We all know Tom Cruise is passionate about filmmaking and about the craft; I mean, he has a six-hour film school he sends stars to so they can preserve Hollywood.

So with the looming worry of AI taking over everyone's minds, who better than Tom Cruise to attack it head-on?

As Deadline was the first to report, Cruise got up at a BAFTA event tonight and delivered a six-minute speech in which he took on AI.

And when Cruise attacks something, he wins.

The actor and producer doubled down on his fierce defense of the theatrical experience, framing going to the movies not just as a business model, but as a crucial space for human connection.

“Here’s the thing: There is nothing like human,” Cruise began, explaining that one reason he is so bullish on keeping the theatrical experience alive is that it brings people together.

“I have nothing against streaming or anything like that,” he continued, saying that seeing a film in theaters is simply “a different art form.”

He pointed to this summer’s box office—which broke all-time industry records by grossing $4.76 billion from May 1 to Labor Day—as an example of the enduring desire for human stories and craftsmanship.

“People want that experience. They’re going to movie theaters,” Cruise said, adding: “I always believe in humanity.”

Cruise concluded that in the face of AI, creatives must keep creating.

“You know, it is coming and it’s going to happen,” Cruise said of AI. “But people want to see real things.”

Let's dive into the Cruise case.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Digger Is What Humans Can Achieve

Cruise’s pursuit of "real things" required him to undergo one of the most intense physical transformations of his career for his new movie, Digger.
He spent hours in the makeup chair to become the titular character in the new Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant, Birdman) movie.
This is a film with ab ig budget, big sets, and big expectations. And every frame of it was designed and executed by human beings.

In the film, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon who unleashes a global disaster and embarks on a chaotic mission to position himself as humanity's savior.

It’s Cruise's most radical physical comedy transformation since Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder (2008), but according to the actor, the script offers something entirely unique.

“I’ve never read a movie like this,” Cruise revealed. “It’s the most original film and one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen.”

That uniqueness may translate into box office success.

Yesterday, we ran a story about directors being IP. While that stands true, and Iñárritu falls into that category, Cruise is IP unto himself as well. He's the biggest star in all of Hollywood, and his mission to make things and engage with people is contagious.

While we don't have his full speech on AI from the BAFATA meeting, we do know that, at its heart, he was focused on craftsmanship.

We have seen the box office reflect audiences wanting to engage with bold craftsmen who are making things that draw people ot the theater.

Digger is another example of this mission, and it's cool to see such a massive persona embracing that vision.

Hollywood would be better if more actors did the same.

We look forward to tracking Digger's box office and seeing if the trend toward movies you could describe as handmade - shot on film, with real artisans - continues.

Guess what? We haven't seen any AI movies out there making money. So for now, it's way down bad for these real artists.

Long live humanity!

From Your Site Articles
tom cruiseai filmmakingdigger
AIMovies & TVTopics