Kaira Bird on Not Killing Tom Cruise While Making 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'

Director Kaira Bird constitutes a tremendous leap from animation (some little movies you might have heard about like 'The Incredibles') to reside-action with 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.' It's almost as large like a leap as his leading guy, Tom Cruise, makes within the film -- a part of a breath-preventing swing around the world's highest building because he attempts to return to safety having a rope that's way too short. Thinking about which was Cruise doing their own stunts, it was all being shot in IMAX, with helis, while a large number of vacationers looked on may have given a seasoned professional cardiac arrest, but Bird told Moviefone he really pressed Cruise to visit faster. For the first live-action movie, you made the decision to shoot it in IMAX, film in locations around the globe and also have dying-repel stunts. So, somewhat movie. [Laughs] It really wasn't that pre-thought-out. I had been really focusing on another film known as '1906,' also is large and complex, and also the story is simply very difficult to pull together. And so the chance came about to leap onto this. I'd known J.J. [Abrams] for any very long time and that i met Tom immediately after 'The Incredibles.' One element which i distributed to each of individuals men isn't just a significant respect for his or her talent as well as their work, but all of us love the medium of film. Whenever we talk, we are able to discuss it until our eyes are double glazed over. We love it a lot that an opportunity to use each of them on a single project really was fun. Had you been worried whatsoever about killing your leading guy within the showpiece stunt around the Burj Khalifa? The succession that people shot around the Burj Khalifa ... the amount of pieces to that particular puzzle were staggering. Tom is hanging from the helicopter that may only stay up in mid-air for 30 minutes and also the IMAX cameras are only able to shoot for a few minutes and when they exhaust film, there is no room to reload, so they need to fly to base. And there is decking about midway up and also the vacationers there lookup plus they see Tom Cruise hanging around the building above them and they are shooting video and saying "Oh, hi, Tom," and Tom's just pushing and each muscle in the is quaking and he's beginning to get rid of bloodstream in the legs. Tom's on the wire and that he needs to run aside from the building after which he needs to hang on even though these were doing the work, the helicopter drifted and that i saw a much better position for that second area of the shot. And So I stated, "Wait another! Return to that position you had been in!" And Tom's like holding along the side of your building and he's like, "Shall we be ready?" and he's just pushing his muscles. And also the stunt men are just like, "Hold on another longer, Tom, we are just altering your camera position." And meanwhile, Tom's hanging to the building and also the vacationers are filming and it is madness, absolute madness, but It led to quite a awesome sequence. It is a very awesome sequence. Which means you got no complaints from Tom about being pressed towards the limit? The shot where he runs lower along side it from the Burj, he made it happen plus they were as being a little conservative and that i stated, "Are you able to go just a little faster," and Tom's like, "Yeah, let us go just a little faster," I stated, "OK, I believe we first got it." But Tom could listen to it during my voice which i had not become things i wanted, so he was like, "What exactly is it?Inch So, I requested [meekly], "Are you able to go just a little faster?" And that he stated, "You wager." Therefore we made it happen and that is the main one that's within the film -- he's racing lower along side it from the building. Which individuals was pushing harder to become more extreme, you or Tom? We equally like things pressed, and surely if you wish to push it, Tom is the guy. Made it happen ever hit you that Tom could easily plummet to his dying if something went wrong? Everyone is at the mindset of just concentrating on doing their job the very best they might. Nevertheless, after i returned towards the hotel that evening and we'd become a few of these amazing shots, at about 3 each morning, my eyes clicked open and that i sitting up and went "Hooh!" I recognized contrary transpires with Tom, we have got no movie. However in as soon as, the adrenaline was flowing... Ok last one. I had been just set on obtaining the camera in to the right place and this is not on losing bloodstream flow to Tom's legs. [Laughs] Was the aim for that 4th film to really make it larger than the others? Yeah, I believe i was all drawn to the thought of these set pieces. However the strange factor is ... this is actually the greatest 'Mission: Impossible,' however i really was inspired through the last 'Mission: Impossible,' which got more emotional and also got into more compact moments. And So I would say, hopefully, it's a few of the greatest 'Mission: Impossible' moments but additionally a few of the littlest 'Mission: Impossible' moments when it comes to character stuff. Hopefully there's everything on the planet. Producer Bryan Burk stated you'd thought we would "punch up" the humor on that one. I wouldn't say I'd "made the decision." I felt like ... a film which i love is 'Raiders from the Lost Ark' and also to me, there is a wonderful balance between humor and genuine suspense and action. And also the humor does not cut the genuine adrenaline the relaxation from the movie has. I personally don't like movies where they type of wink to you. There's a few exceptions, 'Airplane' being one of these, in which the whole movie is a large wink. I believe you need to invest yourself within the moment. The humor inside a movie like 'Raiders' arrives of real situations also it arrives of character which, in my experience, is the greatest possible mixture of individuals things. If you are going to possess a popcorn movie, you cannot inflict much better than 'Raiders.' A number of individuals famous lines, Harrison Ford notoriously improvised. Had you been available to letting your stars lick like this? Why can you have individuals men, like Simon Pegg, should you were not? Many moments within the film, people just sprang by helping cover their [a line] around the place. Everybody was excellent about doing that which was written, they also understood which i was up for diversions. Sometimes I requested things, or I'd change a line around the place. Sometimes they'd say something automatically. One thing people request me is "What are the differences between live action and animation?" and spontaneity that may take place in an active-action film but it is very hard otherwise impossible in animation. The entire medium is all about pre-planning. To ensure that was fun for me personally, absolutely. I loved that. So nothing they did ever put you? No, no. I required classes in acting to higher learn how to speak with stars. Before? Years back, before Used to do my animated films. I understand what that type of stuff is. As well as in my animated film, I improv'd with soundtracks. Usually, I'll write things around the place or simply say, "Oh, let's say we change this?" Renner emerged with many different lines that really would up within the film. [Photo: Vital] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook