阅读詹姆斯·卡梅隆 James Cameron在小说之家的作品!!! | |||
詹姆斯·卡梅隆的作品《阿凡达》堪称世界电影之最，全球票房达到26亿美金，目前是全世界票房收入最高、也是历史之上最成功的电影之一。
詹姆斯·卡梅隆 - 职业生涯
詹姆斯·卡梅隆生于加拿大的安大略省的一个名为Kapuskasing的地方。他父亲Phillip是一位电子工程师，母亲Shirley Cameron则是一位艺术家。全家于1971年移居到美国加利福尼亚州的南部城市贝瑞阿。他曾在加州州立大学学习物理学，不过他只对电影工作感兴趣。他首先以编剧开始他的职业生涯，后来又转向电影的艺术导演以及特效处理工作（例如在电影《世纪争霸战》 以及《逃离纽约》中）。在1981年开始他的导演生涯之前，他还担任过电影Roger Corman的制片。
卡梅隆电影的突破开始于他的特效小组，该特效小组的工作开始于《终结者》（该片的特效虽然在今天看来有些过时，但是在当时算是非常先进了）。而后来他导演的《终结者2：审判日》更是大量使用电脑特技，该片最终获得了奥斯卡的最佳视觉效果、最佳混音、最佳化妆和最佳音效剪辑四项大奖。卡梅隆在1997年导演的电影《泰坦尼克号》同样大范围地使用了电脑特技，也获得了奥斯卡最佳视觉效果奖。泰坦尼克号成为当时投资最为昂贵、票房收入最高也是投资回报最为丰厚的电影。在这部平了奥斯卡获奖记录的电影所获得的十一项大奖中，有三项是属于卡梅隆的，分别是最佳导演、最佳制片以及最佳剪辑。
他一共结过五次婚，他的前妻包括凯瑟琳·毕格罗（1989-91）、琳达·汉密尔顿（Linda Hamilton，1997-99）等人。现任妻子为苏茜·爱米斯（Suzy Amis），他们于2000年6月结婚。
詹姆斯·卡梅隆 - 星路历程
詹姆斯·卡梅隆
少年时的詹姆斯·卡梅隆就具有非凡的工程才能和组织能力，他曾经带领小伙伴们制造过一个足以在地面上留下弹坑的抛石机，以及用一个自制的潜水艇把一只老鼠送到了尼亚加拉河底。在艺术方面，他曾和母亲学习过多年的绘画，并且曾在家乡举办过画展，并且很小就开始写科幻小说，他12岁时所写的一部科幻小说被看作是他的科幻影片《深渊》故事的原型。
14岁的时候，他看到了大师斯坦利·库布里克的《2001太空漫游》。当时卡梅隆被惊呆了，在电影院里连续看了10遍之多，从此在他心灵中萌发了制作电影的愿望。他开始用父亲的8毫米摄影机拍摄一些简陋的影片。
中学毕业以后，詹姆斯·卡梅隆被一所大学的物理系录取，他很快就对大学的课程感到失望，跑出校园闯荡社会。他干过机械修理工，给别人开过大卡车。
1977年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆看到了乔治·卢卡斯的经典科幻影片《星球大战》 ，他激动地意识到这就是他想要创造的东西。这使得詹姆斯·卡梅隆确立了自己的人生方向并开始为此忙碌起来，从未接受过专业训练的他开始到处寻找机会成为电影人，熟悉从镜头到摄影机导轨的各种电影制作器材，甚至和朋友制定了人生第一个拍摄计划，想要利用手头的设备和自制的模型制作一部10分钟的科幻影片！
詹姆斯·卡梅隆是幸运的，他的才华很快就得到了好莱坞制片人罗杰·卡曼的赏识，从罗杰·卡曼那里他得到了人生第一份电影方面的工作——为卡曼工作室1980年的影片《星空大战》制作特技模型，第二年他就升职为这个工作室的另一部影片《恐怖星系》的第二小组导演和电影制作设计师。詹姆斯·卡梅隆是少有的以特技设计出身的导演之一，在以后的电影创作中，詹姆斯·卡梅隆一向把特技制作放在一个极其重要的位置，而且还经常亲自参与设计和实施特技的制作。在詹姆斯·卡梅隆的电影里，卓越的特技制作不但总是创造出令人目瞪口呆、热血沸腾的视觉效果，而且能够和情节自然地融为一体，丝毫没有生硬和炫耀的感觉。但这并不是说，特技就是詹姆斯·卡梅隆电影的全部。詹姆斯·卡梅隆不但是个优秀的特技工程人员，更具有一般的工程人员不具备的想象力，以及一些别的东西。
1981年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆的第一部导演作品问世。这部名叫《食人鱼2：繁殖》的影片完全在意大利拍摄，詹姆斯·卡梅隆和一口意大利语的工作人员相处得并不愉快，而拍摄完毕后，制片方出于对这个羽翼未丰的导演的轻视，不让他参与影片的最终剪辑。25岁的詹姆斯·卡梅隆一气之下，用一张信用卡撬开了工作室的门，自己想方设法学会使用了意大利的剪辑机，用几个星期的时间自己剪辑了整部片子。在这个过程中，詹姆斯·卡梅隆下定决心不再为任何人卖命，一定要制作自己的电影。
在意大利期间，詹姆斯·卡梅隆备受疾病、饥饿和贫困的折磨。痛苦的经历使他每晚噩梦缠身，一次他做了一个非常清晰的噩梦：被一个来自未来的机器杀手追杀。根据噩梦的内容，詹姆斯·卡梅隆写了一个浸满其卓越才华的电影剧本《终结者》 。他把这个剧本以一美元的价格卖给了制片人盖尔·安妮·赫德，条件是让他以自己的方式导演这部影片。盖尔答应了他的要求。
1984年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆推出了他第一部自编自导的影片《终结者》。这部影片的拍摄只花了650万美元，却赚得了3600万美元的国内票房，并赢得了影迷和评论界的一致好评。 《终结者》的成功使得詹姆斯·卡梅隆获得了电影界的广泛关注。
1985年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆和西尔维斯特·史泰龙一起撰写了《第一滴血2》的剧本，这部影片同样也取得了票房上的成功。
1986年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆自编自导的第二部作品《异形2》问世。这部影片是著名导演雷德利·斯科特的科幻经典《异形》的重拍版。詹姆斯·卡梅隆编导的这部影片的续集明智地避免了重复原片的风格，而是把人和异形的战场从单个的太空船搬到了一个巨大的太空基地，以一种动作片的风格重新演绎了发生在太空的恐怖故事，整部影片洋溢着一种英雄主义的精神。此片的视觉效果也绝对一流，其美工设计给人一种卡梅隆影片所一贯具有的，纯粹的(而非形式主义的)机械审美快感，而其特技制作也堪称达到了电脑生成影像参与电影制作之前的高峰。《异形》获得了七项奥斯卡提名，其中包括西格妮·韦弗的最佳女主角提名，结果获得了最佳音响剪辑和最佳视觉效果奖。
詹姆斯·卡梅隆
1989年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆自编自导的第三部重量级作品《深渊》问世。这部科幻影片和卡梅隆的其它同类作品有些不同，虽然其中穿插了很多惊险的打斗和关于海底神秘生物的描述，但它重点还是用一种比较慢的节奏，在一个科幻的背景下讲述了一个关于夫妻感情的故事。很多观众认为这部影片的节奏过慢，使人昏昏欲睡，这使得这部影片的票房不如卡梅隆的其它影片卖座。但也有很多影迷被片中人物的感情所打动。在撰写《深渊》的剧本时，卡麦隆正在经历和第二任妻子——电影制作人盖尔·安妮·赫德的感情危机，自然地把自己的经历带入了创作之中，把男女主人公的感情纠葛写得感人至深。
1991年，被影迷们盼望已久的《终结者2》终于浮出水面，这部影片震惊影坛，并且赚得了2亿美元的国内票房，获得了四项奥斯卡奖(最佳视觉效果、最佳音响、最佳化妆和最佳音效剪辑)。《终结者2》宣告了一个时代的来临，人们终于相信，电影特技表现已经无所不能，唯一的制约只是人们的想象力。在每个单个的场面中，詹姆斯·卡梅隆也发挥了卓越的导演和剪辑才能，在场面调度、蒙太奇的使用和时间的控制等方面达到了完美的境界。
在《终结者2》之后，詹姆斯·卡梅隆于1993年成立了自己的特技制作公司“数字领域”，和卢卡斯的“工业光魔”分庭抗礼。1994年由“数字领域”制作特技的第一部影片《真实的谎言》出炉。这部影片试图把间谍惊险片和喜剧情节有机地结合起来，成功地发掘出了动作明星施瓦辛格的幽默潜力，但它给人留下最深印象的还是结尾那一架“海鹞”式垂直起落战斗机。它在海天一色的背景下发射“小牛”导弹打中跨海大桥的场面既壮观华美，又具有军事演习一样的真实感；而后来的机翼上的搏杀又呈现出繁复和夸张的卡通风格。作为导演，詹姆斯·卡梅隆能够选中这种独特的武器扮演片中“重要角色”，并且把它的魅力发挥到极致，又一次证明了他对机器美的特殊爱好和感悟力。另一方面，和多数影片把特工人员描绘成冷酷无情的杀人机器相反，《真实的谎言》把他们描绘成传统意义上的“好人”，再一次体现了卡梅隆特有的乐观主义精神。
1997年，詹姆斯·卡梅隆拍摄了著名的《泰坦尼克号》。一心追求自己心目中完美目标的精神的他，在《泰坦尼克号》中得到了最高的体现，詹姆斯·卡梅隆亲自操办了几乎每一件事，从给特技人员画受力分析图讲解大船沉没的原理，到为片中的杰克提笔画素描。在拍摄过程中，詹姆斯·卡梅隆对演员和职员也非常的严格。投资方的冷言冷语、手下的怨声载道、酷寒的海水，再加上拍摄过程中遇到的难以想象的困难，这一切使卡梅隆几乎到了崩溃的边缘，但他仍然坚持着，并且喊出了近乎悲壮的豪言壮语：“‘泰坦尼克号’可沉，《泰坦尼克号》不可沉！”
这一切的努力终究没有白费。在《泰坦尼克号》推出3个月后，全美票房收入高达4亿7千万美元，而国际票房更是超过了18亿，使这部影片成为了最卖座的影片之一。这部影片更是获得了14个奥斯卡奖的提名并获得了其中的11个，平了《宾虚》的纪录。詹姆斯·卡梅隆也因此获得了第70届奥斯卡最佳导演奖。在颁奖晚会上，卡梅隆近乎疯狂地举起奥斯卡奖，大声说出片中的著名台词：“我是世界之王！”
辉煌之后，詹姆斯·卡梅隆却出人意料地选择了“消失”，《泰坦尼克号》之后他一直没有推出大的银幕作品，直到2009年，他才正式宣布开拍他的新片——— 《阿凡达》 ，这是一部真人表演结合电脑CG动画的科幻大片，全球影迷引颈以待，对卡梅隆的最新大作寄予厚望。
詹姆斯·卡梅隆 - 婚姻生活
第一任妻子
卡梅隆和吉尔·安妮·赫德手捧《异形》海报
1978～1984——莎朗·威廉斯(Sharon Williams)
高中毕业后，卡梅隆对科学很感兴趣，于是去了加州州立大学富勒顿学院念书。但很快，这个年轻人便辍学去找了份工作。就在这一时期，他跟做服务生的莎朗·威廉斯结了婚。此时卡梅隆仍然对是否跨入电影行业犹豫不决。又过了几年，他才下决心去好莱坞闯荡。一个偶然的机会里，卡梅隆跟一群朋友一起合作，炮制了一部10分钟长的科幻短片——《世代交替》(Xenogenesis)，这让卡梅隆的一只脚趾跨入了电影行业。
1980年，卡梅隆进入罗杰·考曼公司为小成本影片制作模型。不久，他便得到了挂名执导《食人鱼2》的机会。这段时期里，卡梅隆非常不爽。一来他是片场杂役，二来自己雄心勃勃执导的片子被改得面目全非。失意的卡梅隆在意大利拍片期间做了一个被未来杀手回来把自己杀死的梦。卡梅隆后来把这个梦写成了剧本，取名《终结者》 。
在罗杰·考曼公司工作时，卡梅隆结识了吉尔·安妮·赫德。后来赫德成立了制片公司，并答应由卡梅隆亲自执导《终结者》。1984年，《终结者》大卖，但此时卡梅隆的心已经不在妻子莎朗身上了。卡梅隆在事业起步时跟同甘共苦的发妻离了婚。
此时的卡梅隆虽然前途无量，但仍是个穷光蛋。他为这次离婚向妻子支付了1,200美元。
第二任妻子
1985～1989——吉尔·安妮·赫德(Gale Anne Hurd)
写就《终结者》的剧本后，卡梅隆开始寻找制片公司兜售剧本。就现实而言，卡梅隆太过异想天开了。根本不会有人启用一个初哥去执导这样一部科幻片。可上帝就是喜欢开玩笑，一家叫海姆蒂尔(Hemdale Pictures)的制片公司愿意让卡梅隆亲自执导这部电影。更加不可思议的是，卡梅隆的老相识，美艳的吉尔·安妮·赫德刚刚成立了自己的西太平洋制作公司(Pacific Western Productions)，并允诺以一美元的价格购买卡梅隆的《终结者》剧本，同时给予卡梅隆导演权。
《终结者》拍片期间，制片人吉尔给了这个大龄新手极大的信任与关怀。《终结者》大获成功，全球票房高达7,800万美元。这部制作成本650万美元，连音轨都是可怜的单声道的小成本科幻片缔造了又一个影史奇迹。
制片人吉尔为卡梅隆的才华倾倒，并立即投入了他的怀抱。《终结者》后，吉尔与卡梅隆又合作了《异形2》和《深渊》两部电影。
身为制片人，吉尔要时刻考虑预算。但很多时候制片人跟导演是对立的。这种工作上的合作关系影响了吉尔跟卡梅隆的感情。《深渊》上映前，两人离了婚。
尽管离婚，吉尔仍然是个头脑清醒的职业电影人。两年后，她又邀请卡梅隆再度出山，拍摄了《终结者2》，并给予卡梅隆最大的预算支持。
第三任妻子
卡梅隆携妻子苏西-埃米斯亮相伦敦
1989～1991——凯瑟琳·毕格罗(Kathryn Bigelow)
凯瑟琳·毕格罗是个样貌迷人且才华出众的电影人，对黑暗惊悚题材影片很感兴趣。跟卡梅隆交往不久，两人便结了婚。
1991年，凯瑟琳执导了由卡梅隆制片的《惊爆点》。影片十分成功，但两人的感情却因合作期间产生的摩擦出现裂痕。这段婚姻仅仅维持了两年便草草收场。
同吉尔一样，凯瑟琳跟卡梅隆分手后仍然乐意跟他合作。1995年，凯瑟琳执导了根据卡梅伦原创故事—— 《末世纪暴潮》改编的科幻片。这部电影有着《银翼杀手》的味道。凯瑟琳·毕格罗《拆弹部队》如今卡梅隆在金球奖和奥斯卡上的最强对手之一。
第四任妻子
1997～1999——琳达·汉密尔顿(Linda Hamilton)
琳达跟卡梅隆的合作始于1984年。卡梅隆凭借《终结者》一片捧红了这个藉藉无名的女演员。跟卡梅隆合作时，她已经跟男演员布鲁斯·艾伯特结了婚。1989年，琳达生下了儿子。一年以后，她便为出演《终结者2》疯狂锻炼身体。影片中没人看得出她是个刚过哺乳期不久的母亲，她全身有着棱角分明的肌肉。
琳达生下儿子不久便跟丈夫离了婚。对卡梅隆的崇拜让她跟这位导演走得很近。可此时卡梅隆已经对婚姻感到了疲惫。
1993年2月，琳达为卡梅隆生下了女儿约瑟芬。1997年7月，经过漫长的婚姻长跑，两人终于结了婚。可不幸的是，琳达发现卡梅隆是个魔鬼，尽管才华横溢。
这段婚姻仅仅维持了18个月，于1999年结束。根据婚前协议，琳达向卡梅隆支付了5,000万美元。这次离婚被誉为史上最离婚的婚姻之一。
第五任妻子
2000至今——苏西·埃米斯(Suzy Amis)
1997年，卡梅隆的《泰坦尼克号》让全世界为之倾倒。在片中饰演罗丝孙女的苏西以一种温婉的形象在片中出现，令人印象深刻。2000年时，刚刚走出上段婚姻的卡梅隆决心迎娶这个温顺的女人做他太太。
跟卡梅隆的几位前妻相比，苏西十分温顺低调，两人也很少发生摩擦。婚后苏西彻底退出影坛，为卡梅隆生下了克莱尔、奎恩和伊丽莎白。卡梅隆家族自此人丁兴旺。
詹姆斯·卡梅隆 - 导演作品
科幻巨片《阿凡达》
导演的电影作品
《铳梦》Battle angle-----(2011)
《阿凡达》Avatar ------- (2009)
《深海异形》 Aliens of the Deep ------- (2005)
《深渊幽灵》 Ghosts of the Abyss ------- (2003)
《重返俾斯麦战舰》 Expedition: Bismarck ------- (2002)
《末世黑天使》 "Dark Angel" Pilot: Part 1 ------- (2000)
《泰坦尼克号》 Titanic ------- (1997)
《真实的谎言》True Lies ------- (1994)
《终结者2：审判日》Terminator 2: Judgment Day ------- (1991)
《深渊》The Abyss ------- (1989)
《异形2》 Aliens ------- (1986)
《终结者》The Terminator ------- (1984)
《食人鱼2：繁殖》 Piranha Part Two: The Spawning ------- (1981)
参演的电影作品
《深海异形》 Aliens of the Deep ------- (2005)
《深渊幽灵》 Ghosts of the Abyss ------- (2003)
《重返俾斯麦战舰》 Expedition: Bismarck ------- (2002)
《末世黑天使》 "Dark Angel" Pilot: Part 1 ------- (2000)
《缪斯女神》The Muse ------- (1999)
编剧的电影作品
《化身》 Avatar ------- (2009)
《铳梦》 Battle Angel ------- (2011)
《终结者4：救世主》Terminator Salvation ------- (2009)
《终结者外传》 "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" ------- (2008)
《终结者3：机器的兴起》 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ------- (2003)
《末世黑天使》"Dark Angel" ------- (2000)
《末世天使1》 "Dark Angel" Pilot: Part 1 ------- (2000)
《泰坦尼克号》Titanic ------- (1997)
《末世纪暴潮》 Strange Days ------- (1995)
《真实的谎言》 True Lies ------- (1994)
《终结者2：审判日》Terminator 2: Judgment Day ------- (1991)
《深渊》 The Abyss ------- (1989)
《异形2》 Aliens ------- (1986)
《第一滴血2》 Rambo: First Blood Part II ------- (1985)
《终结者》The Terminator ------- (1984)
参与制作的电影作品
《铳梦》 Battle Angel ------- (2011)
《化身》 Avatar ------- (2009)
《深海异形》 Aliens of the Deep ------- (2005)
《深渊幽灵》 Ghosts of the Abyss ------- (2003)
《重返俾斯麦战舰》 Expedition: Bismarck ------- (2002)
《飞向太空2002》Solaris ------- (2002)
《末世黑天使》Dark Angel" ------- (2000)
《末世天使1 》"Dark Angel" Pilot: Part 1 ------- (2000)
《泰坦尼克号》Titanic ------- (1997)
《末世纪暴潮》 Strange Days ------- (1995)
《真实的谎言》True Lies ------- (1994)
《终结者2：审判日》Terminator 2: Judgment Day ------- (1991)
《终极豪情》 Point Break ------- (1991)
詹姆斯·卡梅隆 - 所获荣誉
1998年第70届奥斯卡最佳导演奖
1998年第70届奥斯卡最佳电影剪辑奖
1998年第55届金球奖 最佳导演奖
1998年堪萨斯城影评人协会最佳导演奖
1998年拉斯维加斯影评人协会最佳导演奖
2010年9月，美国制片人工会将授予《阿凡达》导演詹姆斯·卡梅隆终身成就奖，以表彰他本人对电影做出的卓越贡献，这一奖项将于明年1月正式颁发。
詹姆斯·卡梅隆 - 人物评价
詹姆斯·卡梅隆
詹姆斯·卡梅隆，美国导演(兼编剧、制片)，舍得花钱，不惜代价追求最极致的视觉效果，作品富有想像力和震撼力。创造影史票房最高记录。在每一篇详尽描述詹姆斯·卡梅隆生平的文章里，几乎都要不可避免地使用“恶名昭著”这个词——没错，他在拍摄地是个苟求、专横的“暴君”；在家庭中是个不会体贴并且见异思迁的丈夫；在好莱坞同行看来，卡梅隆是一个偏执狂和烧钱的机器。然而在很多普通影迷眼里，这些指责完全无关紧要，它们不是鸡蛋里挑骨头就是出于嫉妒的恶意攻击，世界上只有一个詹姆斯·卡梅隆，那就是大英雄詹姆斯·卡梅隆、大天才詹姆斯·卡梅隆、无以伦比，无所不能的大导演詹姆斯·卡梅隆。
无疑，詹姆斯·卡梅隆是二十世界最引人注目的导演之一，他曾经两度创造电影投资的最高纪录，拍摄过一部世界上有史以来最卖座的影片，平了一部影片获得奥斯卡奖数目的纪录，并且每一部影片都为以后的电影树立了技术的标杆。在说起詹姆斯·卡梅隆的时候，人们不免要提到另一位杰出的商业片导演斯蒂文·斯皮尔伯格，能跟这位二十世纪的电影巨人相提并论，本身就说明了卡梅隆在人们心目中的崇高地位。
跟他合作过《泰坦尼克号》的凯特·温斯莱特曾坦言，如果没有一大笔片酬，那么她将不打算再跟卡梅隆合作。她承认卡梅隆是个好人，但脾气太差了。有人甚至描述说，“跟卡梅隆一起工作简直是场噩梦。”这样的人际关系让很多人跟卡梅隆有过短暂合作后避之不及。但同时，也有许多人为卡梅隆的才华倾倒。一些演职人员跟随卡梅隆多年，成为卡梅隆的固定合作伙伴。另有一些女人则深深爱上了卡梅隆。她们跟卡梅隆的婚姻都算不上长久，她们迷恋他的才华，却又无法和他相处……
In total, Cameron's directorial efforts have grossed approximately US$2 billion in North America and US$6 billion worldwide. Without adjusting for inflation, Cameron's Titanic and Avatar are the two highest-grossing films of all time at $1.8 billion and $2.7 billion respectively. In terms of worldwide gross, he is the second-highest grossing director of all time, behind Steven Spielberg.
Background
Cameron was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada, the son of Shirley, an artist and nurse and Phillip Cameron, an electrical engineer. His paternal great-great-great-grandfather emigrated from Balquhidder, Scotland in 1825; thus, he descends from Clan Cameron.
Cameron grew up in Chippawa, Ontario and attended Stamford Collegiate School in Niagara Falls; his family moved to Brea, California in 1971 when he was 17. Cameron enrolled at Fullerton College, a 2-year community college, in 1973 to study Physics. He switched to English, then dropped out before the start of the fall 1974 semester.
After dropping out, he worked several jobs such as truck driving and wrote when he had time. During this period he taught himself about special effects: "I'd go down to the USC library and pull any thesis that graduate students had written about optical printing, or front screen projection, or dye transfers, anything that related to film technology. That way I could sit down and read it, and if they'd let me photocopy it, I would. If not, I'd make notes."
After seeing the original Star Wars film in 1977, Cameron quit his job as a truck driver to enter the film industry. When Cameron read Syd Field's book Screenplay, it occurred to him that integrating science and art was possible, and he wrote a ten minute science fiction script with two friends, entitled Xenogenesis. They raised money and rented camera, lenses, film stocks, and studio, and shot it in 35mm. To understand how to operate the camera, they dismantled it and spent the first half-day of the shoot trying to figure out how to get it running.
[edit]Early career
As Cameron continued educating himself in techniques, he started as a miniature model maker at Roger Corman Studios. Making fast, low-budget productions taught Cameron to work efficiently and effectively. He soon was an art director in the sci-fi movie Battle Beyond the Stars (1980). He did special effects work design and direction on John Carpenter's Escape from New York (1981), acted as production designer on Galaxy of Terror (1981), and consulted on the design of Android (1982) .
Cameron was hired as the special effects director for the sequel of Piranha, entitled Piranha II: The Spawning in 1981. However, the director left the project and Cameron was hired by Italian producer Assonitis to take over, giving him his first directorial job. He worked with producer Roger Corman. The interior scenes were filmed in Rome, Italy while the underwater diving sequences were shot at Grand Cayman Island.
The movie was to be produced in Jamaica, but when Cameron arrived at the studio, he discovered that the project was under-financed and his crew comprised primarily Italians who spoke no English. Under duress, Cameron says, he had a nightmare about an invincible robot hitman sent from the future to kill him, giving him the idea for The Terminator, which would later catapult his filming career.
[edit]Major films
[edit]The Terminator (1984)
Main article: The Terminator
After completing a screenplay for The Terminator, Cameron decided to sell it so that he could direct the movie. However, the production companies he contacted, while expressing interest in the project, were unwilling to let a first-time feature film director make the movie. Finally, Cameron found a company called Hemdale Pictures, which was willing to let him direct. Gale Anne Hurd, who had started her own production company, Pacific Western Productions, had previously worked with Cameron in Roger Corman's company and agreed to buy Cameron's screenplay for one dollar, on the condition that Cameron direct the film. Hurd was signed on as producer, and Cameron finally got his first break as director. Orion Pictures distributed the film.
Cameron in September 1986
Initially, for the role of the Terminator, Cameron wanted someone who wasn't exceptionally muscular, and who could "blend into" a normal crowd. Lance Henriksen, who had starred in Piranha II: The Spawning, was considered for the titular role, but when Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cameron first met over lunch to discuss Schwarzenegger playing the role of Kyle Reese, both came to the conclusion that the cyborg villain would be the more compelling role for the Austrian bodybuilder; Henriksen got the smaller part of LAPD detective Hal Vukovich and the role of Kyle Reese went to Michael Biehn. In addition, Linda Hamilton first appeared in this film in her iconic role of Sarah Connor, and later married Cameron.
The Terminator was a box office hit, breaking expectations by Orion Pictures executives that the film would be regarded as no more than a sci-fi film, and only last a week in theaters. It was a low-budget film which cost $6.5 million to make, cutting expenses in such ways as recording the audio track in mono. However, The Terminator eventually earned over $78 million worldwide.
[edit]Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Main article: Rambo: First Blood Part II
During the early 1980s, Cameron wrote three screenplays simultaneously: The Terminator, Aliens, and the first draft of Rambo: First Blood Part II. While Cameron continued with The Terminator and Aliens, Sylvester Stallone eventually took over the script of Rambo: First Blood Part II, creating a final draft which differed radically from Cameron's initial version. Cameron was credited for his screenplay in the film's final credits.
[edit]Aliens (1986)
Main article: Aliens (film)
The producing team behind Aliens, James Cameron and Gale Ann Hurd
Cameron next began the sequel to Alien, the 1979 film by Ridley Scott. Cameron named the sequel Aliens, and again cast Sigourney Weaver in the iconic role of Ellen Ripley. According to Cameron, the crew on Aliens was hostile to him, regarding him as a poor substitute for Ridley Scott. Cameron sought to show them The Terminator but the majority of the crew refused and remained skeptical of his direction throughout production. Despite this and other off-screen problems (such as clashing with an uncooperative camera man and having to replace one of the lead actors - Michael Biehn of Terminator took James Remar's place as Corporal Hicks), Aliens became a box office success, and received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Weaver, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and won awards for Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects. In addition, the film and its lead actress made the cover of TIME magazine as a result of its breakthrough feminist themes about women in combat. Following the phenomenal success of the film, Cameron now had more freedom to make whatever projects he wanted.
[edit]The Abyss (1989)
Main article: The Abyss
Cameron's next project stemmed from an idea that had come up during a high school biology class. The story of oil-rig workers who discover otherworldly underwater creatures became the basis of Cameron's screenplay for The Abyss, which cast Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn. Initially budgeted at $41 million U.S. (though the production ran considerably over budget), it was considered to be one of the most expensive films of its time, and required cutting-edge effects technology. Because much of the film takes place underwater and the technology wasn't advanced enough to digitally create an underwater environment, Cameron chose to shoot much of the movie "reel-for-real", at depths of up to 40 feet (12 m). For creation of the sets, the containment building of an unfinished nuclear power plant was converted, and two huge tanks were used. The main tank was filled with 7,500,000 US gallons (28,400,000 L) of water, and the second with 2,500,000 US gallons (9,500,000 L). The cast and crew resided there for much of the shooting.
[edit]Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Main article: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
After the success of The Terminator, there had always been talks about a sequel to continue the story of Sarah Connor and her struggle against machines from the future. Although Cameron had come up with a core idea for the sequel, and Schwarzenegger expressed interest in continuing the story, there were still problems regarding who had the rights to the story, as well as the logistics of the special effects needed to make the sequel. Finally, in late-1980s, Mario Kassar of Carolco Pictures secured the rights to the sequel, allowing Cameron to greenlight production of the film, now called Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
For the film, Linda Hamilton reprised her iconic role of Sarah Connor. In addition, Schwarzenegger also returned in his role as The Terminator, but this time as a protector. Unlike the T-800, who is made of a metal endoskeleton, the new villain of the sequel, called the T-1000, was a more advanced Terminator made of liquid metal, and with polymorphic abilities. The T-1000 would also be much less bulky than the T-800. For the role, Cameron cast Robert Patrick, a sharp contrast to Schwarzenegger. Cameron explained, "I wanted someone who was extremely fast and agile. If the T-800 is a human Panzer tank, then the T-1000 is a Porsche."
Cameron had originally wanted to incorporate this advanced-model Terminator into the first film, but the special effects at the time were not advanced enough. The ground-breaking effects used in The Abyss to digitally depict the water tentacle convinced Cameron that his liquid metal villain was now possible.
TriStar Pictures agreed to distribute the film, but under a locked release date only about one year after the start of shooting. The movie, co-written by Cameron and his longtime friend, William Wisher, Jr., had to go from screenplay to finished film in just that amount of time. Like Cameron's previous film, it was one of the most expensive films of its era, with a budget of about $100 million. The biggest challenge of the movie was the special effects used in creating the T-1000. Nevertheless, the film was finished on time, and released to theaters on July 3, 1991.
Terminator 2, or T2, as it was abbreviated, broke box-office records (including the opening weekend record for an R-rated film), earning over $200 million in the United States and Canada, and over $300 million in other territories, and became the highest-grossing film of that year. It won four Academy Awards: Best Makeup, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects. It was also nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing, but lost both Awards to JFK.
James Cameron announced a third Terminator film many times during the 1990s, but without coming out with any finished scripts. Kassar and Vajna purchased the rights to the Terminator franchise from a bankruptcy sale of Carolco's assets. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was eventually made and released in July 2003 without Cameron's involvement. Jonathan Mostow directed the film and Schwarzenegger returned as the Terminator.
Cameron reunited with the main cast of Terminator 2 to film T2 3-D: Battle Across Time, an attraction at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. It was released in 1996 and was a mini-sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The show is in two parts: a prequel segment in which a spokesperson talks about Cyberdyne, and a main feature, in which the performers interact with a 3-D movie.
[edit]True Lies (1994)
Main article: True Lies
Before the release of T2, Schwarzenegger came to Cameron with the idea of making a remake of the French comedy La Totale! Titled True Lies, with filming beginning after T2's release, the story revolves around a secret-agent spy who leads a double life as a married man, whose wife believes he is a computer salesman. Schwarzenegger was cast as Harry Tasker, a spy charged with stopping a plan by a terrorist to use nuclear weapons against the United States. Jamie Lee Curtis and Eliza Dushku played the character's family, and Tom Arnold the sidekick.
Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment signed on with Twentieth Century Fox for production of True Lies. Made on a budget of $115 million and released in 1994, the film earned $146 million in North America, and $232 million abroad. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.
[edit]Titanic (1997)
Main article: Titanic (1997 film)
Cameron expressed interest in the famous sinking of the ship RMS Titanic. He decided to script and film his next project based on this event. The picture revolved around a fictional romance story between two young lovers from different social classes who meet onboard the ship's maiden voyage. Before production began, he took dives to the bottom of the Atlantic and shot actual footage of the ship underwater, which he inserted into the final film.
For the film Titanic, Cameron cast Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and Billy Zane. Cameron's budget for the film reached about $200 million, making it the most expensive movie ever made at the time. Before its release, the film was widely ridiculed for its expense and protracted production schedule.
Released to theaters on December 19, 1997, Titanic grossed less in its first weekend ($28.6 million) than in its second, ($35.4 million), an increase of 23.8%. This is unheard of for a widely released film, which is a testament to the movie's appeal. This was especially noteworthy, considering that the film's running time of more than three hours limited the number of showings each theater could schedule. It held the No. 1 spot on the box-office charts for months, eventually grossing a total of over $600 million in the United States and Canada and more than $1.8 billion worldwide. Titanic became the highest-grossing film ever made, until Cameron's 2009 film Avatar. The CG visuals surrounding the sinking and destruction of the ship were considered spectacular. Despite criticism during production of the film, it received a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations (tied with All About Eve) at the 1998 Academy Awards. It won 11 Oscars (also record-tying with Ben-Hur and later The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), including Best Picture, Editing, Sound, Special Effects, Music and Score, and the Best Director award for Cameron. Upon receiving the award, Cameron exclaimed, "I'm king of the world!", in reference to one of the main characters' lines from the film. In March 2010, Cameron revealed that Titanic will be re-released in 3D in April 2012, in order to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the actual ship.
[edit]Spider-Man and Dark Angel (2000–2002)
Main articles: Spider-Man (film series)#Development and Dark Angel (TV series)
Cameron had initially next planned to do a film of the comic book character Spider-Man, a project developed by Menahem Golan of Cannon Films. Columbia hired David Koepp to adapt Cameron's treatment into a screenplay, and Koepp's first draft is taken often word-for-word from Cameron's story,[citation needed] though later drafts were heavily rewritten by Koepp himself, Scott Rosenberg, Alvin Sargent, and (allegedly)[by whom?] Ivan Raimi, brother of director Sam Raimi. Columbia preferred to credit David Koepp solely, and none of the scripts before or after his were ever examined by the Writers Guild of America, East to determine proper credit attribution.[citation needed] Cameron and other writers objected, but Columbia and the WGA prevailed. In its release in 2002, Spider-Man had its screenplay credited solely to Koepp.
Unable to make Spider-Man, Cameron moved to television and created Dark Angel, a superheroine-centered series influenced by cyberpunk, biopunk, contemporary superhero franchises, and third-wave feminism. Co-produced with Charles H. Eglee, Dark Angel starred Jessica Alba as Max Guevara, a genetically enhanced transgenic super-soldier created by a secretive organization. Cameron's work was said to "bring empowered female warriors back to television screens[...] by mixing the sober feminism of his The Terminator and Aliens characters with the sexed-up Girl Power of a Britney Spears concert." While a success in its first season, low ratings in the second led to its cancellation. Cameron himself directed the series finale, a two-hour episode wrapping up many of the series' loose ends.
[edit]Documentaries (2002–2009)
Cameron's recent projects have included undersea documentaries on the Bismarck (Expedition: Bismarck, 2002) and the Titanic (Ghosts of the Abyss (2003, in IMAX 3D) and Tony Robinson's Titanic Adventure (2005). He was a producer on the 2002 film Solaris, and narrated The Exodus Decoded.
Cameron in September 2007
Cameron is a leading advocate for stereoscopic digital 3-D films. In a 2003 interview about his IMAX 3D documentary Ghosts of the Abyss, he mentioned that he is "going to do everything in 3D now". He has made similar statements in other interviews. Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep (also an IMAX documentary) were both shot in 3-D and released by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, and Cameron did the same for his new project, Avatar for 20th Century Fox & Sony Pictures' Columbia Pictures. He intends to use the same technology for The Dive, Sanctum and an adaptation of the manga series Battle Angel Alita.
Cameron was a co-founder and former CEO of Digital Domain, a visual effects production and technology company.
In addition, he plans to create a 3-D project about the first trip to Mars. ("I've been very interested in the Humans to Mars movement—the 'Mars Underground'—and I've done a tremendous amount of personal research for a novel, a miniseries, and a 3-D film.") He is on the science team for the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory.
Cameron announced on February 26, 2007, that he, along with his director, Simcha Jacobovici, have documented the unearthing of the Talpiot Tomb, which is alleged to be the tomb of Jesus. Unearthed in 1980 by Israeli construction workers, the names on the tomb are claimed, by Cameron, to correlate with the names of Jesus and several individuals closely associated with him. Cameron further claims to have DNA tests, archaeological evidence, and Biblical studies to back up his claim. The documentary, named The Lost Tomb of Jesus, was broadcast on the Discovery Channel on March 4, 2007.
[edit]Avatar (2009)
Main article: Avatar (2009 film)
Cameron promoting Avatar during the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con
In June 2005, Cameron was announced to be working on a project tentatively titled "Project 880" (now known to be Avatar) in parallel with another project, Battle Angel. Both movies were to be shot in 3D. By December, Cameron stated that he wanted to film Battle Angel first, followed by Avatar. However in February 2006, he switched goals for the two film projects and decided to film Avatar first. He mentioned that if both films are successful, he would be interested in seeing a trilogy being made for both.
Avatar had an estimated budget of over $300 million and was released on December 18, 2009. This marked his first feature film since 1997's Titanic . It is composed almost entirely of computer-generated animation, using a more advanced version of the "performance capture" technique used by director Robert Zemeckis in The Polar Express. James Cameron wrote an 80 page scriptment for Avatar in 1995 and announced in 1996 that he would make the film after completing Titanic. In December 2006, Cameron explained that the delay in producing the film since the 1990s had been to wait until the technology necessary to create his project was advanced enough. The film was originally scheduled to be released in May 2009 but was pushed back to December 2009 to allow more time for post production on the complex CGI and to give more time for theatres worldwide to install 3D projectors. Cameron originally intended Avatar to be 3D-only. The film went on to break the record for highest-grossing film ever, beating Cameron's previous film Titanic. Avatar also became the first movie to ever earn more than $2 billion worldwide. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won three for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction. Cameron lost the award for Best Director to his ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow, who also took Best Picture with her film The Hurt Locker.
[edit]Awards
Cameron receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2009
Cameron received the Bradbury Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1991—but, being primarily thought of as a genre filmmaker, he did not receive any major mainstream filmmaking awards prior to Titanic. With Titanic, Cameron received Academy Awards for Best Film Editing (shared with Conrad Buff and Richard A. Harris), Best Picture (shared with Jon Landau), and Best Director. He also won a Golden Globe Award for best director for the film.
In recognition of "a distinguished career as a Canadian filmmaker", Carleton University, Ottawa, awarded Cameron the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts on June 13, 1998. Cameron accepted the degree in person and gave the Convocation Address.[citation needed]
He also received an honorary doctorate in October, 1998 from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, for his accomplishments in the international film industry.
In 1998, Cameron attended convocation to receive an honorary doctorate of Laws from Ryerson University, Toronto. The university awards its highest honor to those who have made extraordinary contributions in Canada, or internationally.
In 1999, Cameron received the honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton, where he had been a student in the 1970s. He received the degree at the university's annual Commencement exercises that year, where he gave the keynote speech.
In recognition of his contributions to underwater filming and remote vehicle technology, the University of Southampton awarded Cameron the honorary degree of Doctor of the University. Cameron received his degree in person at the graduation ceremony in July, 2004.[citation needed]
On June 3, 2008, it was announced that he would be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. On December 18, 2009, the same day Avatar was released worldwide, Cameron received the 2,396th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On February 28, 2010 James Cameron was honored with a Visual Effects Society (VES) Lifetime Achievement Award.
With Avatar, Cameron has been nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Picture (shared with Jon Landau), Best Director and Best Film Editing (shared with John Refoua and Stephen E. Rivkin) and received the Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Director. Cameron and Avatar lost the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture to Cameron's former wife Kathryn Bigelow for her film, The Hurt Locker.
On September 24, 2010 James Cameron was named Number 1 in The 2010 Guardian Film Power 100 list. In a list compiled by the British magazine New Statesman in September 2010, he was listed 30thin the list of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010".
[edit]Awards by film
Year Film Role Notes
1981 Piranha II: The Spawning Director Nominated – Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award Best Film
1984 The Terminator Director, Writer Saturn Award Best Writing
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival Grand Prize
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Direction
1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II Writer Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay
1986 Aliens Director, Writer Saturn Award for Best Direction
Saturn Award Best Writing
Kinema Junpo Awards Best Foreign Language Film
Hugo Award Best Dramatic Presentation
1989 The Abyss Director, Writer Saturn Award for Best Direction
Nominated – Saturn Award Best Writing
Nominated – Hugo Award Best Dramatic Presentation
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Director, Writer and Producer Saturn Award for Best Direction
Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film
Mainichi Film Award Best Foreign Language Film
Hugo Award Best Dramatic Presentation
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Bradbury Award
Nominated – Saturn Award Best Writing
1994 True Lies Director, Writer and Producer Saturn Award for Best Direction
1995 Strange Days Writer and Producer Nominated – Saturn Award Best Writing
1997 Titanic Director/Writer/Producer/Editor Academy Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Film Editing
Amanda Award Best Foreign Film
Eddie Award Best Edited Feature Film
Blue Ribbon Award Best Foreign Language Film
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
Empire Award for Best Film
Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Film
Golden Globe Award for Best Director
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
Hochi Film Award Best Foreign Language Film
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award Best Director
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award Best Film
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Director
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture
Mainichi Film Award Best Foreign Language Film
National Board of Review Award Special Citation For the use of special effects technology
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director
Producers Guild of America Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award
Satellite Award for Best Director
Satellite Award for Best Editing
Satellite Award for Best Film – Drama
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Direction
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Editing
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
Nominated – César Award Best Foreign Language Film
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year
Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay
Nominated – Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay
2003 Ghosts of the Abyss Director/Producer Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Documentary
2005 Aliens of the Deep Director/Producer/Cinematographer
2009 Avatar Director/Writer/Producer/Editor Golden Globe Award for Best Director
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
Empire Award for Best Director
Empire Award for Best Film
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Editing
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Action Movie
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing
Saturn Award for Best Direction
Saturn Award for Best Writing
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Director
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Film Editing
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Direction
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Editing
Nominated – Eddie Award Best Edited Feature Film
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
Nominated – César Award Best Foreign Language Film
Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
Nominated – Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominated – IOMA Award Best Director
Nominated – IOMA Award Best Film
Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year
Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director
Nominated – Producers Guild of America Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award
Nominated – Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay
2014 Avatar 2 Director/Writer/Producer/Editor Being Written
2015 Avatar 3 Director/Writer/Producer/Editor Being Written
[edit]Casting
Cameron often casts certain actors more than once in his films. Cameron has consistently worked with Bill Paxton (who also narrated Ghosts of the Abyss), Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen (who also narrated Expedition: Bismarck), Jenette Goldstein and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Actor Xenogenesis (1978) Piranha II: The Spawning (1981) The Terminator (1984) Aliens (1986) The Abyss (1989) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) True Lies (1994) Titanic (1997) Avatar (2009)
Bill Paxton
Michael Biehn 1
Linda Hamilton
Lance Henriksen
William Wisher, Jr.
Jenette Goldstein
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sigourney Weaver
Earl Boen
1 His reprised role of Reese was cut from the theatrical release, but restored in the DVD's Special Edition Version.
[edit]Recurring themes
Throughout Cameron's career, several of his films have had recurring themes and subtexts. These include: the prospects of nuclear holocaust (the Skynet takeover scenario from both Terminator films), attempts to reconcile humanity with technology (as seen in Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgment Day), humanity repeating the same mistakes, the dangers of corporate greed, strong female characters (Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley being the most famous), a strong romance subplot, anti-corporation (Aliens, Avatar), anti-military (The Abyss, Avatar), and an undercurrent of feminism. This was also present with Jamie Lee Curtis's character in True Lies and Kate Winslet's role in Titanic, in which she served as the main protagonist and narrator.
While The Abyss dealt with deep sea exploration (shot on a studio set), Cameron himself became an expert in the field of deep sea wreckage exploration exploring the wreckage of Titanic and Bismarck. Cameron will return to this theme with The Dive (see Projects), shooting from a minisub.
So important is technology in Cameron's films that he waited years for the technical tools of the craft to advance sufficiently to realize his vision for Avatar, for which he had special 3-D cameras developed.
[edit]Filmography
Further information: James Cameron filmography
James Cameron is an award-winning Canadian film director, writer, producer and special effects artist. He has contributed to many projects as either the writer, director, producer, or a combination of the three.
Cameron's first film was the 1978 science fiction short film Xenogenesis, which he directed, wrote and produced. Cameron's films have grossed a total of over $7 billion worldwide.
In addition to works of fiction, Cameron has directed and appeared in several documentaries including Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep. He also contributed to a number of television series including Dark Angel and Entourage.
[edit]Personal life
Cameron has been married five times, to Sharon Williams (1978–1984), Gale Anne Hurd (1985–1989), Kathryn Bigelow (1989–1991), Linda Hamilton (1997–1999, one daughter) and Suzy Amis (since 2000, one son, two daughters). Hurd was the producer of Cameron's The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss, and the executive producer of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Amis played the part of Lizzy Calvert, Rose's granddaughter, in Titanic. Hamilton played the role of Sarah Connor in both Terminator films. Both Cameron (Avatar) and Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) were nominated for the Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award for Best Director for films released in 2009. Cameron won the Golden Globe, whilst Bigelow won the Oscar and the BAFTA for Best Director, becoming the first woman to win either.
Cameron is a member of the NASA Advisory Council and is working on the project to put cameras on an upcoming manned Mars mission. He is also a member of the Mars Society, a non-profit advocacy organization lobbying for the human colonization of Mars.[citation needed]
In June 2010, Cameron met in Washington with the EPA to discuss possible solutions to the 2010 BP oil spill. Later that week at the All Things Digital Conference, he attracted some notoriety when he stated, "Over the last few weeks I've watched...and [been] thinking, 'Those morons don't know what they're doing'." Reportedly, Cameron had offered BP help to plug the oil well, but they declined. The oil spill was eventually stopped using techniques similar to what Cameron recommended.
Although Cameron has lived his entire adult life in the United States, he remains a Canadian citizen. Cameron applied for American citizenship but withdrew his application after George W. Bush won the presidential election in 2004.
Cameron is atheist, and once as a child he described the Lord's Prayer as being a 'tribal chant'.
Cameron lives in Malibu, California with his wife.
[edit]Perceptions by colleagues
Cameron has been labeled by one collaborator, author Orson Scott Card, as selfish and cruel. When asked about working with Cameron on the novelization of The Abyss, Card said the experience was "hell on wheels. He was very nice to me, because I could afford to walk away. But he made everyone around him miserable, and his unkindness did nothing to improve the film in any way. Nor did it motivate people to work faster or better. And unless he changes his way of working with people, I hope he never directs anything of mine."
After working with Cameron on the set of Titanic, Kate Winslet decided she would not work with Cameron again unless she earned "a lot of money." She admitted Cameron was a nice man, but felt he had too much of a temper. In an editorial, the British newspaper The Independent said that Cameron "is a nightmare to work with. Studios have come to fear his habit of straying way over schedule and over budget. He is notorious on set for his uncompromising and dictatorial manner, as well as his flaming temper.". Her co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, said "Jim knows exactly what he wants. Needless to say, when somebody felt a different way on the set of Titanic, there was a confrontation, Jim had it out with them right there in front of everybody. He lets you know exactly how he feels. But he's of the lineage of John Ford. He knows what he wants his film to be. I remember sitting in a theater after it was done and being in awe. He got what he wanted."
Sam Worthington, the latest lead actor to work with Cameron, stated on the Jay Leno Show that Cameron had very high expectations from everyone, and would often use a nail gun to nail the film crew's cell phones to a wall above an exit door in retaliation to unwanted ringing during production. During the promotion for Avatar, Cameron stated on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that although he doubts anyone would describe him as a mellow person, he is at least mellower than he was before.
Other actors, such as Bill Paxton and Sigourney Weaver, have praised Cameron's perfectionist work ethic. Weaver said of Cameron: "He really does want us to risk our lives and limbs for the shot, but he doesn't mind risking his own."
[edit]Appearances in media
Entourage – Cameron appeared as himself. In the series' storyline, he is the director of a film based on the superhero Aquaman. Cameron's involvement in the project attracted protagonist Vincent Chase to the title role.
The Muse
Saturday Night Live – In the episode where Sigourney Weaver hosted, Cameron appears as himself in an SNL Digital Short in which he presents Lorne Michaels with an idea for a new film that, much to Michaels' dismay, is a sequel to Laser Cats 4, Laser Cats 5 (starring Weaver), parodying Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar. Cameron also appeared as himself when his longtime friend Bill Paxton hosted the show.
Your Studio and You - Cameron appears in the short, gardening the Universal studio landscape.