Production has resumed for many movies and television shows despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but they could be shut down at a moment’s notice when a cast or crew member is exposed to COVID-19.
Tom Cruise was recently caught on an audio recording in a profanity-laden tirade on the set of “Mission: Impossible 7″ after he said crew members were not abiding by social distancing, CNN reported.
British tabloid The Sun obtained a copy of the audio where Cruise yells at the crew, “They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us! Because they believe in us and what we’re doing.” He is also heard saying “We are creating thousands of jobs, you [expletive],” CNN reported.
The audio recording was confirmed to be Cruise by The New York Times.
The Times reported Cruise also saying “I don’t ever want to see it again! Ever! And if you don’t do it, you’re fired!”
Cruise boiled over after seeing two crew members standing close to each other at a computer screen, not at the required six-foot distance, The Sun and The New York Times reported.
The action movie franchise came with a big price tag even before the coronavirus pandemic, with “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” costing Paramount $178 million to produce.
For a normal movie, it could cost more than $1 million for enhanced cleaning and staffing to prevent the spread of the virus.
The film had already been delayed, and if production has to be stopped because of the virus, it could impact jobs connected to the filming, CNN reported.
While Cruise’s choice of words may be a bit extreme for some, the overall message is getting support from other big-name stars.
George Clooney said that he doesn’t think Cruise acted inappropriately.
“He didn’t overreact because it’s a problem,” Clooney said during an interview with radio host Howard Stern, E News reported. “I have a friend who’s an AD (assistant director) on another TV show who just had the almost exact same thing happen with not quite as far-out a response.”
Clooney did say he would have done it differently, E News reported.
“I wouldn’t have done it that big. I wouldn’t have, you know, pulled people out. You’re in a position of power and it’s tricky, right? You do have a responsibility for everybody else and he’s absolutely right about that. And you know, if the production goes down, a lot of people lose their jobs. People have to understand that and have to be responsible. It’s just not my style to, you know, take everybody to task that way,” Clooney said according to E News.
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