Just bring his husband to the set, please!
So... a peculiar idea. But an idea nonetheless.
Tom ABSOLUTELY adores his husband. Literally.
Many people think—partly due to the management of his public image—that he’s an idiot. Right, fair enough, he can be a bit of a berk, and he only really enjoys being affectionate and patient with his beloved Ry-Ry. But he isn’t as thick as many people like to claim or believe.
After all—even though he’s been in the industry since he was a nipper—Thomas Ryder holds a university degree in acting and fine arts. He definitely has more than two brain cells to rub together, thank you very much.
But, as I was saying from the start, Tom dotes on his husband.
Ryland is, in more ways than one, the love of his life, the very reason for his existence, the light in his darkest moments, and—definitely—the reason he can actually perform in romantic films.
Gail had spent YEARS trying to get Tom to venture into romantic movies or series. His forte, until now, had been action plots—which is how he met Ryland, as he’d be visiting Colt on set—and war films. He’d also featured in historical dramas as a supporting character, war epics, or—occasionally—in comedy series as a recurring character (early in his career) or as part of the main cast (now that he’s at the peak of his career).
But he NEVER took part in projects with romantic storylines. And certainly not as a lead.
In action films, his characters would have some sort of romantic interest. But, since the plot didn't revolve around romance, he didn't really need to share many scenes with the other actor. And, to Tom’s total embarrassment, he admitted that those shots were always left until the very end, given how tense he would get whenever it was time to be affectionate with his co-star.
So... yeah. Tom might be a modern-day sex symbol, capable of flirting with the camera and being all lovey-dovey in interviews... but he couldn't be "believably" romantic on camera.
In fact, many casting directors used to tell Tom that... perhaps romance just wasn't his thing.
Because the man, to put it mildly, was dreadful at pretending to be in love with his castmates. Not to mention, he could be a bit of a numpty with the other actors, which made sharing scenes and photoshoots incredibly difficult.
Until Ryland came into his life.
And blimey, was everyone shocked.
Gail realised, because she’s not blind, that every time Ryland was visiting Tom and Colt on set, it was enough for Ryland to be standing behind the co-star of the moment for Tom to literally nail his lines.
It was almost a miracle. And she wasn't foolish enough to waste that new discovery.
His body (Tom’s) would become less tense, he’d appear more expressive, and his monologues for close-ups definitely flowed faster. Plus, he seemed much kinder to his co-stars—something the production team appreciated immensely.
Did the scene require Tom’s character to be on a romantic call with his love interest? They just had to put Ryland on the other end of the conversation, whether in person or via phone call. The editor would have to cut a few pet names, but nothing major.
Did Tom have to deliver a big romantic confession or gesture, where only he was on screen? But Ryland couldn't make it to the set? Colt—stupidly dressed in Ryland’s clothes with a photo of his twin taped to his face—would just stand where Tom could see him. And Tom would deliver the most romantic speech anyone had ever heard.
Did Tom have to film a scene where his character had to propose to his love interest? He just had to think about recreating the proposal he’d made to Ryland. But, if Ryland was right there, they’d simply dress him in the co-star’s clothes to get several takes of Tom and sort it out in post-production. (Makeup and art literally have a small collection of Ryland in disguise, with costumes, makeup, and wigs, as Tom’s co-star).
Did Tom have a scene scheduled where he had to run—that classic movie trope—after his girl/boy so as not to lose his love? Ha! They just had to tell him to imagine it was Ryland leaving him. The cameraman and his assistants had never run so fast in their lives.
The same went for any scene where they had an argument or Tom cried over the potential loss of his love interest. They only needed Colt to tell him that Ryland was upset with him for Tom to shed tears that looked genuinely convincing. Although, at the end of the day, you could catch him on an endless call with his Ry-Ry, as he wouldn't stop sobbing and Ryland would have to comfort him.
If Tom literally had to film any take where he had to show love, they simply had to tell him to imagine his co-star was his beloved Ry-Ry.
Gail’s most desperate measure, during one particular shoot, was putting a cheap mask on Tom’s co-star, since Ryland was on a school trip with their kids and couldn't get to the set or be on a call. It worked.
Does someone need Tom to act romantically and affectionately with a co-star? They just need to call his husband. And, failing that, call his stunt double and dress him up as his twin brother.
(Imagine this is the face Ryland makes when he's on set with Tom; he finds it absolutely adorable watching his husband pull that look.)
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