As Tom Cruise is awaiting the release of his latest tentpole, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, he has a piece of advice for all the aspiring actors. The Hollywood behemoth recently received a British Film Institute Fellowship. Despite being a momentary event in the actor’s life, Cruise could only bemoan the loss of an aspect that highlights the mark of a good actor. 

The Top Gun star, who is known in Hollywood for his diligence toward his craft, shared his concerns regarding the young actors’ lack of technical knowledge. Throughout his speech, Cruise lamented that the technical knowledge in filmmaking is slowly becoming extinct among young actors, as film schools no longer teach them. 

Tom Cruise, who is known for his holistic art of filmmaking, opened up about what he feels is a major drawback among the up-and-coming actors. In an era of cutting-edge technology, the Hollywood behemoth opined that it is no longer desirable for an actor to just excel in the acting department.

Cruise explained that an actor should also possess knowledge of lighting, camera blocking, among others. While pointing out that it is imperative to know the acting tools, he bemoaned (via Variety), 

There is tech. It is like understanding the stage as an actor but for a lot of artists it is not taught in film school: how to understand the lens and what it can do, and why there is eye movement and recognize the effect it has.

He shared that while it is his personal belief, he also tries to inculcate the same in the minds of all the young actors with whom he works. Not only does he tell the aspiring thespians to study old movies, but he also asks them to “spend time in the editing room” and learn the craft of film production. 

He reiterated, 

Understand the art form to that degree. Brando absolutely understood lighting; all the greats did.

The action star, who is not hanging up his action boots anytime soon, inspired the aspiring stars to follow the paths of the past Hollywood greats. He claimed that even the two-time Oscar winner, Marlon Brando, had a sound knowledge of the craft of filmmaking. 

He further revealed that gaining creative control over his films has helped him hone his craft as well, and this is not a new phenomenon. While signing his 1986 tentpole, Top Gun, Cruise said he “negotiated a deal” with the makers that allowed him to be present at “every production meeting” (via The Guardian). Cruise admitted that this was the beginning of his learning process to gain creative control over his movies.

While Cruise’s advice to his co-star Simon Pegg’s daughter might have fallen on deaf ears, his acting advice to his Top Gun: Maverick co-star, Glen Powell, was received warmly. Speaking in an interview with GQ UK in 2024, the actor revealed that the Hollywood veteran put together his own six-hour-long film school video for upcoming actors to watch. 

The Anyone But You star claimed that Cruise has claimed that he made it just for his “friends.” Nevertheless, Powell, who got the chance to watch the video alone in a movie theater, was left stunned by his mentor’s dedication. 

That was not the only advice that Powell received from Cruise. The billion-dollar-grossing star also asked him to make his movies relatable to the audience by channeling universal emotions. 

Cruise is currently gearing up, probably for the last time, to play the beloved Ethan Hunt on celluloid for the eighth Mission: Impossible movie, The Final Reckoning. Once in theaters, the film would probably provide a better chance for the aspiring actors to learn his craft of filmmaking.