View Full Version : Open invitation from Tom Cruise
robzinski
06-01-2004, 13:37
http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=5265
No one works a premiere quite like Tom Cruise. While many stars now find the time to tour the barricades chatting with fans before their films' big debut, it was Cruise who instigated the practice and it's Cruise who still does it best.
With 'laps of honour' that regularly see the star passing hours as he talks on punters' mobile phones and signs cards, books and body parts with a felt tip pen, Tom Cruise is a fan's dream come true. And for tonight's premiere of The Last Samurai, he plans to surpass all previous outings. Cruise has pledged to do his best to sign autographs for every fan who wants one at tonight's premiere and, given the volume of people likely to attend, he'll have his work cut out for him.
"If anyone shows up and wants my autograph, they can have it. I love coming to London and meeting the fans," he said.
So if anyones got anything they want signing get down there.
jonathan.e
06-01-2004, 14:00
Meg Ryan could learn a thing or two.......
Very admirable, but its a pretty silly thing to announce in advance. Its like an open invitation to eBayers.
I've got a cheque he can sign.
Do you think he'd be happy to sign a pirate copy of 'The Last Samurai' if I show up with one? :D
NOTE: I don't really have a pirate copy! :rolleyes:
Psycho :nuts:
For 'collectors' / 'ebayers' etc out there, does this sort of en-masse signing type thing devalue the 'worth' of an autograph etc of a star of his magnitude? or does it increase the value as it's a 'special event' that can be documented for posterity?
Just curious! :dork:
werewolf
06-01-2004, 15:45
Originally posted by Richie
For 'collectors' / 'ebayers' etc out there, does this sort of en-masse signing type thing devalue the 'worth' of an autograph etc of a star of his magnitude? or does it increase the value as it's a 'special event' that can be documented for posterity?
Just curious! :dork:
i would think it devalues the signatures as far as the shops etc that sell them go (which isn't a bad thing unless you're in it for the money).
it's slightly refreshing to hear of a star willing to do something like this.
I guess it's also good that here's a star who isn't so paranoid about being attacked / killed etc that he will actually spend time with the fans in an essentially uncontrolled (in terms of who is allowed to attend) public environment.
Originally posted by werewolf
it's slightly refreshing to hear of a star willing to do something like this.
it's HUGELY refreshing, might even go and see his film now... well I was going to go anyway.
Island Swing
06-01-2004, 15:59
Originally posted by Richie
For 'collectors' / 'ebayers' etc out there, does this sort of en-masse signing type thing devalue the 'worth' of an autograph etc of a star of his magnitude? or does it increase the value as it's a 'special event' that can be documented for posterity?
Just curious! :dork:
Had a wee look on ebay straight after this was announced cos i wondered if folk would do just that but a signed pic seems to be going for about a tenner, hardly worth the effort.
GrossePointeJack
06-01-2004, 16:44
I do think that he's one of the very very few Hollywood stars who seem overawed by the reception he gets, so he does as much as he can to make their trips worthwhile.
Its admirable of Cruise to take the time to show appreciation to the people who helped make him the success he is.
More stars could do with taking a leaf from his book. If I lived near London I'd go myself.
Cornelius
06-01-2004, 20:12
I like Tom Cruise.:)
Elynduil
06-01-2004, 20:47
Originally posted by Richie
I guess it's also good that here's a star who isn't so paranoid about being attacked / killed etc that he will actually spend time with the fans in an essentially uncontrolled (in terms of who is allowed to attend) public environment.
Cruise wouldn't fly to Cannes out of fear of terrorists.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3371419.stm
Actor Tom Cruise worked hard towards his promise to sign autographs for every fan at the UK première of The Last Samurai on Tuesday. Cruise spent two hours with fans, signing autographs, talking on mobiles and posing for photographs.
......Cruise arrived outside the première at 1755 GMT and was still working the crowd two hours later.
So determined was Cruise to fulfil his promise to sign every autograph that the screening was delayed for an hour.
He said: "I've had people asking me places I've been, people asking me to speak to their friends and relatives - and a few marriage proposals.
"I don't know how long I've been out here because I'm not timing myself and I've no idea how many hands I've shaken, but it's been really fun."
Well, bless him. I have renewed respect for the bloke.
bruce-leroy
06-01-2004, 23:19
I've always been a fan of the Cruiser. Just watched film 2004. He always comes across as a likeable, down to earth (for a big star) type guy in interviews. In comparison, his Top Gun co-star Val "Don't look me in the eyes" Kilmer sounds like a right bumhole.
Originally posted by bruce-leroy
I've always been a fan of the Cruiser. Just watched film 2004. He always comes across as a likeable, down to earth (for a big star) type guy in interviews. In comparison, his Top Gun co-star Val "Don't look me in the eyes" Kilmer sounds like a right bumhole.
I met Val Kilmer a couple of months ago and he was a really nice bloke. Chatty, and seemed really pleased to be talking and chatting to his fans.
I was suprised too, as I heard he was a bit off about that sort of thing.
Hats off to Tom Cruise- 2 hours signing when he could have just walked past is admirable to say the least:thumbs:
bruce-leroy
07-01-2004, 00:16
That is interesting, as he seems to have a reputation for that sort of thing (more so than a lot of others). :)
Saw the one am news earlier and there was this story. Cruise looked happy enough but denied saying he would sign anything anyone wanted. He said he would try.
Looked like a nice gesture to anyone waiting in the cold but regarding a post earlier, you can tell who is signing for money and it is a shame, it devalues the whole thing, but anyone who got a cruiser print tonight would be happy
Well I accidentally met Tom Cruise last night. I work just off Leicester Sqaure and was walking to the Haymarket Cinema to meet some mates to see Stuck On You when I got caught up in the Last Samurai Premiere crowd. I assumed Billy Connelly might be there or something so I jumped up to get a look and fell. WHen I stood up I was right at the front of the gate and Cruise was shaking hands with the guy next to me. He then shook my hand and said "hi!". He was really short.
I then walked off to see "Stuck On You" - Surreal evening! :nuts:
I'm sure this is really great for the Tom Cruise fans, but I can't see that this makes him a better guy than stars who would rather not mingle with random strangers. Some people enjoy handshaking and gladhandling (Bill Clinton both loved it and was good at it, to take an example outside of film), others don't and do as little of it as possible. As long as the stars stick to commitments they have made and don't raise people's expectations beyond what they're willing to go through with, I don't see the problem. They have a right to be shy, reserved, private or even arrogant as much as any other people.
Actors have a responsibility to entertain on the screen, not to shake my hand on the street.
jonathan.e
07-01-2004, 10:09
Originally posted by bronso
I'm sure this is really great for the Tom Cruise fans, but I can't see that this makes him a better guy than stars who would rather not mingle with random strangers. Some people enjoy handshaking and gladhandling (Bill Clinton both loved it and was good at it, to take an example outside of film), others don't and do as little of it as possible. As long as the stars stick to commitments they have made and don't raise people's expectations beyond what they're willing to go through with, I don't see the problem. They have a right to be shy, reserved, private or even arrogant as much as any other people.
Actors have a responsibility to entertain on the screen, not to shake my hand on the street.
It’s part and parcel of their promotional responsibilities, never moreso than at premieres. Working the crowd might not be stipulated in their contracts, like interviews and junkets, but they are made aware that it is in their best interests and those of the film. For a textbook example on how not to conduct yourself just see Meg Ryan’s promotional activities for In the Cut where she behaved poorly to our most famous interviewer and also totally snubbed the waiting crowd at the premiere. Repercussions followed. Contrast this with the Cruiser. Studios love him, the press loves him and the crowd loves him for this kind of behaviour and consequently his films are huge and he’s one of the most famous people on the planet.
Doesn’t take a genius to see that being nice to your public can ultimately put money in your (their) pocket so they’re fools not to do it.
Originally posted by bronso
I'm sure this is really great for the Tom Cruise fans, but I can't see that this makes him a better guy than stars who would rather not mingle with random strangers. Some people enjoy handshaking and gladhandling (Bill Clinton both loved it and was good at it, to take an example outside of film), others don't and do as little of it as possible. As long as the stars stick to commitments they have made and don't raise people's expectations beyond what they're willing to go through with, I don't see the problem. They have a right to be shy, reserved, private or even arrogant as much as any other people.
Actors have a responsibility to entertain on the screen, not to shake my hand on the street.
It does make him a better guy because he is facilitating meeting people who have payed him!!
Otheres who do not sign any autographs or do not meet people come across as ungrateful gits.
Ol' Blue Eyes
07-01-2004, 10:25
I've heard 2 stories about Cruise - one from a taxi driver who was waiting to pick up a cinema employee after a Tom Cruise premiere and he was out the back having a smoke when Cruise came out. The driver's wife loved him so he shyly asked for an autograph and Cruise actually called the wife up on his mobile and said hello. The other from the sister of a woman who did his make-up. This was while he was going through the divorce from Nicole Kidman and apparently he was still the nicest star she ever worked with and used to call her other (teenage) sister who was a big fan up just to chat.
The guy's also a very canny businessman, no doubt about it, but definitely a nice, genuine bloke too.
charlie angel
07-01-2004, 10:52
I'm not really a Cruise fan, but there's no denying that he works the crowds well, & seems pretty genuine when he does it - I'm all for it; if you can make someone's day with a handshake or a quick hello, why not :)
ryonhilluk
07-01-2004, 12:00
Originally posted by charlie angel
I'm not really a Cruise fan, but there's no denying that he works the crowds well, & seems pretty genuine when he does it - I'm all for it; if you can make someone's day with a handshake or a quick hello, why not :)
I agree 100%. They don't have to do it but it leaves a good impression. Meg Ryan take note!!
Mr. Wilby
07-01-2004, 12:08
Originally posted by jonathan.e
For a textbook example on how not to conduct yourself just see Meg Ryan’s promotional activities for In the Cut where she behaved poorly to our most famous interviewer and also totally snubbed the waiting crowd at the premiere. Repercussions followed.
Out of interest, what were the reprocussions? I've not yet seen the interview, but earlier this morning my sister was just mentioning how badly she behaved on Parky.
ryonhilluk
07-01-2004, 12:12
Originally posted by Mr. Wilby
Out of interest, what were the reprocussions? I've not yet seen the interview, but earlier this morning my sister was just mentioning how badly she behaved on Parky.
She was awful on Parkinson and asked for the interview to stop. Unfortunately i missed it. :(
The film didn't do too well as far as i can remember.
Mr. Wilby
07-01-2004, 12:15
Haven't seen the film either.
Back on topic, nice to hear this story anyway. Cruse sounds like a pretty reasonable guy.
Panavision
07-01-2004, 12:16
But when Cruise was asked to be involved in the Legend documentary, he declined, beneath him I guess. :|
beobrand
07-01-2004, 12:53
I like Tom Cruise and think his attitude towards his fans and the press is exemplary (and not just to other film stars, but to people in general).
BTW, did anyone else see the embarrassing interview with him live on Liquid news last night as he was doing the rounds? The stupid interviewer asked him to say something in Mandarin! He looked a bit embarrassed and said, "well, not Mandarin, Japanese..."
You've got to love it - the BBC is seen as the cream of British media overseas and that is the best they can do!
Originally posted by Panavision
But when Cruise was asked to be involved in the Legend documentary, he declined, beneath him I guess. :|
But there are a hundred possible reasons why someone wouldn't be able to participate in a docu about a film they made 16 years earlier! It's more than likely that a schedule / contract for a current commitment took precedence (like filming in another country at the time the docu was being made for example! - I doubt the budget for a dvd extra of a flop film from the 80s would stretch to the international travel required to secure an interview with Cruise - especially when the docu could easily be made without his participation). Why would you automatically assume that he'd consider it beneath him?
Panavision
07-01-2004, 14:45
Richie, he turned it down not because of scheduling, he just didn't give a damn about it and subsequently wasn't even mentioned in the doc - says it all really.
beobrand
07-01-2004, 14:48
Originally posted by Panavision
Richie, he turned it down not because of scheduling, he just didn't give a damn about it and subsequently wasn't even mentioned in the doc - says it all really.
Must have been a great documentary, if it failed to mention the star of the film being documented...:blah:
Andrew WK
07-01-2004, 14:54
Speaking of all things Cruise, I chuckled when I saw the front page of The Sun today - a picture of Penelope Cruz at the premiere last night in a rather revealing dress with the headline "Cruz Missiles" :clap:
theambient
07-01-2004, 15:26
Originally posted by Panavision
But when Cruise was asked to be involved in the Legend documentary, he declined, beneath him I guess. :|
I heard that Cruise refuses even to talk about Legend nowadays. Mind you, I wouldn't blame him, as just about none of the interviewer's questions regarding it would be serious would they? They'd blatantly just take the urine out of it and him. Fair enough I say, and as someone said, it's a fairly old film, and shows little of his acting talent. (it's still a childhood classic for me tho!)
I know I couldn't work a crowd of screaming fans for hours on end... it would get really annoying!
beobrand
07-01-2004, 15:30
Interesting that Harrison Ford hates Blade Runner and got on very badly with Ridley Scott and Tom Cruise also dislikes to talk about Legend...Could it be that Ridley Scott is a tosser?
Originally posted by Ol' Blue Eyes
I've heard 2 stories about Cruise - one from a taxi driver who was waiting to pick up a cinema employee after a Tom Cruise premiere and he was out the back having a smoke when Cruise came out. The driver's wife loved him so he shyly asked for an autograph and Cruise actually called the wife up on his mobile and said hello. The other from the sister of a woman who did his make-up. This was while he was going through the divorce from Nicole Kidman and apparently he was still the nicest star she ever worked with and used to call her other (teenage) sister who was a big fan up just to chat.
I don't think I've heard any tales about Cruise being an arsehole either. A FOF of my sister's was one of the cooks at Tom and Nicole's pad while they were both filming in England (can't remember what film). Apparently they were both lovely, very friendly with staff, undemanding and :eek: seemed like a geniune couple as well!!!
So, anyone grab a snap of Tom with one of their bargin-forum bought mobile telephone camera thingys then?
Originally posted by beobrand
Interesting that Harrison Ford hates Blade Runner and got on very badly with Ridley Scott and Tom Cruise also dislikes to talk about Legend...Could it be that Ridley Scott is a tosser?
By all accounts Russell Crowe got on alright with him so you might well be right.
Panavision
07-01-2004, 18:42
The best directors are never easy to get along with. I think Ridley rocks, but doesn't give actors much direction, visuals come first.
Originally posted by jonathan.e
It’s part and parcel of their promotional responsibilities, never moreso than at premieres. Working the crowd might not be stipulated in their contracts, like interviews and junkets, but they are made aware that it is in their best interests and those of the film.
Doesn’t take a genius to see that being nice to your public can ultimately put money in your (their) pocket so they’re fools not to do it.
Depends on how much they hate doing it.
The Wachowski brothers got a special clause in their contract that exempt them from doing any kind of promotion for the Matrix movies. Does this make them somehow inferior to directors who go yapping about their movies on the talkshow circuit? Well yes, from the studio's point of view. But is it something we should hold against them? I don't think so.
Originally posted by jayok
It does make him a better guy because he is facilitating meeting people who have payed him!!
That does not follow.
In no job that I have had have I made any particular efforts to meet the people who paid my salary. I never imagined this made me a bad human being.
Otheres who do not sign any autographs or do not meet people come across as ungrateful gits.
So authors who go on signing tours are better people than those who stay at home with their families and write?
jonathan.e
07-01-2004, 21:47
Originally posted by bronso
Depends on how much they hate doing it.
The Wachowski brothers got a special clause in their contract that exempt them from doing any kind of promotion for the Matrix movies. Does this make them somehow inferior to directors who go yapping about their movies on the talkshow circuit? Well yes, from the studio's point of view. But is it something we should hold against them? I don't think so.
I think Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions are enough reason to resent them. That clause now looks like a wise case of self-preservation from critics and audiences.
Originally posted by bronso
That does not follow.
In no job that I have had have I made any particular efforts to meet the people who paid my salary. I never imagined this made me a bad human being.
So authors who go on signing tours are better people than those who stay at home with their families and write?
When people pay to go and see an entertainment product (movies, shows, concerts & sports), they would like if the stars of these products would show some appreciation to the fans. This appreciation can take many forms from talking, signing autographs, appearing in person, impromptu performance etc. As was stated earlier, the stars do not have to do this but some of them do because they recognise that the reason they are where they are is because of the people who pay to go and see the entertainment product. They also do it for good PR.
Now, I have no idea what you do nor do I see it as relevant. The entertainers who make the effort to actually put a smile on the faces of fans now and then are worth alot more, in human terms, than some of the miserable gits that waltz in with a swagger ignoring all the lowly fans.
Here are my 2 pence;
I think that they are saying volumes but not talking about their films, Reading the other 3 pages of this thread suggest we appreciate it when stars/directors make an effort to communicate their work. Just look at any interview QT did for kill bill. That's a man proud of his work. If the Wachowskis were that proud of the matrix, they would talk about it. Anyone have any idea why they wouldn't. I felt the Matrix DVD was poor without their direct participation and wont purchase the sequels on dvd partly due to that (and mostly because they were pants)
There i've said it
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