Tom Cruise slashes prosthetic makeup time for upcoming film Digger
Tom Cruise revealed he reduced the makeup and prosthetic preparation for the movie “Digger” from six hours to under one hour by timing each step.
In preparation for the film “Digger,” Tom Cruise once required six hours of makeup and prosthetic work to transform into a fictional oil magnate. Wanting to free up time for sleep and filming, he mapped his day and introduced a system using a chalkboard, marker and stopwatch to time each piece of the application. After initial resistance from the makeup team, the crew practiced until they could complete the entire process in under one hour.
Cruise said the faster routine helps him stay efficient, but he still endures heat and extra weight that affect his knees. He also recalled a recent one outlet cover shoot where he walked Hollywood Boulevard without the prosthetics. “Digger” is slated to open on October 2.
Why it matters
The story shows how a high-profile actor can innovate on set, potentially influencing future film-makeup practices.
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