Before Avatar ... a curious boy | James Cameron

www.ted.com James Cameron's big-budget (and even bigger-grossing) films create an unreal world all their own. In this personal talk, he reveals his childhood fascination with the fantastic -- from reading science fiction to deep-sea diving -- and how it ultimately drove the success of his blockbuster hits "Aliens," "The Terminator," "Titanic" and "Avatar."
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

[@epsilongtarstar9699]

"failure's an option, fear is not" wise words from a wise man

[@rakeshchandan007]

listening to him talk about his love for ocean hyped up 'way of water' for me

[@rakeshchandan007]

@TDC jackhamner seen it, truly a trip to Pandora, visceral experience, visuals are life like

[@Growndweller]

Watching this I realise I love James Cameron. I can't even be jealous of him for living the life I would love to live. He is brave & brilliant, and he deserves it. We need more visionaries like him in the world.

[@jisjoy8270]

If this man can live for 100 years Film industry will become phenomenal. His imaginations are beyond our expectations ✨

[@ronmexico6901]

How old he looks bums me out more than looking at Brendan Fraser

[@scholaroftheworldalternatehist]

He was only in his 50s in this vid and looks 20 years older. Won't make it to 100

[@HORNGEN4]

@@scholaroftheworldalternatehist there are plenty of very recent interviews where he's invigorated and full of vitality. He's aging much better than average.

[@basitjaweed2282]

@@scholaroftheworldalternatehistfd

[@armansuleimenov]

Falling into James Cameron interviews / talks rabbit hole after watching Avatar 2 and curious about the genius behind the masterpiece!

[@isaarif9]

Same here dude, watching all these interviews have inspired me immensely

[@alberteinsteinthejew]

James Cameron is the Steve Jobs of cinema.

[@trivellekoolaidrian6921]

Well put. He is the super conscience above the gifted tradesman. He pushes all of them to their fullest potential. He's known as a tyrant, but in truth he objectively sees how far someone like "Stan Winston" will go for him...

[@offspringfan1288]

I was gonna say Elon Musk but I like your comment

[@alberteinsteinthejew]

@Kai McCook exactly!

[@hh582]

@@offspringfan1288 No because that would mean James Cameron is a fraud which he isnt

[@zabrak999]

I was thinking the same thing after watching interviews with this guy & documentaries that features others talking about him. A lot of similarities, no doubt about it

[@pritishsai]

This man is the definition of what true genius is. He is a textbook polymath whose expertise ranges from art to technology. As a hands on filmmaker James Cameron's vision for the future can be seen from his extensive body of work including his movies, documentaries, underwater exploration projects, tech projects and artwork. He also conceptualised Avatar in 1997 which confirms that he was indeed ahead of his time.

[@ElanSunStarPhotographyHawaii]

so good

[@deadstar44]

Any artist and any engineer should take this man as a model of perseverance and drive to achieve in their fields and innovate.

[@gamechanger7545]

Yeap, but I do wonder in what form. Cause he said that the avatar concept was born when he was using the robotic cameras in the real Titanic and the characters drive and character, were conceived from his enlightened understanding of what leadership really is ... So he had the idea, but I guess the true genius is the guy who shelved it first time. (joke)

[@roger72715]

Avatar conceptualized in 94.

[@Syklonus]

The Abyss is a highly underrated film. Beautiful, haunting, groundbreaking, and unique.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Such an inspirational speaker. I first saw this a few years ago when I was deeply depressed and it really lifted my spirits. And now just last Friday night in Sydney I was sitting in an audience listening to James Cameron do another great talk. Never would I have imagined that I would hear him speak in person but it was truely another greatly inspirational experience.

[@alberteinsteinthejew]

OMG! Titanic was his part-time job! Amazing!

[@hmat3255]

1. A polymath is a person who is an expert in multiple fields and is considered an authority on many topics. 2. A genius, on the other hand, is someone who is exceptionally intelligent in one specific field. James Cameron = Polymath

[@inetivable8188]

All his movies are about Imagination / curiosity(deep diving exploring) / creativity / thinking outside the box (what none could think) after all this - still so humble ... - very rare and very Gifted ...

[@ivanovstas]

I admire people who direct their own stories.

[@recstuf]

James Cameron is one of the most interesting persons in the planet, he changed the history of science and cinema.

[@Wowreference]

James is a true visionary of a director. He makes things that everyone else would shut down or say was impossible, and it always pays off.

[@jumpstart55million]

Failure is an option..But fear is not. I think i'm going to remember that until the day i die. James Cameron is an very inspirational guy.

[@briansmobile1]

Failure IS an option, but fear is not.

[@jothishprabu8]

@lilmil dude leave him alone. He wrote it 11 frikin years ago😅

[@Gamer123766]

When u realize James Cameron made Titanic just to see the real Titanic 😂

[@demetribairaktaris]

James Cameron doesn't do what James Cameron does for James Cameron, James Cameron does what James Cameron does because he is....James Cameron.

[@clarkparker4860]

Exactly.

[@mehrusiddiqui7502]

Demetri Bairaktaris you are so right

[@AmitKumar-pm2lt]

Wow great lines👍

[@pungisotu]

Yes I believe we have all heard James Cameron speak before.

[@otherstuffwithanthony4834]

What about James Cameron

[@alexandrakalandarishvili4901]

WOW amazing talk! that last part really got me. "failure is an option but fear is not". wonderful!

[@peacefworld]

Genius filmmaker. I could listen to him talk for hours.

[@AnNoYiNsPo0n]

Avatar was the most beautiful movie i ever saw Peace

[@JadeValour]

I had the pleasure and privilege of doing a bit of work on the new Avatar films over the past year and a half and it was absolutely awe-inspiring.

[@aaronramen5926]

@@JadeValour really? Doing what?

[@Mooondoggy]

Avatar is propaganda, intentional or not. Dumb premise with a patronising, oversimplified message. Save the beautiful, unthreatening planet in the face of the evil industrialised human society! ... It took us 150,000 - 200,000 years to develop basic medicine! Those blue tossers wouldn't last 2 days in the rainforest

[@asia911]

The Abyss is an awesome movie. Totally underrated.

[@creatordhir5250]

Avatar is still my best movie i watched it 1000+ time, "Save Earth"

[@MAnuscript421]

I am now further inspired to pursue my dream in becoming a film director.

[@Elena-pf4tf]

Don't give up man! "Failure is an option but fear is not"

[@sparky10142]

Me to, it's not going to be easy but I'm not gonna give up

[@sambritt9231]

MAnuscript421 god so am I most of my inspiration comes from this man I can't wait to get my work off the ground

[@franchescavasquez8806]

MAnuscript421 hope to see you ten years from now holding a oscar

[@mehrusiddiqui7502]

Do make us some cool movies!

[@KennethGaylord]

I think that one of my favorite quotes from this has got to be "imagination creates reality." Great philosophy to push forward with your passion. '

[@optimisticwhovian1726]

Had to laugh when he said he pitched Titanic just so he could go do some scuba diving using the film budget lol Living the dream and getting Hollywood to pay for it was genius.

[@danielbarocsi]

Discovered this gem years later

[@GlueSniffer4Life]

Cameron is one of the very few filmmakers scientifically literate enough to make hard science fiction. He grew up on Arthur Clarke, Space Odyssey, Robert Heinlein, etc. The golden age of SF. Aliens is much closer to the spirit of Heinlein's Starship Troopers than the actual Starship Troopers movie.

[@coolmailsonly2405]

Just watched 'Avatar' again and oh man! This guy is God. Preserve the mother nature is the message written all over it. Thank you for being you James Cameron.

[@chriscorley6478]

"Nature's imagination is boundless".

[@jaymata1218]

James has a curiosity of a professor or researcher. Very aspiring.

[@SmellyPillow]

OMG respect from the bottom of my heart!

[@vtrip_]

Cameron is a genius and inspiring person. Not just film maker, but scientist, inventor, and most of all an adventurer. He has changed the world, and I just wonder if that ever occurred to him.

[@fosibodu]

Finally, James Cameron is at TED

[@ComicAcolyte]

This film changed my life. Lots of love from Scotland! We are blue too! 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Xandtha]

wow. jim is an absolute marvel. a bigger heart for adventure and exploration, i have not seen. i don't know how we can ever thank him for the gifts that he has given us; to let us see his vision, his boldness and spirit.

[@aromax504]

we mere mortals can only admire from distance this legendary juggernaut

[@arcenal_studios]

I like James Camero because he followed his passions and success was just one of the many consequences of such passion. Other filmmakers follow success first and the passion comes second. In a way, he's made 'blockbusters' by accident.

[@aswinjohn9550]

At the end, i was standing and applauding this great man...

[@accident1583]

Curiosity, Imagination and taking the risk are 3 formula to success including respect

[@Gobbersmack]

This guy has the biggest pair of iron balls in Hollywood.

[@AceDeclan]

Thats why they call him iron jim

[@andreyilkevich]

And the biggest brain.

[@drunkdonutboy]

@@lewiscranston881 Yes we have he's not that obscure, Fellini...

[@NasirUddinVuiya]

Thankyou TED for interviewing the mastermind. I am inspired by this great person.

[@StudioSkiesAndWater]

legend. his new book of his illustration background is insanely good

[@shainejacob7101]

In your face NASA, change your damn slogan. :) Great talk.

[@stevenwatchorn9816]

+Shaine Jacobs It's a good thing Cameron didn't direct Apollo 13. "Failure is not an option!" "Cut! Rewrite..." scribble scribble. "Action!" "Failure is an option, because this endeavor involves risk, an inevitably there will be failure. So let's go try to get those astronauts home, but if we don't, we'll just get some more and do the mission again."

[@mar_speedman]

@@stevenwatchorn9816 Technically he said in exploration and art. NASA is only part exploration. The other part is a whole load of technical mumbo jumbo I have not studied

[@justadad7230]

Mar Speedsman rd

[@johnsmithee6660]

James Cameron looks like Snape if he had ditched Harry Potter's mum for some self-help books.

[@kevinnevada5342]

Dont you mean..if he ditched Dumbledore ....CSI MIAMI ThEme

[@moviewatcherpro2657]

As always, great speech Mr. Cameron.

[@AugmentedGravity]

This is why you are perfect for making Alita.

[@isaarif9]

It genuinely made no sense for James Cameron to make titanic. When you look at his body of work it sticks out like a sore thumb. Now I get it. What a legend!

[@mohammedaffan594]

Love this man ❤🔥 though how many times I watch it every time gives me a new energy the patience and true profound work that he has is truly amazing 💯

[@pedroportao]

Very good, very good. Thank you James Cameron and TED. Congratulations.

[@pagusmusic6254]

Talk like Ted Chapter 4 led me here. His creativity and passion changed the world, amazing talk! ❤️

[@RC19786]

the best director working out there at the moment!

[@mpdalyful1]

James Cameron has not made a film since 2009. Avatar...

[@cometcourse381]

uh, not quite...

[@jothishprabu8]

Nah

[@iSOBigD]

The man lets his work speak for itself. He's not a public speaker, he's a film-maker and an artist.

[@tsenam3247]

This man oh lord so witty n precise👌👌👌👌👌genus for a reason🙏🙏🙏standing ovation👏👏👏👏👏

[@MonJ41357]

"Failure is an option - but fear is not!" Oh, I like that!

[@EthanJohn1986]

I loved Avatar, I loved the story and Zoe was wonderful. I really enjoy listenting to Cameron speak he is very intellgent.

[@AlanHollow]

I love how the audience is quiet for the most part while this great man of cinema is talking.

[@clubredken13]

I just saw James Cameron's Howard Stern interview. And I liked when Cameron said he was like just a regular guy. Stern: You're just a regular guy? You're giving Steven Speilberg a run for his money. You've directed the biggest movie in history. Cameron: Well when you put it that way.

[@tiw.3809]

What was the biggest movie in history? ❤️

[@clubredken13]

@@tiw.3809 The biggest? I'd say Porky's was pretty huge. That's from the 80's.

[@booch32484]

Inspiration for Avatar perhaps from him feeling like he was in a avatar while exploring titanic

[@Tal_Zilberman17]

He is a genius!! He is not just my favorite director... He is one of my favorites peoples in this world! Every time i hear him talking i just :D ♥remember again how genius i think he is

[@davidm.johnston8994]

Why do you think he's a genius? I ask this because I'm a student in animated films and mostly everybody in my class despises him for his supposed lack of creativity and for being greedy. I tend to think of myself as quite apart from these people (because I'm more of a science guy than an artsy one) but I've got to admit that they at least have some elements of truth. Watching this video I was trying to reconsider my opinion about him but I don't know what to think. If there's something he seems to be good at, it's self profit (he makes financially profitable movies and from what he says, he knows how to get what he wants) and although many people dislike it, I think it's a trait worth having.

[@Tal_Zilberman17]

ReliveTheDream True that!

[@Watershake99]

+David M. Johnston He is definitely a good movie maker, Terminator 1, 2 and Aliens are very good movies. So you definitely are at least partially right. I don't know if you can consider him a sell out for Titanic and Avatar.

[@mmsiphonevinyls1027]

Jim is so creatively and scientifically inspiring.

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Wise words.

[@HBeau001]

Thank you, James Cameron, for being a dreamer!

[@DeltaCommando52]

I always saw Cameron and Michael Bay similar. But now I have lots of respect for Cameron. I personally didn't like Avatar because I thought it was cliche. But even so, this guy's brilliant and this speech taught me alot.

[@theluxurylapuk]

Worth every bit.... life changing lessons

[@AkashKumar-iq8wg]

I know people don't take him as a remarkable filmmaker. Avatar gets so much hate which is totally incomprehensible to me. But after listening to this you can't possible discredit him as just some petty blockbuster filmmaker on the likes of Michael bay. I'm just glad that I used to respect him even before listening to this talk

[@shonaboy7554]

James is not regarded as one of the best filmmakers because he doesn't bring that human element that Christopher Nolan splashes all over his films. That phony sentimentalism. That sense of nostalgia, loneliness, regret that all Nolan's main actor have. Cameron's movies don't have subplots and are straight to the point which is another reason i love them. The "rules" must be rewritten.

[@anirudhmenon4234]

The funny thing is, love him or hate him, Michael Bay is an auteur as well.

[@THELANKANCOMRADE]

What so much hate are you talking about ? The movie has almost a 8.0 rating on IMDb.

[@deadstar44]

@@shonaboy7554 Nolan in the same breath as "human element'. You're a joke. Nolan is the coldest robotic filmmaker out there and not in the good way like Kubrick. You know how every Nolan's main characters is a brooding male proxy with a dead wife substituting as "character development". He's appalling at writing characters that aren't a proxy of himself. Nolan is a one trick pony that has the human sensitivity of an Alexa gadget. Nolan is the antithesis of humanism. Cameron is a humanist that can write amazing female characters that are multidimensional, Nolan is a hack trying hard to be human, he can't even write believable female characters. That's rich to criticize Cameron on "phony sentimentalism" because Interstellar was a bloated pretentious piece of phony sentimentalism flooding us with McConaughey oscar-baiting tears and Hathaway babbling platitudes about "Love". , Cameron is a more effective writer (Nolan is needlessly convoluted to impress simpletons) and a better action director that is character driven. Nolan sucks at staging effective action, messy and non-sensical editing. None of his action scenes have anything on Cameron's. Even Nolan would admit that Cameron is better than him technically.

[@nickpastorino5370]

@@deadstar44 Why can't they be 2 different directors with 2 different styles? Why must one be superior to the other?

[@mckennacisler01]

I wonder how visual effects will change in the future. We are already plenty capable of photorealistic film and 3D. I've seen this "magic" go down in price and become more accessible, which makes sense; this is the next step of all innovation. But it is interesting to wonder what the next big leap will be, the next "the abyss" that revolutionizes CG, or the experience of entertainment in general. I can't wait to see what people like James Cameron come up with!

[@davidm.johnston8994]

I would say, now in 2016, it is VR. I think we are soon going to see VR movies, whatever they might look like, some film maker is going to figure that out and it's going to revolutionize story telling. I'm not saying it's going to replace good ole "flat films" (just realized we may one day call them that way), I see VR films rather going along with classic cinema.

[@jasonlajoie]

"Falure is an option but fear is not." Very well said. Great way to end the talk.

[@dekead]

What a brilliant guy! Big fan!

[@RazaPlaysGames]

My head full ideas - from basic to so dynamic. I hope I get to see some of them come to life.

[@emmyjas]

he is my inspiration to do anything in my life! Great Speech Great Man

[@PurpleGliese]

Such a genius 👏🏻 I admire you, mr. Cameron

[@byEnesTalha]

Altyazı için teşekkürler : )

[@CLUNA221]

Totally agree he is one-of-kind!

[@AdNauseamart]

They need to take all those Chuck Norris memes and apply them to James Cameron

[@vinayraj2879]

great speech thanks for the inspiration sir.

[@POLlyy23]

man i wish he would make a movie about atlantis. or a mythology story. either olympus or asgaard.

[@princevarghese6513]

7:00----9:00------He got me on this part. My inspiration on films&film making is jim cameron. Bt am not a film technician.

[@samwalton1825]

J.C. convincing the Studios to fund a expedition to the titanic wreck so badass 😂

[@ompathiraju]

"Boy"... ❤️

[@Mi436]

He wasn t scared when he put his own career on the line for his love for Titanic.What an awesome guy.

[@Galactu5]

Fear is not an option. Very good advice; hard to embrace.

[@LoveKills250]

Bro listening to him being passionate about film makes me wanna join the industry. Imma yeet nursing school at this rate lmoa

[@Dhanushh]

I could listen to this man all day

[@vitaminkplus]

“Your imagination creates your reality.”

[@britoca]

Avatar was THE cinema event of 09, I can't believe they didn't give him the best motion picture oscar, ridiculous. No one is going to be sitting around 10 years from now talking to his friends and going "Remember when the Hurt Locker came out??? Wow, that was crazy!"

[@rajarajanmanoharan]

britoca and Nobody’s talking about Avatar either. Guess what I’m from the future and Marvel wins the movie battles. 😜

[@unosheem6210]

Rajarajan Manoharan exactly avatar sucked it was only praised because it did something new but later movies did it better

[@reptongeek]

People do remember The Hurt Locker though. In 2020 it was inducted onto the National Film Registry. That wouldn't have happened if it didn't have enough fans. It had also won 15 Best Picture awards before the Oscars

[@rjmacready9828]

Im sorry but 13 years later and your comment couldnt have aged any worse. Avatar has no cultural impact in 2023, Hurt locker is the far superior movie And I love Jim Cameron

[@rappar9673]

I beg to differ, the guy is right, lol. Everyone remembers Avatar. Hurt Locker who?

[@metineebongchompho375]

Thank TED for Thai translate

[@theseanze]

We all repeat themes in story telling, but I enjoy hearing ideas in new ways that make me think in new ways. All James Cameron tends to make me do is think more about another few movies that touched on what he's doing, only with better effects. Every character in Avatar was flat, but it was at least good to go and watch stoned!

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I love a great film maker like that.

[@James-nv1wf]

I wish some schools realized that you can often learn more from failing then by getting straight A's. Without exploring other territories how can you learn whats beyond the regular syllabus.

[@hararaldur]

fantastic lecture

[@AgostinoMarengo]

Thank you very much, I'll remember this for the next time!

[@oscarmontiel9066]

WAO James Cameron is a great master, thank you so much.

[@EverdeenM]

Failure is an option .. Fear is NOT ! - James Cameron

[@0maeWaMou]

3:57 "My love affair with the ocean is on going and just as strong as it ever was" After the new teaser, we can confirm his affair with the ocean is still going on.

[@visualonestudio]

James Cameron looks younger in 2019 than he does here almost ten years ago.

[@JasonJohnContos]

Visual One Studio he went vegan.

[@visualonestudio]

I just realized that after watching another video of his farm in New Zealand. Good for him.

[@vmoonlight4962]

3:53 i can already tell that Avatar 2 will have breathtaking stunning gorgeous underwater scenes. Let’s go, man something is coming.

[@tanbirnr2389]

He's truly GENIUS...!

[@ElanSunStarPhotographyHawaii]

Incredible Spirit ...with an accuracy beyond belief... If only our world leaders were as astute.