James Cameron on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

www.cbc.ca/thehour
11 Oscars - including best picture and best director.
So, how did James get here.
Well, he grew up in a small Ontario town - Chippawa.
And from a young age, he was obviously talented.
When he was 15, he saw Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
And James knew he wanted to make movies.
Eventually, he went to college...
Dropped out...
And bounced around between jobs
How did a small town kid from Chippawa, Ontario go on to dominate Hollywood and win 11 Oscars in the process?
Well, for James Cameron it started in 1981 - when he made his directorial debut, with 'Pirahna Two: The Spawning.' and if you're wondering, yes - it's bad as it sounds.
From there, he wrote the screenplay for 'Rambo: First Blood Part Two' and subsequently directed 'The Terminator'.
Along the way, James wrote and directed another classic - 'Aliens,' with Sigourney Weaver.
Plus, there was 'The Abyss', 'True Lies' and every 'Terminator' sequel including the upcoming 'Terminator Salvation.'
Since the late 90's, James has put off Hollywood films to make documentaries.
But now, he's got another huge feature in the works...
'Avatar' - a computer generated 3D epic due to be released late next year.

[@Breakerblue]

This guy makes every hardcore sci-fi nerd's action fantasy come true.

[@jeremycampbell1035]

James Cameron raises the bar for all man kind.

[@karadan100]

James Cameron impresses me hugely.

[@8Paul7]

This man is a genius and the best film maker of all time. Avatar will blow our minds..

[@randomly_random_0]

this comment aged well. And now with Avatar 2, he's done it again

[@jdkjkjdkjdks]

James Cameron is the ultimate pioneer. Without him there won't be any Jurassic Park, Minority Report, and other CG movies out there.

[@Za3rour]

well worth the effort mr. Cameron. I just watched Avatar today and it was spectacular. Thank You for your hard effort. and man - I

[@eugene680]

I met George back in the early 2000's when he came to Vancouver. He stopped by a pita shop to buy a drink, very nice guy.

[@cjpatz]

James Cameron takes on journeys to the deep (The Abyss), into space (Avatar) and in time (Titanic). Probably my favorite director.

[@chrysXtal]

really good interview!

[@jameswanantony]

this guy is my idol im working at uni on special effects and film studies so hopefully ill get to work or at least see him fingers crossed =)

[@cameron1975williams]

This is how you interview someone, with respect. Good job George.

[@reptongeek]

As an illustration of how long Titanic's post production was, the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies which was released on the same day as Titanic didn't officially start filming until 1st April, three days after Titanic wrapped

[@MsShadowbite]

Yeah he is amazing...The amount of research,time and patience he puts in to his work is incredible. I can understand if someone is not interested in his style of film making etc...But sometimes people have nothing worthwhile to back up their criticism yet they say it anyway. Honestly its You Tube I dont know why I let it get to me. lol

[@gibsondg335]

WOOO!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES CAMERON!!!!

[@ShiningWonder]

For the past several years, I've always considered Spielberg as the best director ever. (I know he flip flopped around that time) But my god, James Cameron is everything a great film-maker is. Not only does he direct awesome movies, he writes them AND produces them. That is TRUE dedication right there in a film. Personality wise: he is (again) awesome! He is very intelligent, can make you laugh very well, and can handle the public in a great way. I'm no fanboy, just stating why he's the best.

[@S0vereignty]

Aliens is one of the best films ever. I love it.

[@saneroner]

gotta love james for making some of the best movies.

[@LukeLovesRose]

James Cameron is a genuine master of filmmaking. I don't care what the naysayers say. Avatar and Titanic's success by itself proves that. But, even his early years in filmmaking shows how much the man knows what he's doing.

[@aola7]

yes he is!

[@guitarmageddon666]

George is such a great interviewer, Entertainment Tonight you could learn something. Canada FTW!

[@TetraVaalBioSecurity]

Can you guys upload the interview you did with Neill Blomkamp?

[@gibsondg335]

I agree. hes a great film maker. i dont know why people hate him so much

[@sahoobi]

He raises the bar pretty high

[@clonard]

Cameron is a fantastic director. His movies are pure spectacle.

[@Borat911]

This is the only director ever who made me go watch a film 5 timess in theatres ..

[@KenFan4life]

"holy shit, the ship sank!!!" ^that part had me rollin', Laughed so hard I almost started cryin'...haha

[@Jerkweird]

I love James Cameron. He's a great philanthropist.

[@elmiraviking]

@MrGoblinCock I liked the end when DeCapprio sank beneath the waves.

[@mafrdas]

Got any info to share on that? Sounds interesting =)

[@jleb310ce]

Holy shit!! the ship Sank!!! LOL ..hilarious George!

[@charlyavatar]

Ooooooooooooh! ^^ Cameron is the best director ever!

[@xGaLoSx]

they had no idea Avatar would go on to be bigger than titanic lol

[@xBugJuicex]

James Cameron is a true Legend.

[@t850]

Great men

[@n5pictures]

I second that nomination. James Cameron is a legend. I think T2 inspired me the way 2001 must have inspired Cameron.

[@NeonRadarMusic]

I'm going to be completely honest, I personally didn't like Avatar that much, but I have a TREMENDOUS amount of respect for James Cameron. Anyone who says he isn't an absolute genius is pretty damn cynical.

[@blacktailbuckee]

Way to go Jimmy

[@thisisspartacus]

I always giggle whenever I read this guys name: Stromboulopopolobolopopopoulos.

[@adamoblind]

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SONG AT 00:00? PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME!

[@FrankPerrotto]

Can't wait for Avatar, added to my director's interviews playlist.

[@ContinuousContinuing]

"HOLY SHIT THE SHIP SANK!!" LOL george is a legend.

[@adrianlindsaylohan]

no matter what anyone says, james cameron continuosly pushes the bounderies of special effects in film ever since aliens, and has continuosly to make big money since T2. that's a fact, and he is one of the many best filmaker ever. what i like about him is that he takes risks, big risks: spent millions of $ on a unproven technology (T2, the abyss), and spent 200 million dollars on a chick flick that everyone knows the ending (titanic), and 235 million on a CGI film with blue people in it (avatar)

[@Nebulous361]

Cameron is a legend.

[@yaroukh]

i havent seen the series but agreed on 3rd one

[@kurtrivero368]

What channel does this air on and when?

[@EthanJohn1986]

Possibly

[@Nabokov50]

What an interesting guy.

[@andyx1205]

Adam Cohen, from the New York Times, summed up the movie incredibly as: "a 22nd-century version of the American colonists vs. the British, India vs. the Raj, or Latin America vs. United Fruit"

[@RainMan34]

Best action director ever. Brilliant man.

[@KaitainCPS]

@override83 The whole thing is a giant retcon at multiple levels. It retcons the entire setup for the first movie, and it retcons the ontology of the narrative universe. It makes absolutely no sense as a sequel. Nice motorbike chase, though.

[@jigsaw332]

@JimboLeenisthepenis Agreed.

[@NightSurfer47]

James is my hero!!!!!!!

[@MiSTSYL]

I've missed Cameron, he's an awesome director, and whilst I wasn't a fan of Titanic it was still a well made film. I think it's awesome the past years he's been following his interests rather than making films but the film industry has been weaker for it, in my opinion. When Cameron was churning out movies he kept many people on their toes and forced people to push boundaries! The only two directors I revere above him are Carpenter and Argento, but that's my opinion :o)

[@mukhlisz]

this man is my hero

[@sixamsedna]

just call him Strombo ;)

[@halflifeproductionz]

@lilsm555 wow you might be right. i haven't really thought about that. really good.

[@GDCorsa]

How did Cameron not win an Oscar for best Director?! He put his heart and soul in Avatar for years, hard work... that's bullshit.

[@MsShadowbite]

Some people are seriously dumb...James Cameron is a visionary.

[@acreativenative]

I think Avatar is the most amazing movie I have ever seen. It's a beautiful movie visually and conceptually. An aspect of the movie that I find amazing is the metaphor for the creative and destructive qualities of human spirit and the the destructive force of colonization by corporate entities. There are so many parallels to what is happening to People and our Earth because of disconnection with the spirit of life. David Tremblay, Kamloops, B.C., Canada

[@EthanJohn1986]

Wow

[@gingerbreadface]

here's my rankings of JC's movies: 1. Aliens (either version) 2. T2 (either version) 3. T1 4. The Abyss director's cut 5. Titanic 6. True Lies 7. The Abyss theatrical cut If I included Strange Days as well (not Cameron-directed, but the closest in name to a film he didn't direct), I would slot it in between Titanic and True Lies.

[@KaitainCPS]

@override83 Cameron breaks his own rules so he can have a retread of the first film but with Arnie's role switched around. Also, the core premise of the first movie is that Skynet sends the terminator as its final, desperate act before death. As Reese says, "Nobody goes home; nobody else comes through". And Skynet didn't have the info to target John directly so had to target his mother. Yet here is Skynet, happily able to send a much more advanced terminator through, targeting John directly.

[@robotpanda77]

How do you go from janitor to movie director?

[@LukeLovesRose]

He is THE MAN!!

[@Dancing88Mike]

I did

[@VColossalV]

@Ellipser

[@MsMusicGirl88]

12:00 - 12:10 : Classic!!!

[@Ebuverthebicepcurler]

1.8 million did watch it, doesn't prove me wrong, I'm saying some went in who wouldn't have liked it because of its reputation instead of its beauty.

[@tham1chen1IND]

avatar is a unique kind of movie... according to me "I've visited pandora.." rather than saying "I watched avatar".. hat's off cameron, this movie will live forever !

[@sLAUGHTER115]

@hilsnchad It's the fact that he has so many haters who are jealous of his abilities to create interesting stories, they create the factor he needs to move forward; controversy.

[@DirectorHMAN]

Correction: He had nothing to do with Salvation

[@GeorgeStanleyStan]

August 16th is my birthday!

[@ITFProductions]

Best. Director. Ever. :)

[@SwobyJ]

@andyx1205 Or Dances with Smurfs. Thanks South Park.

[@aola7]

lol, I agree with davidnova and Jizuschrist's list, but MY LIST is 1. titanic 2. aliens 3. terminator 2 4 terminator 1 5. true lies even though I'm more of a fan of aliens and T2, I can't imagine a movie as great as Titanic. It was a perfect masterpiece especially from someone who has made action films almost all of his career.

[@Crichjo32]

He is famous for being a real ball-buster on movie sets, but it produces good results. Not good results, great results! He has made some of the best films ever made, and is always a step ahead of the trend. You won't make good films by being wishy washy with the cast and crew, you have to be harsh to get what you want.

[@peaceandmetal88]

I'm not sure if the info in the introduction is exactly correct, because Jim didn't really have anything to do with the abominations that were T3 and T4, or the television show. I think he just received character credit for creating the Terminator characters. With that said, can't fucking wait until Avatar! I know Cameron won't disappoint.

[@FireTiger941]

"Aliens", his greatest accomplishment!

[@lucbral30]

quite a renaissance man.

[@MovieChic007]

Damn, this George guy has a hell of a last name

[@LukeLovesRose]

James Cameron is a filmmaking God!

[@Raymint]

It's quite funny to hear them laugh at James Cameron's plans to rerelease Titanic in 3D, and then almost a year later find out that he was actually serious.

[@TheLizzardOh]

@gibsondg335 What about Pirhana 2?

[@UniteForgetLeftRight]

you know with a couple of exceptions i have noticed that the recurring theme in cameron's films are about corporations and technology destroying civilization

[@koldtoft]

Michael Bay is a special effect director. James is a legend.

[@AkaKalee]

Titanic: 3D. I can't help but gasp.

[@JimmyeDallas]

You've seen the film?

[@benrosn8154]

great

[@Pigville2]

I was in Avatar and now James Cameron owes me a lot of money, search 'dear james cameron' if you don't believe me.

[@Ebuverthebicepcurler]

Perhaps whatever brought them in lost its flare

[@PatrickEPullen]

Star Wars was still number one in 2002 with the adjusted gross being used, which basically states: We payed $2 to see Star Wars back in 1977 but $10 to see titanic in 1997. I think it has now actually changed though counting the re-release of Star Wars and E.T. I want to say E.T. is on top but I'd have to look it up. However tchnically Titanic is still on top as all time world wide with $1,835,300,000.00

[@DMalltheway]

This dude is literally the closest thing we have right now to Stanley Kubrick

[@omniambience]

"That's a sucky job" LOL

[@ericroy1880]

Hello 10 years later :D

[@hugodiogo]

the best ! he´s the best of the world..

[@ThePoorBoy]

I believe that Cameron is probably a genius, and this was a great interview. Unfortunately you don't see these kinds of shows and interviews on mainstream TV here in the US; if it's not about Britney, Miley or Paris' latest boyfriend of car accident, then it won't be covered. So kudos to the Canadian culture for giving a shit about filmmakers and the things in entertainment that have substance...

[@thegr33nbastard]

way to follow a train of thought.

[@locstuff1]

true Canadian

[@samanosuke95]

best director ever!!!!!!!

[@navylaks2]

Avatar is going to be amazing. James is so right about the female action heroes, if Angelina Jolie realy wants to be a respected actionstar, she should team up with this guy.

[@greatgazu]

why have you seen it?