Tom Cruise is Going to Space
On The Joys of Set Locations and IRL Acting
Filming Like Its 2023
Tom Cruise is going to space! He’s filming a movie there next year, a first for Hollywood. [1] Cruise is constantly raising the bar in filmmaking for his attention to craft, to action scene stunts, to learning new skills so he can best embody his character. He successfully put the cast of Maverick through Navy flight training, in less time (and no drop-outs) than designed for. [2]
Here’s something I’ve been wondering: Did doing his own stunts and flying his own jets make Tom Cruise a better actor? Did it improve his craft over decades of practice and learning? It would be hard to say no.
CGI can do a lot, but it can’t pump out quality acting (which most actors today would agree is best done on set with props, in the streets or in the lot). I would argue filming Dune in the Sahara desert was the way to get the best acting out of the talent, or at least use a giant LED Screen instead of chroma-keying a greenscreen (see The Mandalorian [3]).
Actors can perform better the more immersive their set and co-star interactions can be. However, could Zendaya and Timothée perform some of their best takes on a comfy LA warehouse? Acting takes mental fortitude (especially for take-heavy Directors) and requires good health and sleep.
Will VR and other forms of AI/CGI ruin acting? It’s worth thinking how to avoid it. For example: If actors stop training and going to film school, and simply sell their likeness through “influence” — are they actors? No!
One of my favorite movies is Apocalypse Now, from probably my favorite director. Recently I was lucky to watch some of the newer “Director’s Cut” and Redux versions over streaming [4], with access to commentary made during filming. The interviews are fascinating. It didn’t look like a fun experience. Filming over there with such realism drove more than a few to injury.
It also turns out some of my favorite scenes were accidents, discovered while admirably and adventurously taking a Hollywood Blockbuster production across Asia. Aspects of the story can be discovered as enacted on a live film set, outside of a “virtual production” metaverse, and on the streets and sands.
Some towns and cities thrive on revenue from Film Productions moving work to locations where livelihoods support local communities. If you go to AFM this year, you’ll see many booths set up by cities that want you to film there. There are definite benefits, both to business and the soul, for us to travel and visit new cities around the planet.
All I know is, Tom Cruise is going to Outer Space to film and I’d love to go too!
Filming like its 2025
Will AI make Tom Cruise a better actor? Probably not (he’s great) but what about for you or me? Probably so. Here’s a more interesting question: Will AI make Tom Cruise a worse actor? No way, it can’t. If someone taught him to use GPT-3 or Google LaMDA, could Tom Cruise come up with some amazing new ideas? Definitely.
Sure, AI will help all the “little ships” and raise the tide, so even your grandmother can edit a sick TikTok video of her birthday party. Is that bad for indie filmmakers? No, these “mid-size ships” will use AI tools to write, plan, edit, and use all sorts of tricks in post to save them expenses. They’ll also make more movies faster, and so generate more revenue and bottom-line movie profits.
You can bet the “big ships” like Hollywood Studios and top Producers already have access to it, and many are enjoying playing around and seeing what they can make. Is Christopher Nolan making a movie about AI next (possibly using it in the process)? I can’t say for sure, but I can sure hope so! Nolan has made some of my favorite films ever.
I bet Tom Cruise by using AI tools in movies creates beautiful artistic results. Best movies ever. I think he’ll learn and teach us all something about humanity in the process. Movies do that.
One could definitely argue Tom Cruise is a better actor (if not one of the best today) for having learned to do his own stunts, such as jumping over trains and flying F14 Tomcats.
Should he test out AI? Is that selling out? Never! [RP] as long as the work is good — technology can be our tool to make the best movies ever seen.
We (humans and AI) will learn from each other. So yes, humans will always be good at the arts and technology can’t hurt that — if developed with consideration and regulation.
Filming like it’s 2035
So, what should we be aware of in the coming years with respect to Hollywood and Indie film production? One thing is clear: amateur filmmakers will be the first to benefit from AI and other Hard Tech video tools. Hollywood will continue setting the trend, and eventually use more of these tools where they meet Indie Auteurs in the middle.
Everyone agrees that not everyone can make a good movie. Nor should anyone, we’re all destined for different careers (from truck driver, to teacher, to politician) and some among us choose the movies. Acting and Producing are incredible careers, and have brought more people across the world success than most others.
Some may believe that if AI is creative, this must be bad for us. I don’t believe this. I think it makes us better, as we learn to see things differently and improve over time and evolution. Humans Learning and Machine Learning combined.
Learning from others is a key to life and art
References
Top image and more generated by DALL-E 2 from OpenAI with user input
[1] Tom Cruise plans to film movie in space:
[2] Behind the scenes making of Maverick TopGun:
[3] “Dune” filmed in Lebanon, Jordan, Sahara desert with a handful of A-List Hollywood stars:
TV show “The Mandalorian” — Filming on LED screen for better production value:
[4] Documentary on the making of movie “Apocalypse Now” titled: Hearts of Darkness
IMDb for documentary (with commentary):
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