Online Tonight Interview with TITANIC director James Cameron presented by
John Gilbert. Chat Room Hosts were directed by Chrissy Abblett.
The interview was the biggest ever hosted in the UK. The chat room
recieved 1,500 downloads with 991 people signing in to the chat room
during between the hours 7 and 8:45 pm GMT Jan 21st.
This is the first time a major Hollywood director has come online for a
chat in the UK. It was the eve of the Film's opening in London and James
Cameron stayed online a full hour longer than scheduled making the event,
at 1hr 45 mins, the longest and most exciting on record.
As the chat gathered momentum Online Tonight put hundreds of fans directly
online with the hottest director in Hollywood. OLT first chose fans asking
questions on one of the 12 of the most urgent topics suggested by the
thousands of questions recieved via email.
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In the run up to the event OLT had 156,000 page views with 57,000 on
the night. We have since been receiving 12,000 page views per day and
much more during peak periods for example 213,000 for the WebCast of
Samuel L. Jackson chat for Jackie Brown (639,000 hits). If this continues
we expect to have reached over 1,190,000 page views by the night of the
Oscars. Using a measurement of 1 page view per 3 hits (requests on the
server) to those who measure in hits this figure would be approx 3.5
million.
Although copies of this transcript has been posted repeatedly on various
newsgroups and exerpts have been sent out in email Listserves to many
more. Our estimate of what the above number represents in visitors to
this site alone would be between 300,000 and 500,000 thousand -
approximately half a million people.
It has been pointed out by more than one person that the number of
survivors from the TITANIC were 1,500 the exact number of page views on
the chat room that day and co-incidentally the precise number for which
our servers were configured.
A special welcome also to our guests from other ISPs - the first co-
operation of it's kind on the Internet and to all those who are joining
us on IRC.
We are coming to you live and direct from London and Los Angeles. Our
guest tonight needs no introduction but he is going to get one. MSN is
proud to present:
Writer, director, producer and editor of TITANIC James Cameron.
Let's put your audience directly online with you.
Here comes the first question....
THE SINGLE Most Frequently asked question on e-mail: e-mailers seemed
personally touched by the casting Kate Winslet as Rose and Leonardo
DiCaprio as Jack. Genuinely. They identified closely with them and
were very emotionally involved with the ending...
email: What made you cast these newcomers especially Kate Winslet in
a movie, which had so much at stake?
Well, the interesting thing it was given from the beginning we would
not have big stars. Rose was 17 and Jack was 19 so this was the
function of a plausible age of a survivor now. With that as a given
I searched for the young actors and actresses based on merit.
I was looking not only for the individual skill set as an actor but
the chemistry between them.
Kate struck me as the one of the young women that I saw having the
most potential.
email: Everyone has his or her own interpretation of a film but for
you was Rose dreaming or was at the end of the picture or was that
the start of her afterlife.
That would be telling :0)
email: The Titanic has images of huge engines, pistons and big
businesses indifference to people alongside images of hands drawing,
making pottery and holding hands. Why was this contrast important to
you and by the way, were the hands drawing the picture of Rose your
hands?
People have asked me if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the
future and my answer has been recently that I am pessimistic about
systems and optimistic about individuals.
It occurs to me that the contrast of big business and technical
systems with the human touch is symbolic of that philosophy and yes,
to second part of the question that is my hand :0)
Well, I didn't write the scene imagining I'd end up doing the drawing
but I wound up doing the drawing. Then I had to perform the drawing
for the film so that the style would be consistent.
In fact Leonardo is right handed and I am left handed!
anyoi says: Mr. Cameron: Although "TITANIC" is a 3 hour plus movie,
were there scenes that you wished to have kept in the final cut? If
so, what were they?
(There were rumours in Japan and the US that there were plans for a 5
hour version of TITANIC)
I couldn't do a five-hour version. I could do a version that would be
about a half-hour longer. What would be restored would be little
historical pieces. What you would see is the receiving of the ice
warning in the Marconi room and them ignoring it.
email: Your films seem to be bathed in blue light and you say that
many of your ideas come from your dreams. What is it about the depths
of the sea that you find is so eloquent, like in the Abyss and TITANIC
and what is the "Heart of The Ocean" for you.
My relationship with the ocean goes back to when I was a teenager and
has remained with me my entire life. I don't like being in boats
because it makes me seasick!
I love being underwater, but I don't like being in boats
email: Is this the first film you have made with romance at it's heart?
How did that effect your gut-motivation for the making of the film.
Those of you who know my earlier films know that I have done love
stories before, most notably The Abyss. My primary motivation for
making this film was to make a love story.
In fact my first film the terminator was a love story, a kind of
gothic romance
_Michael_ says:
Your work often presents a theme of people interacting with technology
Abyss, Terminator, Aliens. Does technology impact on your life and
would you describe yourself as a tech addict?
I've always had a love-hate relationship with technology my mind is
drawn in by technical problem solving but my stories usually deal with
the pitfalls of misuse of technology.
I suppose then, I'm not truly a technoholic. I use the Internet for
research rather than recreation.
email: Were the underwater shots of the Titanic on the ocean floor
mostly real? Did you feel at risk being in the submarine at that depth?
I love diving and being in the submarine was a peak experience of my
life. I made twelve dives we were the only expedition that was able
to send a robot vehicle inside the ship. Most of the exterior shots of
the Titanic are real, with only a few model shots.
Evgeniy says: Question for Mr. Cameron: Spielberg said about his film
"Jaws": "OK. It's just a film about a shark..." Is your film just
about a ship?
No, I think that films are about people. You can interpret this film
at a surface level, as a love story or you can interpret it at deeper
levels - for its broader metaphorical levels
David says: With all the history and memories involved in the story of
Titanic, how did you feel about your mix of poetic licence and being
true to the facts? Were you aware how real people remember things "all
mixed up"?
Yes, I believe that history is just a consensus hallucination the more
research I did the more I realised that there were many grey areas in
the history of The Titanic.
Despite that we tried to be as historically accurate as possible. The
history of Titanic is like the 3 blind men and the elephant everybody
who was there experienced something slightly different.
Darren says: Did you meet any survivors and was it fascinating
listening to them?
I believe there are 6 or 7 survivors right now. Unfortunately, they
were very young when they were on the ship. They were under a year
old so their experience is second hand so the first hand accounts of
survivors who are now dead are much more compelling source of
information.
email: What inspired your final tragic scenes?
It's impossible to do a film about Titanic without exploring the
emotion of loss and grief. So, this is the necessary conclusion of
the relationship - within the context of this historical event.
Hube says: James: Is there any reason that you tend to use actors
over and over again i.e., Arnold, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton?
Yes, it proves that I'm not the jerk everyone thinks I am!
email: Your Crew wear T-Shirts with "You don't scare me, I've worked
with James Cameron". Now that TITANIC is such a huge success, what
T-Shirt would you wear in reply?
That's funny :0) How about: "Trust is a beautiful thing"
Isa says: What do you think about all those journalists that were
against Titanic because of the budget and now have completely changed
their minds?
I would say, "next time see the movie before you go off!"
MissingLink says: What made you so interested in the Titanic your
entire life, enough to dedicate three years of your life to make an
epic film out of it?
Actually, I wasn't interested in it my entire life. I got interested in
it about 10 years ago when I was researching The Abyss. I was interested
in the technology used to explore the wreck.
Since then, I became fascinated by the history and the people who were
on board and one thing lead to another.
email: What will happen to the model of Titanic and all the props and
sets and costumes - will there be a museum?
We didn't call it a model, we called it a set the set was 100% scale
but not the complete ship there was a section that we did not build,
which is why it was not the full length. That full size set has been
torn down it doesn't exist anymore.
It was torn down to make room for the Bond film which was using our
studio in Mexico.
Bond obliterated the Titanic last summer and we obliterated Bond this
year.
Leah, age 7 email: Was Leonardo DiCaprio scared of all that water?
OK. :0) Hello Leah. Leo was never scared he just doesn't like water.
I should amend that Leo doesn't like to be in water fully clothed. He
likes to be underwater in scuba gear.
We did some underwater shooting and he loved that!
DaRcWyNd says: What did you feel the first time you saw the ship?
Hmm ...sheer terror - we almost crashed into it! The first dive you
don't have your acoustic navigation grid in place, so subsequent dives
were more controlled.
There's no light at that depth whatsoever any exposure you see in the
film we had to supply. We used some specially designed deep
submergence lights and mounted them on submarines.
CNBC says: How did you deal with the executives at Fox and Paramount
when you went over budget on the film? What did you say to them? Did
you allow them onto the set?
Yes, as the budget overrun increased the relationship became more
tense but of course they were always welcome on the set and we always
behaved as gentlemen.
We were prepared to go down as gentlemen.
Christos_Girl says: Mr. Cameron -- first, thank you for this wonderful
film. Do you want to return to the ship again, now that the film is
done?
You're welcome. I don't feel a need to go back there personally. I
have closure for Titanic.
Saundra says: Did James Cameron cry the first time he saw the completed,
final cut of "Titanic"?
I occasionally as I watched the film, have an emotional reaction to
certain scenes not so much a response to the film-making more
imagining the event itself.
Many of the emails told stories of people having a very strong
emotional response and crying at the end. Not just younger people but
older Men and Couples.
It seems to be a film for all age groups.
email: Were there any true elements to the story of Jack and Rose?
Well, Rose was my maternal grandmother's name so that's made up and
unconnected to the Titanic. No, they are fictional characters but
for example, Rose steps back from the lifeboat onto the ship and that
actually occurred when Ida Strauss stepped back onto Titanic to be
with her husband.
Roger-Corman says: James, will you go back to the action/sci-fi or
does TITANIC mark a new direction for you?
Yes, it's strictly Hallmark cards from this point on.
email: What is your next project? Will it be Avatar or Spiderman or
Terminator 3? Have you cast it yet?
Okay there are a few questions there. Terminator 3? No, not involved.
Spiderman, I don't own the rights but I would like to do it. I have a
script. Avatar, I am not doing. Next project is not decided.
JediKnite says: What did you think of James Horner's soundtrack as
you watched the completed film?
He's talking to his 2nd favourite director then! :0) I love it. I
think it's exquisite, it has a timeless quality and it doesn't sound
like every other over-produced period movie score.
Here's one for you. I've been told that 14 year old girls are buying
the soundtrack and sitting around in a circle and having sobbing
parties.
Doug_Griswold says: James: Did you ever think in your wildest dreams
you'd create a film that touches a person in such a way that they are
compelled to see the film again and again?
email: Will there be a director's cut?
Doug, it was impossible to predict the outcome that we are experiencing
right now even though I always believed in the film.
It looks like this film will probably be at a minimum the number 4
highest grossing films in history!
The Director's cut will not be soon because the film still has so much
life left in theatres.
Also, people must realise they are already seeing the director's cut
this is the best version of the film.
Plato says: Mr. Cameron, was the Californian incident omitted or cut?
Splendid film. You will be remembered for it!
Well, thank you, Plato. I did not focus on the Californian because I
was primarily interested in events on Titanic and ultimately the
Californian did not save anybody or make a difference.
However, we did shoot the scene where the Californian wireless
operator tries to warn Titanic, and is ignored.
Thomas says: Mr. Cameron, where you afraid that with all the deaths
and drowning in the movie, that it would be given an R rating?
The only issue that gave the ratings board pause was the nudity, which
they ultimately deemed to be artistic.
_Crash_ says: Were you aware at the time of writing the script that
there was a J. Dawson - Jack Dawson aboard the ship?
Crash, Corey. You're good historians one of the bodies recovered
buried in Halifax Nova Scotia was a J Dawson. I've seen his tombstone.
But the script was already written when I found out!
James, what is your favourite film of all time or at least the most
influential?
Those are two different things my favourite film is The Wizard of Oz
and the most influential film for me was 2001 because at that point
in my life it gave me a great deal of curiosity about the film making
process.
Bruce_Haldane says: Mr. Cameron - would you like to direct Arthur C.
Clarke's novel of 3000, the follow up to 2001, 2010 and 2064?
No.
2001 meant a great deal to me when I was 16 or 17 years old and
sparked my interest in film-making but it doesn't hold the same
interest now.
Is there a connection between outer space films and inner space films?
I my mind there's absolutely a connection because they both
simultaneously deal with the unknown and the exploratory urge and
with human psychology in extreme conditions and they both require
technology to travel there. And there be dragons!
And Monsters?
Yes, and there be monsters there!
Bradster says: Thanks for a phenomenal movie. TITANIC made me rethink
what is important. Did you find that researching and making this
movie changed you? If so, how? Thanks, Brad (Vancouver, BC)
Well, in emerging myself in the story of Titanic, I think I discovered
the truth of it's lesson which is all you have is today the future is
impossible to predict.
William Wallace says: Mr Cameron, a question all the way from Scotland,
would you have gone down with the ship if you were on it?
I like to think I would have been clever enough to swim for one of
the lifeboats before they rowed too far away.
trace says: Titanic has been compared to the great epic Gone With The
Wind. How do you feel about such comparisons? Historical epics, love
stories that last?
I think the comparison is valid to the extent that The Titanic - my
film Titanic - is an intimate story against an epic setting. I think
it's also valid in that this film resurrects a kind of intentionally
epic film making which we haven't seen in a while.
And believe it or not, that was the pitch to the studio.
Origen says: The parallels between the Titanic herself and Rose are
quite intricate. Is there any part of that (connection) artistry
which you think we might have missed?
Well here's my answer - I don't quite understand this question ;0)
The intention of Rose's character was to show a woman becoming aware
of her potential for the first time.
Titanic on the other hand certainly did not live up to her expectations.
Not the movie - the ship!
NickB says: Illuminatis: Why are you interested in doing Spiderman?
Because Spiderman rules!
lisaH says: Did you make ANY money on this incredible movie? I
certainly hope so!
Thank you for your concern. I made my script fee but I gave up my
directing fee and my producing fee and my profits. In order to
protect the quality of the film.
If you had 200 million dollars to play with again then what historical
event would you like to shoot, maybe Ben Hur or the Crusade?
I don't have anything else compelling interest in history and I do
not intend to spend that kind of money again. I do not enjoy the
media scrutiny.
The lowest budget film I've done was the first Terminator, which was
6.5 million. If I was to make that film today exactly the same way,
it'd probably cost 30m.
Is it true you sold the movie to the studios for $1 dollar on the
understanding that you would direct?
No, that's not true.
Rick_Cromack says: Mr. Cameron, who inspires your creation of such
outstanding female roles of strong-willed, intelligent, pro-active
women?
The women of the world.
Andy_Copenhagen says: Mr. Cameron how did this great project affect
your personal life?
Well, there was no personal life while I was making it. I had to
struggle to spend some time with my 4 year old daughter at the
weekend. Film-making and family life are really mutually exclusive.
Jo says: Mr. Cameron, Titanic was excellent! I was wondering if it
is true that you want Leonardo to play Spiderman if you do the movie?
Have you talked to him about playing the role?
Yes, I have and I think he would be amazing in the role. He's much
more physical than people think.
email: What is your advice to aspiring scriptwriters and directors?
Who are your film making heroes? Who is the best of the new crop? Did
the sheer scale of Titanic mean that you had special difficulties in
your script?
That's like, several questions! Advice to directors is different to
scriptwriters. My advice to directors is just direct anything - no
matter how small. Shoot it in 16mm or video if you have to.
Because once your name is on something that says Director, everything
after that is just negotiating your budget.
Angelique says: Have you gone to see the movie along with "the public"
to see the reactions?
In one of the email received, a mother brought her very young daughter
to the film. The child sat spellbound for the full length of TITANIC
and loved it but on the way out of the cinema she saw many of the
audience crying. The child approached one young woman who was in
floods of tears and gave her a hug. She said, "S'ok, don't worry,
Rose is with her Jack now"
Ohhh that's so sweet.
continued
Yes, Angelique, I've gone many times in different theatres and the
response is always very similar. It was the same virtually from our
first test screening in Minneapolis to our unveiling for the Royal
Film Performance in London.
Soozie says: What did Billy Zane bring to the part of Rose's fiancee?
Well, Soozie, Billy gave the part a certain dimension when Cal could
have been a cardboard villain he gave the character vulnerability.
Toka says: Mr Cameron? Do you think the Titanic will scoop some prizes
at the Academy Awards later this year? Or are you just not thinking
that far at this point?
I don't want to think about it! I've worked on this film for 3 years,
I sort of want it to be done and not hanging over my head for another
2 months. But if it did happen, I think it would be just peachy ;0)
kristiek says: Mr. Cameron, you do beautiful artwork. Do you have any
other artwork that we can see from you like the rose sketch and the
others?
Yes, I've been an illustrator for many years and I've stayed to stay
current with the drawing skills. In case the directing thing doesn't
work out :0)
GoldenGlobe says: If Titanic had flopped would you still see it as
one of the best films you had ever made.
I think there's a difference between the intrinsic quality of the film
and it's commercial success. The best example in my personal experience
is Strange Days, which I still like as a film even though it made no
money.
Cameron: Have you heard that there were an writer onboard the real
Titanic who had written a book about a ship called Titania that also
sunk on it's maiden voyage? The writer is said to have died that
terrible night too.
The facts are slightly scrambled here. There was a book called
"Futility" which was written in 1899. It was a story of a triple
screw steamer, like Titanic, called The Titan, which hit an iceberg
and sank on its maiden voyage. The writer was not on board the
Titanic.
My favourite conspiracy theory I saw in a cartoon the other day. It
was called Oliver Stone's Titanic and it showed a second iceberg.
My theory was they could have saved everybody by putting them off onto
the iceberg - as the iceberg wasn't about to sink.
cmpondy says: Mr. Cameron, do you think Titanic has catapulted
computer and digital imaging to new heights? and do you feel it has
set a new standard for this type of work?
I think every year that passes sets a new standard and advances the
artistry and the technology of digitial film-making but I will say
that the photo-realistic images of Titanic were about ten times in an
order of magnitude more difficult to create than my previous films.
Jeremy says: Question: I have seen many pictures of you holding the
camera while you film. Do you always do that or do you sit behind the
monitor and let the cameramen do the work?
Jeremy, it depends on the shot. I shoot most of the hand-held myself
but I work with one of the best Steadicam operators in the business
and he does beautiful work.
Jo says: How important would you say the special effects were to
Titanic, Mr.Cameron?
I think the visual effects were extremely important in creating a
sense of time and place in creating the ship itself and the event of
its sinking. Of much greater importance was the love story and
capturing the intimacy of those moments.
Bruce_Haldane says: Mr. Cameron, were all the extras accounted for at
the end of the movie? ;-)
(Laughs out loud) LOL. In any endeavour this large, you have to expect
losses :0) No one was ever reported missing.
We had very complex safe guards against people being injured in the
water. We utilised a buddy system and had a headcount after every
take.
It's important, sometimes we had 200 people in the water. There were
also 30 lifeguards wearing costumes interspersed amongst the extras
and stunt people.
Niagara_Falls says: James What about the Rose giving the finger going
down the elevator? Historically inaccurate?
Niagara Falls - my hometown! I can't believe I'm being dissed by
someone from my own town! :0) My understanding is that that gesture
was evented by the Romans to taunt their enemies - its called the
Digitus Inputicus
Tom_Mustaine says: How soon before you and other directors begin to
produce fully realistic computer animated movies? Is it closer than
we think?
Well, the effects budget on Titanic was $40m and it accounts for about
a half hour of the film.
K says: Mr. Cameron, did you keep any of the props of the Titanic film
yourself - for example - the picture of Rose you drew?
Well, I kept the drawing because I drew it and they'd have to wrestle
me for it and I kept the ship's wheel from the bridge because I know
what it's like to be at the helm of a sinking ship!
BlueFrog says: Mr. Cameron: I'm assuming all the computer generated
effects were done at Digital Domain. Any idea what software was used?
Oh, we used there were so many different software packages. The one
that was the most interesting was Arete. Most of the effects were
done on the Windows NT platform as well as the silicon graphics.
Correction: it's interesting that some of the effects were done on
the NT platform as well as silicon graphics.
Tracy says: What is the primary thing that attracts you making a
particular movie?
It varies. For example on True Lies I was interested in the character
where Arnold shows vulnerability and comes unravelled for love and I
was also interested in the comedy potential in True Lies.
With Titanic, I was attracted to the opportunity to work with the
full emotional spectrum.
Jo says: There are tales that superstitions prevented many from
joining the voyage. Others arose from the unexplainable events that
took place during the building of the ship. Are you superstitious?
Well, I like to think I'm not but I find myself occasionally being
superstitious. For example, the date originally set for our first
test screening for the film was the 13th and I said, “No”.
corey_doyle says: James: I have family that died on TITANIC. Thank
you for making this movie. It needed to be done. Are you happy with
the fact that so many are now more aware of the TITANIC?
First of all, you're welcome, thank you for the compliment. The more
people that know about Titanic, the more we collectively stand to
profit from the warnings of history.
James, thank you very much for joining us all online. We will be
running a special show on Oscars night and we will be routing for
you! Good luck at the Oscars!
It was a great pleasure. Thank you and Goodnight everyone.