Tom Cruise, known for his audacious stunts, gave his co-star a scare for the ages.
According to Fox News, Glen Powell, who starred alongside Cruise in "Top Gun: Maverick," shared some unconventional experiences under Cruise's mentorship, including a hair-raising helicopter prank.
Glen Powell's ties with Cruise, formed on the set of the blockbuster movie, extended beyond typical co-star relationships. Cruise would often incorporate Powell into elaborate pranks, one of which involved a staged helicopter emergency over London. Powell recounted how Cruise feigned a control loss, creating a moment of genuine panic before revealing it as a mischievous act.
Aside from pranks, Cruise also played the role of a mentor to Powell. He included him in an exclusive film school session, where Powell learned intricate details about filmmaking directly from the veteran actor.
"This is just for my friends," Cruise had remarked about the private session. He covered everything from the technical aspects of cameras to the physics of flight, a discussion that lasted six hours.
During this session, Tom Cruise delved into the nuances of cinematography and the differentiation between various types of cameras. Powell expressed profound respect for Cruise's widespread knowledge, which spans several faculties of filmmaking.
Despite starring in a high-profile film like "Top Gun: Maverick," Powell felt the financial pressures, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He shared that the financial compensation from his roles was often minimal, which led to significant withdrawals from his savings during the pandemic restrictions.
Glen Powell disclosed his financial woes: "I’d never made any significant amount of money on a movie, including ‘Top Gun,’ and I was depleting a bank account to a point where my accountant was like, ‘This pandemic cannot last much longer.’"
Tom Cruise also provided Powell with specific acting advice geared towards enhancing his character portrayal in "Top Gun: Maverick." Emphasizing the importance of authenticity and conviction in his role, Cruise guided him through the psychological aspects necessary for an effective performance.
For the movie's finale to have the intended impact, Cruise instructed Powell to avoid portraying any hint of doubt in his character.
Discussing these lessons from Cruise, Powell said, "Sometimes you can fall into the trap of wanting to be liked on camera." Cruise emphasized that this should be avoided to preserve the integrity of the character’s persona.
"You’re the only guy that’s not questioning it. So, if there’s any sort of apology in anything you say, the movie doesn’t work. Lean into the d-----baggery of it all," Powell recalled from his sessions with Cruise.
Glen Powell also shared other moments where Cruise's advice proved invaluable, notably in how an actor should commit fully to his role without worrying about external perceptions.
To conclude, the experiences shared by Glen Powell elucidate a unique aspect of Hollywood—mentorship among actors. From terrifying pranks to private lessons, the relationship between Cruise and Powell exemplifies a bond that goes beyond the screen, impacting both personal growth and professional development.
