James Cameronthe acclaimed film director and technological pioneer, was recently honored with “Legend” status by Disneyjoining the likes of AAngela Bassett, Harrison Ford and the composer John Williams. And despite turning 70, an age when many begin to consider retirement, Cameron has no plans to slow down.
“Look, we all face a limited amount of time to accomplish things in this life.,” Cameron reflects philosophically. “I think you become more aware of that and maybe prioritize better. I love the work I’m doing now and I have no complaints. As long as I’m healthy, active, and doing things that intrigue me creatively and intellectually, I’m happy..”
Hit collector
Director of classics such as Aliens, Avatar, Titanic, The Terminator and Terminator 2Cameron told the newspaper The Guardian while on his way to a surprise appearance alongside the stars of Avatar, Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthingtonat D23, the biennial convention for members of the official Disney fan club, in Anaheim, California.
During the interview, Cameron covered a variety of topics, from the new Alien to the challenges of writing science fiction in the 21st century. He also responded to statements by director Roland Emmerich, who said he had abandoned a project because he considered Cameron “controlling”. In addition, Cameron revealed that he is working on a new film project The Terminator and discussed the threat posed by artificial intelligence.
Despite the wide range of topics discussed, Cameron made it clear that he did not intend to talk about politics.I just ate,” he explains. “Not good for digestion.”
Ocean Explorer
The director also spoke about his passion for exploring the oceans, a fascination that began in childhood, inspired by the maritime explorer’s TV shows Jacques Cousteau. Cameron has spent hundreds of hours in submarines, completed more than 50 dives to depths of more than 3 km and has frequently visited the wreck of the Titanic. “I basically took eight years off from Hollywood life to explore the oceans,” he says.
Cameron collaborated with BBC Studios and the non-profit research organization OceanX for a documentary about a state-of-the-art scientific research vessel called the OceanXplorerwhich explores remote seas. Although he has been busy with Avatar and did not participate in the expedition, Cameron narrates the series OceanXplorersa six-part National Geographic production.
Ship design
The director used his experience to influence the design of the 87-meter vessel, making it “media-friendly” with built-in lighting, allowing filming to take place anywhere and at any time. Production faced disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually the expedition’s route was adjusted to explore the Azores, Bahamas, Caribbean and the icy Arctic coasts of Svalbard, Norway.
OceanXplorers features spectacular footage of marine life, as you would expect from the BBC, with polar bears, sharks and whales all shown up close. However, Cameron also brings a human touch by highlighting the crew’s reactions and amazement as they witness phenomena such as bioluminescence or thousands of jellyfish.
He comments: “It’s interesting to watch the scientists, because we’re filming at the same time from inside the submarine, so whenever they see something exciting, that excitement is palpable and conswe continue to capture in the moment exactly why that is interesting.”
Encouragement for young people
Cameron wants to make science aspirational, showing passionate and curious young people searching for answers. “The average viewer thinks of scientists as guys in labs in white coats, and they don’t see them as real people. I wanted to break that and follow their journey,” he explains.
The series’ crew includes deep-sea researcher Zoleka Filander from South Africa; shark biologist Melissa Cristina Márquez from Puerto Rico; ocean technology innovator Eric Stackpole from California; and former British Marine Aldo Kane. Cameron, who is Canadian and known for creating strong female characters in his films, stresses the importance of assembling a diverse, global cast.
Cameron humorously admits he was envious of what the crew got to see and do during filming. He gushes about how the well-positioned cameras allowed him to watch a mother humpback whale and a mother orca in combat, or a hammerhead shark using its vibration sense to feed at night. “The oceans are very unforgiving,” he says, but there are no good guys or bad guys.
Despite touching on issues related to the climate crisis, Cameron preferred to approach the topic in a subtle way in OceanXplorers. He wanted the audience to be engaged through curiosity and enthusiasm rather than feeling like they were being indoctrinated.
Billion dollar box office
Cameron has an impressive track record of captivating audiences. His films have grossed $8.7 billion at the worldwide box office, second only to Steven Spielberg. And he shows no signs of stopping. Following the success of Avatar and its sequence, Avatar: The Way of WaterCameron is already working on Avatar: Fire And Ashscheduled for release on December 19, 2025.
Cameron also talked about the new film Alien: Romulusdirected by Fede Álvarez and located between the Alien by Ridley Scott, from 1979, and Aliensfrom 1986, directed by Cameron himself. Although he offered some advice, he downplays his role in the project, preferring to give full credit to Álvarez.
Alien
On the possibility of returning to the franchise AlienCameron says he’s not ruling anything out, but admits that with 23 other projects in the works, it’s unlikely to happen. “You have to pick your battles at some point,” he says.
The Terminator
Finally, Cameron reflected on The Terminatorwhich will turn 40 in October. He mentioned that although the story is still relevant, technology has advanced so much that writing science fiction has become a challenge, as we are living in a world that often feels like something out of a science fiction movie.
Summary for those in a hurry:
- James Cameron was honored by Disney and turned 70, but he has no plans to slow down.
- He spoke about his passion for ocean exploration and his collaboration on the documentary OceanXplorers.
- Cameron discussed the challenges of writing science fiction in an increasingly technological world.
- He is working on a new sequel to Avatarscheduled for release in 2025.
- Cameron downplayed his role in the new film Alien: Romulus and commented on the franchise The Terminator.
- Despite the challenges, Cameron remains active and involved in several creative projects.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
