and Eddie Hamilton, for the success of the films.

"Top Gun" and the Evolution of Aerial Photography

Cruise reflects on the making of the original "Top Gun" and its impact, his gratitude towards collaborators, and the evolution of aerial filmmaking.

• Early Inspiration in London: His first trip to London for "Legend" exposed him to filmmaking legends like David Lean and the iconic Pinewood Studios.
• Working with Ridley Scott: Learned a great deal from Ridley Scott during the filming of "Legend."
• Developing "Top Gun": Met with producers Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Tony Scott, negotiating to be involved in every aspect of production.
• Tony Scott's Innovation: Highlights Tony Scott's groundbreaking work in aerial photography for "Top Gun" and "Days of Thunder," which influenced how sports are filmed today.
• Revisiting the Character: Discusses the experience of reprising the character of Maverick in "Top Gun: Maverick" after a long hiatus.
• Studio Pressure: Faced pressure from the studio to make sequels but focused on developing his talent in diverse roles.
• Collaborative Story Development: Mentions that the concept for the "Top Gun" sequel was discussed with producers and Christopher McQuarrie for many years.
• Working with Val Kilmer and the Cast: Recalls actively recruiting Val Kilmer for the role and the special experience of working with the entire cast.
• Personal Connection to the Role: Felt an immediate affinity for the character of Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July," sharing a birthday with him.

The Role of Collaboration and Continuous Learning

Cruise emphasizes the ongoing nature of his learning and the deep value he places on his collaborative relationships, particularly with editor Eddie Hamilton.

• Meeting Dustin Hoffman: Recounts how his sister encouraged him to approach Dustin Hoffman, leading to an invitation to see "Death of a Salesman" and an eventual collaboration on "Rain Man."
• "Rain Man" Development: Details the extensive two-year process of developing the characters and story for "Rain Man" with Hoffman and writers.
• Interconnected Learning: Explains how experiences inform each other, referencing early advice from Owen Roisman that became clearer over time.
• Producing "Mission: Impossible": Discusses his decision to produce "Mission: Impossible" and his desire to take on action and suspense.
• Christopher McQuarrie: Highlights McQuarrie as a "creative brother" and an exceptional storyteller who has been instrumental in the "Mission: Impossible" films.
• Eddie Hamilton: Praises Eddie Hamilton, the editor, as a brilliant storyteller and a vital collaborator on "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Ghost Protocol."
• "Ghost Protocol" Story Development: Shares an anecdote about McQuarrie quickly solving a narrative problem on the set of "Ghost Protocol."
• Endless Stories and Learning: Believes in continuously learning and applying that knowledge to filmmaking, with an endless well of stories to explore.
• Future Projects: Expresses interest in making musicals and continuing to challenge himself with diverse genres.
• Commitment to Filmmaking: Assures the audience that he will never stop making movies.