University News Last updated 11 July 2023
A group of graduates from Birmingham City University (BCU) made it mission accomplished, after a once in lifetime experience on-set during filming for Tom Cruise’s latest action thriller Mission Impossible – Death Reckoning.
Tasked with marshalling the multimillion-dollar production, five BA Media Production graduates saw Birmingham’s Grand Central Station transformed into a working replica of Abu Dhabi airport, as seen in the movie.
Abi Rayner, one of the graduates employed as a marshal during the filming, said: “When BCU offered us the opportunity to work with a film crew, I had no idea what movie we were going to be working on.
“At first, I thought it might be a small budget, indie film. It was all kept under wraps so when I turned up on set for the first day and found out it was Mission Impossible, I was shocked.”
“During the filming I was a location marshal, which involved setting up all the locations that were filmed in Grand Central, making sure everything was ready for the cast and crew to start filming.
“I felt so important as the set was completely cornered off to the public.”
The placement, arranged through Birmingham City Council’s Film Birmingham team and BCU’s Institute of Media and English, was an unrivalled industry experience for the recent graduates.
“We’re delighted that several of our former media students were able to experience life on a multi-million-dollar film set and help bring a Mission Impossible film to life,” said Vanessa Jackson, Associate Professor at Birmingham City University’s Institute of Media and English.
“It was no doubt a fantastic experience for them to be one of the crew for a major feature film and to learn from some of the best filmmakers in the world.
“I’m sure it helps their CVs stand out from the crowd - I’m just jealous I wasn’t one of them and can’t say I had the opportunity to work with Tom Cruise!”
Cruise’s presence in Birmingham caused huge excitement during filming back in 2021, with local crowds flocking to see if they could get a glimpse of the star in character as Ethan Hunt.
“During the filming we also kind of acted as security, making sure that no one fans could sneak in,” added Abi.
“On set Tom Cruise would walk past, happy and smiley, he would speak to majority of the cast.
“My final day of filming was such an amazing memory, the roar that happened when Tom looked over the balcony to wave to the crowd was like nothing I have ever heard.
“One of the best things I experienced was going up on top of the Grand Central Train Station and watching the crew put up the huge lights that would beam through to make it look like the Middle Eastern sun, there was so much preparation for even the smallest of scenes.”
The Mission Impossible franchise continues to draw huge numbers at the box office - something Abi and her fellow BCU graduates can take huge pride in as they begin their promising careers in the production industry.
Students at BCU’s Institute of Media and English get access to world-class facilities and work experience opportunities, which prepare them for successful careers in the creative industries.
The University’s facilities include TV studios, some of which are the largest university studios in the UK, alongside industry-standard editing suites – all interconnected and integrated by 22km of wire.