July 25th, 2015.
I'm not a big fan of weekend premieres. That's because I work a mere 15mins walk from where most premieres are held, but on weekends it's a much longer trek to get there. And this was a Saturday. But I loved three quarters of the mission impossible movies to date (and 100% of the last two) and Tom Cruise premieres are almost always a lot of fun. And last time I checked I don't actually have a life, so off to town I went!
Here's how it went down:
Far from the usual confines of London's Leicester Square, BFI Imax near Waterloo does get its share of premieres - Tom Cruise ones disproportionately so. The premieres of Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, as well as the premiere of Oblivion, and also the premiere of Edge of Tomorrow were all held here.
After a brief sojourn to the bottom levels, I realise I've stupidly underestimated the size of the fandom for a Tom Cruise premiere. So photographing this premiere is going to be ... well... not Mission Impossible, but Mission Sub-Optimal.
My view of the action below is not entirely without hanging vines, lianas, and some photographic possibilities.
Unsurprisingly, Tom Cruise has shown up half an hour before the scheduled arrivals - but surprisingly he's starting INDOORS on the inner upper floor, mingling with VIP fans.
"Yes, I really *did* hang off the side of a plane for a stunt in this film. But sadly, Paramount insisted I be driven here by chauffeur for this event. I protested in vain..."
"Hello, can I speak to Tom Cruise please? He's not there?? Well... that makes sense. Because I'm Tom Cruise and I'm over here. Who is this?"
Probably a better-lit shot of Tom Cruise than I could have managed in the subterranean depths of BFI Imax's basement.... though those windows could have been better-cleaned, BFI.
"I can't hear you screaming through this soundproof glass. But I'll be outside in a minute and will appraise your efforts then. Cheers!"
"It was moths. Crazy-rustic-yet-awesomely-artistic moths. You should see what they did to my jeans."
Tom Cruise has arrived to the acclaim of fans, photographers and (according to Rottentomatoes.com) critics alike. I can't wait to see this film. I genuinely think Ghost Protocol is the first instance of the FOURTH movie in a series being its best (and the first and third films were very very good too)
"Obviously I hope this movie does well, if nothing else so I can tell my life insurance providers what bigtime stunt I have in mind for the next installment".
Tom Cruise. When at least a dozen years younger than he is now I am, look as good I will not. And not even in a suit and tie like he's wearing.
In a rare (and certainly welcome) development, the composer of the film's score also attended this event! Joe Kraemer previously composed music for the Chris McQuarrie/Tom Cruise film "Jack Reacher", and joins Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer and Michael Giacchino all of whom have composed excellent scores for the Mission Impossible films. (What...? I LIKE film music!)
Magician 'Dynamo' showed up before... uh... vanishing. Indoors, presumably to the refreshments bar.
Rebecca Ferguson is in this film, and looks suitably stunning, even through vines and lianas. Which is a compliment. Compliments to pretty women are sadly not my forte.
"If your attention moves away from me and heads towards the hashtag in the bottom left corner, you're not a film fan, you're a social media-obsessed narcissist". Well.... damn. Also... probably.
Not only is Rebecca Ferguson very pretty, but so is her shadow. Which.... I'm still not great with compliments, but I'm working on it.
Simon Pegg has been in the previous two Mission Impossible films, as well as the prior two Star Trek films, the upcoming Star Wars film..... and I'm sure if you look really hard he was probably an elf in one of the Lord of the Rings films.
"My nerd credentials mean I can now wear sneakers to premieres, as well as many casinos and even some state funerals"
"I've got a... what? On my chin? No that's a liana tendril in the foreground" Sadly my position outside of the event meant I wasn't able to get Simon Pegg to autograph one of several rather cool photos of him I took at the Ghost Protocol premiere a few years back...
I don't know who this is and I don't think she's in this film, but if I had to choose between her showing up at this premiere versus Jeremy Renner who IS in this film.... I'd be happy with things the way they are. (Ving Rhames, on the other hand? For the purpose of this compliment to a beautiful lady let's not go there)
"Hi. I'm pretty". I'm not disagreeing, and with nobody else to photograph right now I don't even have to perform a photo-priority-triage that would probably have me take this photo anyway. (I am precisely // this shallow). (Edited to add : she's Hermione Corfield - THANKS, JOE!!)
.... right now, Academy Award winning director Chris McQuarrie has arrived but I think even he's not particularly inclined to taking her spot in front of the paparazzi.
(according to imdb, Hermione Corfield plays "shop girl" in the film. And a vital role it is, too, I'm hoping!)
"I re-tied both of my shoelaces and switched ties twice to keep her on stage as long as possible". Christopher McQuarrie directed this movie, and won his Academy Award in 1996 - best original screenplay for the mighty 'The Usual Suspects'
"I love the adulation you're showing me, but the dude who drew all those amazing concept drawings for the Star Wars films was Ralph MacQuarrie. He's not me. Though his concept art was sublime"
"Eddie Izzard's attire might raise eyebrows, but the suit is nice, the sunglasses are fabulous and the lipstick appears properly applied." Eddie Izzard was also in the sadly underrated 2008 film Valkyrie, which Tom Cruise starred in.
"Anybody have any questions other than 'is it a dress?', 'is it a jumpsuit?', 'is it a bathrobe?', and 'will you go out with me?' ". Well, in that case... No. I don't.
Tom Cruise is still signing autographs, kissing babies and blessing civil unions in the far reaches of the red carpet, but Rebecca Ferguson will sign a bit more before heading in to the cinema to adjust her dress / loosen her suit / rearrange her bathrobe...
"I'll wear a shirt and tie when they make me change out of these sneakers. And I'm not changing out of these sneakers, Tony."
"Guys... I honestly would sign more autographs, but I'd be using my non-writing hand, and I need that to hold on to planes, hang-gliders, lamborghinis and possibly crocodiles. Don't tell my life insurer about that last one"
Some days, some times, it's not all about Tom Cruise premieres. But this one was. Time to head on home.
So that was another premiere - they've been a bit thin on the ground of late. There's none next week, but hopefully two premieres the week after that will liven things up. For now, however, I've got another premiere to add to My Archive Of Movie Premieres, and a movie to anticipate the theatrical release of.
Until next time!
ps. if you want to know whenever I post a new premiere journal, feel free to follow me on twitter @berndt2_photo or on facebook at premieresdotco.