Tom Cruise is Right. Here’s Why.
By: Scott Mclain
Tags: Hollywood, Rant, News, Tom Cruise, Covid 19

If you haven’t seen it / heard it, several articles have been released with an audio clip of Tom Cruise, by any measure one of the most famous actors on the planet, having a profanity laced meltdown on the set of the currently filming Mission : Impossible 7. His contention is that some people on-set are not taking the Covid protocols seriously enough and threatens to fire them on the spot. He seems to be calling out a specific group of people towards the end of the audio. It’s a short clip — roughly 2 + minutes. This material was leaked to the press and is sure to gain traction over the next couple of weeks and spur discussion. Here is audio of the incident and it is pretty alarming at first. (Warning: NSFW language if you listen to it.)

A Few Thoughts About Working in Hollywood

I’ve worked in/around Hollywood on the sets of over 100 TV commercials and some very big movies as everything from a Production Assistant to a Producer. I lived in LA for several years and develop features films and tv shows. I’m still working on it but I’ve been at this stuff for over two decades now. I know celebrities, producers, directors, writers, etc. I know this world well. I’ve been on set when a screamer is at work. Usually, it’s not good. Sometimes though, there is some justification. Perhaps not for the actual screaming and cursing, but give me a second. Let me help you unpack this.

First, let’s get a few things out of the way shall we?

Yes, Tom Cruise is a bit like Prince — he lives in his own world, nobody tells him “no” and he is likely one of the top five most powerful people in Hollywood. He is no doubt prone to being large and in charge wherever he goes and he will make no bones about it. If you can’t relate to his status in the Hollywood ecosystem, you can be forgiven for that, It’s hard to understand in some ways. That being said, I’ve also heard that he can be an extremely kind and gracious guy, too. Just like billionaires who do tremendous acts of good while nobody is looking, most people only see what hits the twitter feeds.

A Quick Note About Swearing On Set

Film sets are not normal work environments. Hearing a swear word on a set is not ultra common but ….sometimes it is. Some people are just salty. It’s their personality. It’s no reason to freak out though. This is not like working in your average corporate environment. Most people who work in the business are a little strange to begin with (present company included) and there is a feeling on set that you are part of something bigger than yourself. Sometimes actors say / do things that would be seemingly inappropriate in other contexts but the on-set environment is supposed to be a safe place. Often, the actor is still “in character” so to speak and is amped up on the adrenaline of doing the job itself and being the focus of all the attention. It is a special, very personal, environment.

Let’s face it: someone on set was upset that he was angry and swearing at them. So they leaked the audio. Initially it sounds like Cruise is ego-tripping and the rant does beg the listener to ask “who does this guy think he is?”

You know what though? I think Cruise has a point. Let’s dig beneath the surface shall we?

The Details Matter

Cruise’s message is clear. Mission : Impossible 7 is one of the six tentpole movies that were slated to resume filming after the Covid-19 pandemic was obviously going to continue and there was a general consensus on how to manage it. While not the only film back in production, what Cruise does in the business is absolutely watched by the executives and power players in the studio system. He (and the franchise) are one of the pillars of the industry. If MI : 7 were shut down because of a lax response to on-set Covid restrictions, Cruise could be personally damaged by this. Why? Because he is not just an actor — he is one of the Producers as well.

I think this fact is missed by most people when they hear that recording. When most people hear him talking about his conversations with the studios and the importance of the production being in compliance — maybe they hear an entitled actor berating the crew for something petty. That’s not reality. He is actually a Producer and the Star of the film taking an intense personal interest in not having the studio decide to shut the costly production down because the crew is letting their guard down on the Covid protocols. Let’s face it — one positive test on set could cause a domino effect and there could be a lot of sicknesses. If someone is unlucky, they could die. How’s that for keeping it real?

A little detail — it is telling that he mentions people sitting around computers. Those people are likely Producers, Coordinators and others who are higher up the food chain. These are not likely run of the mill production people. Think about that. He is probably not yelling at a PA. (Production Assistant). That person would have simply been fired on the spot. These are people who have been on the job probably from the beginning. Which brings me to my next point.

Please notice that he starts off hot and angry but then calms way down towards the end and tells the crew that he trusts them and wants them there. It is interesting to me that everyone focuses on the swearing and screaming here instead of his actual message. In fact, he eventually says that he would give the crew person a chance to explain themselves. If he doesn’t like their logic, they would be fired. This is a little different coming from one of the Producers right? The take away here is that while initially upset, he does calm down and realizes that he needs to be reasonable towards people. In the end analysis though, he is in charge. There is no mistaking that. Maybe it’s not such a great look to verbally go off in such dramatic fashion but once again — film sets are highly personal spaces. Things happen sometimes.

Another aspect is something that Christian Bale dealt with on the set of one of the Terminator movies. Bale is another high octane actor with an intense devotion to his craft. Like Tom, he devotes himself completely to the role. That might mean he is in an intense space at times on set and it could come out sideways. Bale apologized profusely for his outburst — his was much less justifiable and he knew it at the time — but Cruise, I believe, has no need to apologize.

At the End of the Day it’s His Neck on the Line. Respect That.

The business of these things is clear. Hundreds of millions of dollars and literally hundreds of high paying jobs are at stake. If the show gets shut down for Covid infractions it costs everyone money and as mentioned, the consequences health-wise could be dire. So Cruise is thinking like a Producer here. He is also thinking about the precedent it sets for other productions and for the industry at large, which is being scrutinized for even functioning. If a high level Production like this can’t keep it together, who can?

Tom is impressing on everyone listening the immense personal pressure he feels to not only protect his own reputation but also the crew’s jobs and ultimately, his concern for the message it sends to the industry itself if they can’t maintain what’s being asked of them. It might reek of self importance to the average person and sure, maybe it was a bit over the top. You know what though? I get it.

In the End, Why Is This Even News?

This year has been difficult enough. These people want to keep their jobs and set an example for the rest of the industry that they can comply with the protocols set in place. The Covid-19 distancing and masking protocols are likely to still be the norm for at least the next six months or so.

In summation let me say this.

We are almost to the end of this national nightmare. I think Tom Cruise venting on set about the safety of his crew, the state of the project and the reputation of the his industry are the least of our problems. I think he is justified and it’s highly likely he apologized after the fact for getting so hot-headed about it. We didn’t get to hear that part though, did we?

Welcome to the 24–7 information cycle. Time to turn the page.