As Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits cinemas worldwide, with scenes filmed at Pinewood Studios, MetFilm School’s Margo Roe reflects on her own high-stakes shoot at the iconic location, which took place while Tom Cruise was on site filming the latest blockbuster in the franchise.
It’s not every day you get a handshake and a compliment from a Hollywood superstar.
For Margo Roe, a Leicester-born filmmaker and Careers Manager at MetFilm School, that moment came after a whirlwind shoot at Pinewood Studios.
The job? A high-stakes commercial for Fox Sports tied to the Super Bowl, where Margo served as First Assistant Director.
The star? None other than Hollywood’s action man, Tom Cruise.
“We only had three days,” Margo explained. “Two days’ prep, one day to shoot. We had to work around Tom’s busy schedule, and were scheduled to shoot for just an hour.”
The job came via an old friend, Jake Barrett, who runs BTV.UK, ee called Margo with an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“During the shoot at Pinewood, I was in charge of running the set, managing health and safety, and making sure everyone knew what needed to be done.”
Day one was all about rigging lights and building the set. Day two was rehearsals, with the crew drilling down to a five-minute turnaround between shots.
“We had to be ready,” Margo said. “We rehearsed to achieve six to eight setups within the hour. Everyone knew the goal and we smashed it.”
“We ended up working with Tom for three and a half hours,” she said, still sounding a bit stunned. “We were rehearsed to the hilt, so it all went like clockwork.”
When it was over, Cruise made a beeline for her. “He came over, shook my hand and said, ‘I’m really impressed. You guys have a well-oiled machine. I really enjoyed working with you.’”
High praise from a man who’s spent decades on blockbuster sets.
The shoot’s wrapped, and Margo is now back in her role at MetFilm School in Brighton. But that day at Pinewood?
“Really fun,” she said. “A proper pinch-yourself moment. The film industry is simply the best industry to work in.”
