Tom Cruise to increase in stature thanks to ISS jaunt? Now that's a mission impossible NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has confirmed that sofa-jumping Top Gun star Tom Cruise is working with the agency on a film aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Yes, we had to check our calendars too, but we'd already done the Saturn V thing back on 1 April. Our sources have confirmed that Tom's people, Elon's …
I get the impression that Scientology is only dangerous to your bank account and sanity if you are a cult member
or a family member of a cult member, or someone who publicly criticises the cult. They use some pretty dubious tactics against people they have decided not to like, and the less said about a certain cult leader whose name sounds like miscarriage the better.
For clarity, IMHO Tom Cruise was cool in Top Gun, and has gone down hill since then.
That said, some logical thinking...
He has spent his entire life working in cinema. Fair bet he has more knowledge than average about how movie making works - lighting, composing shots, etc. Astronauts are not technical slouches themselves and by their very nature are quick learners. Add in some live streaming for earth-bound directors to monitor the scenes. Pack along some green body suits and the station staff can be 'extras' in the scene, and have their body digitally edited to match the image of earth-based actors.
Russia was charging something like $80M per seat to get to ISS. I am thinking Elon Musk will be cheaper - otherwise we would have stayed with the Russians. I'll bet they could get an entire ISS sequence done for less than $100M. That's a lot, but it is not outside the realm of Hollywood possibility. Especially if the movie company says "Tom, we are flying you to the space station, but we aren't paying you for the movie", that will free up a big chunk of budget!
Would NASA allow it? Back to Top Gun, what was the Navy's enlistment in the late 1980s? Every GenX guy who signed up thought he would go Mach 2 and nail Kelly McGillis. As long as NASA gets to sign off on the plot line making them look good, I can see them buying the idea. Inspire a whole new generation of astronauts, that sort of thing.
Maybe even get the production company to produce a few companion documentaries as well - keep public interest in ISS positive. Inspire a whole new generation of tax payers, that sort of thing.
"Pack along some green body suits and the station staff can be 'extras' in the scene, and have their body digitally edited to match the image of earth-based actors."
So, no real need for TC to go up either. The insurance premiums would out of this world!
Yeah, I've already got me coat, bye now!
Can't really knock your logic, Elons outfit doesn't have to be cheaper (launching from America will do) but probably is. Top Gun had navy backing because there was a noticable recruitment increase a few years earlier from 'The final countdown' which has far better 'Fly navy' aerial scenes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChU-mGeBaM from 4:00 mins & at 5:50 the F14 only just managed to pull out of the dive.
Tom Cruise was "acting" at a film studios near my home, and staying in the 5-star hotel about 0.5 mile from said studio. He used to get a helicopter to ferry him to and fro. An acquaintance of mine was the cook appointed to prepare all of Mr Cruise's meals at the hotel - from then on I referred to him as "The Short-Order Chef".
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