Tom Cruise on Digger, Experiencing Arrowhead, Importance of Film & Getting Above the Clouds | 202
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Hosted by Travis Kelce
- 1h 14m
- Transcript
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
Jason and Travis Kelce welcome Hollywood legend Tom Cruise to the show to discuss his upcoming film Digger, directed by Alejandro Iñarritu, shot on Vista Vision film, and co-starring John Goodman and Jeffrey Wright. The trio trade stories about attending a Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium, the importance of studying small details in athletic and cinematic craft, and the necessity of maintaining a positive mindset through any storm. Cruise explains his intensive approach to character creation, stunt work, and shaving down six-hour prosthetic applications to under an hour through disciplined time management. The conversation highlights the visceral impact of the movie, the power of theatrical releases, and the shared mindset required to achieve high-level performance in sports and acting.
- Approach every endeavor with full commitment and never have a plan B. 55:42
- Master the specific vernacular and technical details of any subject to turn confusion into order. 56:41
- Maintain a positive mindset and learn to look past immediate obstacles to get above the clouds. 34:35
- Study efficient systems and push for continuous improvement in your preparation. 20:49
Chapters
- 0:00Podcast Intro and Sponsor Hook
Hosts introduce the show, sponsor, and tease the guest Tom Cruise.
- 1:51Welcome Tom Cruise and Arrowhead Recap
Travis and Jason welcome Tom Cruise and discuss his recent experience at Arrowhead Stadium.
- 3:07Digger Film Overview and Sneak Peek
Tom Cruise explains the premise of his new film Digger and gives a brief preview.
- 18:23Film Production Choices: Film vs Digital
The conversation turns to the decision to shoot Digger on 65mm film and the artistic benefits of Vista Vision.
- 28:01Behind‑the‑Scenes Stories and Collaborations
Tom shares anecdotes about working with John Goodman, the crew, and the camaraderie on set.
- 34:47Closing Remarks and Future Outlook
The hosts wrap up, thank Tom, and hint at future episodes and upcoming projects.
- 36:55Career Reflections and Lesser‑Known Projects
Tom reflects on underrated films, his love for travel, and how his career shapes his worldview.
- 45:51Music and Film: The Creative Process
Discussion of how music shapes film scenes and the creative decisions behind editing.
- 48:09Stunt Philosophy and Risk Management
Exploration of the mindset behind performing stunts and the safety protocols involved.
- 53:08GQ Shoot and Hollywood Boulevard Experience
Recounting a spontaneous GQ photo shoot on Hollywood Boulevard and the fun behind it.
- 55:35Rapid Fire Q&A: Life, Plan A, and Skills
Quick questions about alternate careers, plan A, and skill transfer between sports and film.
- 56:21Football Insight: Offense, Defense, and Game Intelligence
Deep dive into how football knowledge informs stunt work and strategic thinking.
Highlights
- 3:27
Arrowhead Stadium Experiencestory
Tom Cruise describes attending a Monday night football game at Arrowhead as the most fun he has ever had at a football game, praising the crowd vibe and Patrick Mahomes' comeback.
- 6:24
Years of Preparationinsight
Tom Cruise explains that films like Digger require years of deep preparation, with the director working on it for nearly a decade and Cruise engaging with him for seven years.
- 20:49
Streamlining Prosthetic Makeupstrategy
Tom Cruise timed every step of his six-hour prosthetic makeup application for Digger on a chalkboard, eventually driving the process down to under an hour.
- 23:16
The guests and host discuss the use of custom lenses and Vista Vision film on Digger to achieve exceptional richness, clarity, and visual composition.
- 34:35
Getting Above the Cloudsinsight
Tom Cruise shares his core life philosophy of pushing through difficulties by maintaining a positive attitude and getting above the clouds.
- 59:57
Reading Pre-Snap Defensive Tellsstrategy
Jason Kelce reveals specific physical tells used by defensive linemen and linebackers to anticipate plays and gain an edge on the field.
Quotes
“It's about humanity. It's very human. It is a story as old as time.”
Unnamed speaker · 5:16 “I don't read the scripts. I have them read it to me.”
Unnamed speaker · 15:02 “It's just these, it just is a massive cinematic experience.”
Unnamed speaker · 5:44 “The clarity, the richness of the frame, and what you're able to do with it.”
Unnamed speaker · 24:06 “I love doing the stunts. I was doing them since I was a little kid. Like, I, I create my own stunts.”
Unnamed speaker · 48:09 “I want people, you know, I want those pay those mortgages. I want my movies. As a kid, I was like, I just want my movies to do well enough that I can go all in on the next one.”
Unnamed speaker · 52:07 “I want to help them. The cinematographers, the actors, and I wanna learn. It's like, and I like seeing their point of view on things.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:06:21 “I was doing them since I was a little kid. Like, I, I create my own stunts.”
Unnamed speaker · 48:09
Sponsored segments
- Reese's 0:00–0:10
- Famous Footwear 0:16–0:43
- Nissan 1:24–1:42
- Nissan 34:57–35:56
- Nissan 1:14:58–1:15:15
About this episode
92%ers, welcome to another episode of New Heights, brought to you by Nissan! Today we are joined by actor, producer, and Hollywood legend Tom Cruise. We talk about everything that went into Tom’s new movie ‘Digger,” what it was like getting back into a fat suit, why film is so important, and if John Goodman is really just Hollywood Ed Kelce. We also get Tom's take on his time at Arrowhead, Taylor teaching him football, his plan B in life, why he was a child daredevil, if he’ll ever direct, why Travis is a VHS OG, and more! Watch and listen to new episodes of New Heights every Wednesday during the NFL season and follow us on Social Media for all the best moments from the show: https://lnk.to/newheightshow You can also listen to new episodes on Wondery, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. . . . Watch the full episode here: Prime: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0JLG80EV3QTOUJWLN8KSQ3OSTL?ref_=atv_dp_share_cu_r Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-heights/id1643745036 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1y3SUbFMUSESC1N43tBleK?si=LsuQ4a5MRN6wGMcfVcuynw Support the show: NISSAN: Watch Tim Tebow, Travis Hunter, and Derrick Henry compete to become the Best Nissan Spokesperson in the limited series Tell Them a Heisman Sent You. Legal Disclaimer: Nissan Rogue #1 in new vehicle quality among compact SUVS – 2026 JD Power. For JD Power 2026 U. S. Initial Quality Study award information, visit https://jdpower.com/awards. Awards based on 2026 model year. Towing varies by configuration. See Owner’s Manual for additional info. Always secure cargo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
15,239 words · 7 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- Digger
- Vista Vision
- Vinyl
- GQ
- Top Gun
- Hollywood Boulevard
- San Diego
- Everglades
- VHS
- Dead Reckoning
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