Host John: Japan, Germany Taiwan, Ireland, and Australia - where it is 6pm in the morning - a special g'day to you. We also bid welcome to our guests from other ISPs and all those who are joining us on IRC...
Host John: 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. Writer, director, producer and editor of Titanic, James Cameron...
Host John: Welcome, James, and congratulations on your major success at the Golden Globes. Do you see them as a dry run for the Oscars or can we expect even greater things there?
Host John: Let's put your audience directly online with you... Here comes the first question....
Host John: 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 seemed to identify very closely with them and were very emotionally involved with the ending...
Host John: email: What made you cast these newcomers especially Kate Winslet in a movie with so much at stake?
James Cameron: well the interesting thing it was given from the beginning we would not have big stars. Rose was 17 and jack ws 19...
James Cameron: this was the function of a plausible age of a survivor now...
James Cameron: with that as a given I searched for the young actors and actresses...
James Cameron: based on merit...
James Cameron: I was looking not only for the individual skill set as an actor but the chemistry between them.
James Cameron: Kate struck me as the one of the young women that I saw having...
James Cameron: the most potential.
John MSN: email: Everyone has their own interpretation of a film but for you was Rose dreaming or was the ending the start of her afterlife.
James Cameron: That would be telling.
John MSN: email: The Titanic has images of huge engines, pistons and big businesses indifference to people with images of hands drawing and making pottery and holding hands. Why was this contrast important to you? Were the hands drawing the picture of Rose your hands?
James Cameron: People have asked me if I am pesimistic or optimistic about the future and my answer has been recently that I am pessimistic about systems and optimistic about individuals. ...#
James Cameron: It occurs to me that the ciontrast of big business and technical systems with the human touch...
James Cameron: is symbolic of that philosophy.
James Cameron: yes that is my hand (second part of the question)
James Cameron: Well.. I didn't write the scene imagining i'd end up doing the drawing
James Cameron: but, I wound up doing the drawing, then I had to perform the drawing for the film so that the style would be consistant.
James Cameron: In fact Leonardo is right handed and I am left handed!!
Host John: 28anyoi 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?
James Cameron: I couldn't do a five hour version, I could do a version that would be about a half hour longer.
James Cameron: What would be restored would be little historical pieces
James Cameron: What you would see is the receiving of the ice warning in the Marconi room.
Host John: 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.
James Cameron: my relationship with the ocean goes back to when I was a teenager...
James Cameron: and remains with for my entire life
James Cameron: I don't like being in boats because it makes me seasick!
James Cameron: I love being underwater, but I don't like being in boats
Host John: 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.
James Cameron: those of you who know my earlier films know that i have done love stories before, most notably The Abyss
James Cameron: and my primary motivation for making this film was to make a love story
James Cameron: in fact my first film the terminator was a love story, a kind of gothic romance
Host John: 28_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?
James Cameron: i've always had a love-hate relationship with technology
James Cameron: my mind is drawn in by technical problem-solving
James Cameron: but my stories usually deal with the pitfalls of misuse of
James Cameron: i suppose then i'm not truly a techno-holic
James Cameron: i use the internet for research rather than recreation
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: i love diving and being in the submarine was a peak experience of my life
James Cameron: i made twelve dives
James Cameron: we were the only expedition that was able to send a robot vehicle inside the ship
James Cameron: most of the exterior shots of the Titanic are real, with only a few model shots
Host John: 28Evgeniy says: Question for Mr. Cameron: Spielberg said about his film "Jaws": "OK. It's just a film about the shark..." Is Your film just about the ship?
James Cameron: no i think that films are about people and
James Cameron: you can interpret this film at a surface level
James Cameron: as a love story or you can interpret it at deeper levels
James Cameron: for its broader metaphorical levels
Host John: From David: 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"?
James Cameron: yes i believe that history is a consensus hallucination ...
James Cameron: the more research i did the more i realised that there were many grey areas ...
* James Cameron thinks: in the history of
James Cameron: Titanic
James Cameron: despite that we tried to be as historically accurate as possible
James Cameron: the history of Titanic is like the 3 blind men and the elephant ...
James Cameron: everybody who was there experienced something slightly different
Host John: 28Anthony says: Darren says: Did you meet any survivers, and was it fascinating listening to them?
James Cameron: unfortunately i believe there are 6 or 7 survivors right now ...
James Cameron: unfortunately they were very young when they were on the ship ..
James Cameron: they were under a year old ...
James Cameron: so their experience is secondhand ...
James Cameron: so the first hand accounts of survivors who are now dead are much more compelling ..
James Cameron: a much more compelling source of information
Host John: email: What inspired your final tragic scenes?
James Cameron: its impossible to do a film about Titanic without exploring the emotion of loss and grief ...
James Cameron: and so this is the necessary conclusion of the relationship within the context of this historical event ...
Host John: 28JF says: Hube says: James: Is there any reason that you tend to use actors over and over again (i.e., Arnold, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton)?
James Cameron: yes proves that i'm not the jerk everyone thinks i am!
Host John: email:Your Crew wear T-Shirts with "You don't scare me, I've worked with James Cameron".What T-Shirt would you wear in reply ?
James Cameron: that's funny
James Cameron: trust is a beautiful thing...
Host John: Isa says: James Cameron,what do you think about all those journalists that were against Titanic because of the budget and now have completely changed heir minds?
James Cameron: I would say next time see the movie before you go off ...
Host John: MissingLink says: QUESTION: 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?
James Cameron: Actualy I wasn't interested in it my entire life, I got interested in it about 10 years ago ...
James Cameron: when I was researching The Abyss
James Cameron: I was interested in the technology used to explore the wreck
James Cameron: since then I became fascinated by the history and the people who were on board ...
James Cameron: and one thing lead to another ...
Host John: email: What will happen to the model of Titanic and all the props and sets and costumes - will there be a museum?
James Cameron: we didn't call it a model, we called it a set ...
James Cameron: the set was 100% scale but not the complete ship ...
James Cameron: there was a section that we did not build which is why it was not the full length ...
James Cameron: and that full size set has been torn down, it doesn't exist anymore..
James Cameron: it was torn down to make room for the Bond film which was using our studio in Mexico ...
James Cameron: Bond obliterated the Titanic last summer and we obliterated Bond this year.
Host John: Was Leonardo DiCaprio scared of all that water? Leah, age 7
James Cameron: OK, Lea .. Leo was never scared, he just doesn't like water ...
James Cameron: I should amend that ...
James Cameron: Leo doesn't like to be in water fully clothed ...
James Cameron: he likes to be underwater in the scuba gear.
James Cameron: we did some underwater shooting and he loved that!
Host John: DaRcWyNd says: What did you feel the first time you saw the ship?
James Cameron: Hmm ...
James Cameron: sheer terror - we almost crashed into it ...
James Cameron: the first dive you don't have your acoustic navigation grid in place ...
James Cameron: so subsequent dives were more controlled.
James Cameron: there's no light at that depth whatsoever ...
James Cameron: any exposure you see in the film we had to supply.
James Cameron: we used some specially designed deep submergence lights ...
James Cameron: and mounted them on submarines.
Host John: CNBC says: How did you deal with the executives at Fox and Paramount when you went over budget on the film? What did you nsay to them? Did you allow them onto the set?
James Cameron: yes as the budget overrun increased the relationship became more tense ...
James Cameron: but of course they were always welcome on the set and we always behaved as gentlemen ...
James Cameron: we were prepared to go down as gentlemen.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: You're welcome. I don't feel a need to go back there personally. I have closure for Titanic.
Host John: Saundra says: QUESTION: Did James Cameron cry the first time he saw the completed, final cut of "Titanic"?
James Cameron: I occasionally as I watched the film, have an emotional reaction to certain scenes ..
James Cameron: not so much a response to the film-making ...
James Cameron: more imagining the event itself.
James Cameron: It seems to be a film for all age groups.
Host John: email: Were there any true elements to the story of Jack and Rose?
James Cameron: Well, Rose was my maternal grandmother's name so that's made up
James Cameron: unconnected to the Titanic,. No they are fictional characters ...
James Cameron: but for example, Rose steps back from the lifeboat onto the ship ..
James Cameron: and that actually occured.
James Cameron: When Ida Strauss stepped back onto Titanic to be with her husband.
James Cameron: Yes it's strictly Hallmark cards from this point on.
Host John: ?
James Cameron: I love science fiction and I'll always return to it.
Host John: Smudge says: Roger-Corman says: James, will you go back to the action/sci-fi or does TITANIC mark a new direction for you?
James Cameron: I am joking. I love sci-fi and I'll always return to it ...
James Cameron: there are several other projects I am considering that are science fiction/action films.
Host John: email: What is your next project? Will it be Avatar or Spiderman or Terminator 3? Have you cast it yet?
James Cameron: Terminator 3. No, not involved.
James Cameron: Spiderman, I don't own the rights but I would like to do it.
James Cameron: If I can get the script.
James Cameron: Avarat I am not doing.
James Cameron: Next project is not decided.
Host John: Michael says: JediKnite says: Question: Mr. Cameron: What did you think of James Horner's soundtrack as you watched the completed film?
James Cameron: He's talking to his 2nd favourite director then!
James Cameron: I love it.
James Cameron: I think it's exquisite, it has a timeless quality ...
James Cameron: and it doesn't sound like every other over-produced period movie score.
James Cameron: Here's one for you ...
James Cameron: I've been told that 14 year old girls are buying the soundtrack and sitting around in a circle ...
James Cameron: and having sobbing parties.
Host John: Michael says: 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?
James Cameron: Doug, it was impossible to predict the outcome that wer're experiencing right now ..
James Cameron: even though I always believed in the film.
James Cameron: It looks like this film will probably be at a minimum the number 4 highest grossing films in history.
James Cameron: The Director's cut will not be soon. Because the film still has so much life left in theatres.
James Cameron: And also people must realise they are already seeing the director's cut ...
James Cameron: this is the best version of the film.
Host John: JF says: 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?
James Cameron: The only issue that gave the ratings board pause was the nudity ...
James Cameron: which they ultimately deemed to be artistic.
Host John: Tori says: Crash says:????????? were you aware at the time of writing the script that there was a J. Dawson (Jack Dawson..?) aboard the ship..??
James Cameron: Crash. You're a good historian ...
James Cameron: one of the body's recovered buried in Halifax Nova Scotia ...
James Cameron: was a J Dawson. I've seen his tombstone.
James Cameron: But the script was already written when I found out.
Host John: Smudge says: tokyo_ben says: James, what is your favourite film of all time, or at least the most influential?
James Cameron: Those are two different things ..
James Cameron: my favourite film is The Wizard of Oz ...
James Cameron: and the most influential film for me was 2001 ...
James Cameron: because at that point in my life it gave me a great deal of curiosity about the film-making process.
Host John: Is there a connection between outer space films and inner space films?
James Cameron: I my mind there's absolutely a connection ...
James Cameron: because they both simultaneously deal with the unknown and the exploratory urge ...
James Cameron: and with human psychology in extreme conditions.
James Cameron: Yes, and they both require technology to travel there.
James Cameron: And therebe dragons.
James Cameron: And monsters there.
Host John: Barrie says: Bradster says: Mr. Cameron: Thanks for a phenonmenal 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)
James Cameron: Well, in emersing myself in the story of Titanic ...
James Cameron: I think i discovered the truth of it's lesson which is all you have is today ...
James Cameron: the future is impossible to predict.
Host John: gerardi says: WilliamWallace says: Mr Cameron, a question all the way from Scotland, would you have gone down with the ship if you were on it?
James Cameron: I like to think I would have been clever enough to swim for one of the lifeboats before they rowed too far away.
Host John: Barrie says: 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? etc?
James Cameron: I think the comparison is valid to the extent that The Titanic - my film Titanic - is an intimate story against an epic setting.
James Cameron: I think it's also valid in that this film resurrects a kind of ...
James Cameron: intentionally epic film-making which we haven't seen in a while.
James Cameron: And believe it or not, that was the pitch to the studio.
Host John: Origen says: Mr. Cameron, the parallelism between the Titanic herself and Rose is quite intricate. Is there any part of that artistry which you think we might have missed?
James Cameron: Well, here's my answer - I don't quite understand this question ...
James Cameron: the intention of Rose's character was to show a woman becoming aware of her potential for the first time ...
James Cameron: Titanic on the other hand certainly did not live up to her expectations.
James Cameron: Not the movie - the ship!
Host John: NickB says: Illuminatis:QUESTION: Why are you interested in doing Spiderman??
James Cameron: Because Spiderman rules!
Host John: arrie says: lisaH says: Did you make ANY money on this incredible movie? I certainly hope so!
James Cameron: Thank you for your concern ...
James Cameron: I made my script fee ...
James Cameron: but I gave up my directing fee and my producing fee and my profits.
James Cameron: In order to protect the quality of the film.
Host John: CNBC says: 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?
James Cameron: First of all, to answer this question ...
James Cameron: I don't have anything else compelling interesting in history in mind right now ...
James Cameron: and I do not intend to spend that kind of money again. I do not enjoy the media scrutiny.
James Cameron: The lowest budget film I've done was the first Terminator which was 6.5 million ...
James Cameron: if I was to make that film today exactly the same way, it'd probably cost 30m.
Host John: Rick Cromack says: Mr. Cameron, who inspired your creation of such outstanding female roles, of strong-willed, intelligent, pro-active women?
James Cameron: The women of the world.
Host John: Andy Copenhagen says: Mr. Cameron how did this great project affect your personal life?
James Cameron: Well, there was no personal life while I was making it.
James Cameron: I had to struggle to spend some time with my 4 year old daughter at the weekend.
James Cameron: Film-making and family life are really mutually exclusive.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: No.
James Cameron: 2001 meant a great deal to me when I was 16 or 17 years old and sparked my interest in film-making ...
James Cameron: but it doesn't hold the same interest now.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: Yes, I have and I think he would be amazing in the role.
James Cameron: He's much more physical than people think.
Host John: email: 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?
James Cameron: That's like, several questions!
James Cameron: Advice to directors is different to scriptwriters.
James Cameron: My advice to directors is just direct. Anything, no matter how small.
James Cameron: Shoot it in 16mm or video if you have to.
James Cameron: Because once your name is on something that says Director, everything after that is just negotiating your budget.
Host John: Angelique says: have you gone to see the movie along with "the public" to see the reactions?
James Cameron: Yes, Angelique, I've gone many times in different theatres and the response is always very similar.
James Cameron: It was the same virtually from our first test screening in Minneapolis to our unveiling for the Royal Film Performance in London.
Host John: Soozie says: What did Billy Zane bring to the part of Rose's fiance?
James Cameron: Well, Soozie, Billy gave the part a certain dimension when Cal could have been a cardboard villain ..
James Cameron: he gave the character vulnerability.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: I don't want to think about it!
James Cameron: 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.
James Cameron: But if it did happen, I think it would be just peachy.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: Yes, I've been an illustrator for many years and I've tried to stay current with the drawing skills ...
Host John: GoldenGlobe says: if Titanic had flopped would you still see it as one of the best films you had ever made
James Cameron: in case the directing thing doesn't work out
James Cameron: I think there's a difference between the intrincsic quality of the film ..
James Cameron: and it's commercial success.
James Cameron: The best example in my personal experience is Strange Days, which I still like as a film even though it made no money.
Host John: 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).
James Cameron: The facts are slightly scrambled here. There was a book called "Futility" ...
James Cameron: which was written in 1899.
James Cameron: It was a story of a triple screw steamer (like Titanic) ...
James Cameron: called The Titan.
James Cameron: Which hit an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage.
James Cameron: The writer was not on board the Titanic.
James Cameron: My favourite conspiracy theory I saw in a cartoon the other day ...
James Cameron: it was called Oliver Stone's Titanic and it showed a second iceberg.
James Cameron: My theory was they could have saved everybody by pulling them off onto the iceberg as the iceberg wasn't about to sink.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: I think every year that passes sets a new standard and advances the artistry and the technology of digitial film-making ...
James Cameron: but I will say that the photo-realistic images of Titanic were an order of magnitude greater in difficulty to create ...
James Cameron: as in ten times than my previous film.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: Jeremy, it depends on the shot. I shoot most of the hand-held myself ...
James Cameron: but I work with one of the best Steadicam operators in the business..
James Cameron: and he does beautiful work.
Host John: Jo says: How important would you say the special effects were to Titanic, Mr.Cameron?
James Cameron: I think the visual effects were extremely important in creating a sense of time and place ...
James Cameron: in creating the ship itself ...
James Cameron: and the event of its sinking.
James Cameron: Of much greater importance was the love story.
James Cameron: And capturing the intimacy of those moments.
Host John: Bruce Haldane says: Mr. Cameron, were all the extras accounted for at the end of the movie? ;-)
James Cameron: (Laughs)
James Cameron: In any endeavour this large, you have to expect losses.
James Cameron: No-one was ever reported missing.
James Cameron: We had very complex save guards against people being injured in the water.
James Cameron: We utilised a buddy system and ...
James Cameron: had a headcount after every take. It's important, sometimes we had 200 people in the water.
James Cameron: There were also 30 lifeguards wearing costumes interspersed amongst the extras and stunt people.
Host John: Soozie says: What did Billy Zane bring to the part of Rose's fiance?
James Cameron: Well, Soozie, Billy gave the part a certain dimension when Cal could have been a cardboard villain ..
James Cameron: he gave the character vulnerability.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: I don't want to think about it!
James Cameron: 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.
James Cameron: But if it did happen, I think it would be just peachy.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: Yes, I've been an illustrator for many years and I've tried to stay current with the drawing skills ...
Host John: GoldenGlobe says: if Titanic had flopped would you still see it as one of the best films you had ever made
James Cameron: in case the directing thing doesn't work out
James Cameron: I think there's a difference between the intrincsic quality of the film ..
James Cameron: and it's commercial success.
James Cameron: The best example in my personal experience is Strange Days, which I still like as a film even though it made no money.
Host John: 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).
James Cameron: The facts are slightly scrambled here. There was a book called "Futility" ...
James Cameron: which was written in 1899.
James Cameron: It was a story of a triple screw steamer (like Titanic) ...
James Cameron: called The Titan.
James Cameron: Which hit an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage.
James Cameron: The writer was not on board the Titanic.
James Cameron: My favourite conspiracy theory I saw in a cartoon the other day ...
James Cameron: it was called Oliver Stone's Titanic and it showed a second iceberg.
James Cameron: My theory was they could have saved everybody by pulling them off onto the iceberg as the iceberg wasn't about to sink.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: I think every year that passes sets a new standard and advances the artistry and the technology of digitial film-making ...
James Cameron: but I will say that the photo-realistic images of Titanic were an order of magnitude greater in difficulty to create ...
James Cameron: as in ten times than my previous film.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: Jeremy, it depends on the shot. I shoot most of the hand-held myself ...
James Cameron: but I work with one of the best Steadicam operators in the business ..
James Cameron: and he does beautiful work.
Host John: Jo says: How important would you say the special effects were to Titanic, Mr.Cameron?
James Cameron: I think the visual effects were extremely important in creating a sense of time and place ...
James Cameron: in creating the ship itself ...
James Cameron: and the event of its sinking.
James Cameron: Of much greater importance was the love story.
James Cameron: And capturing the intimacy of those moments.
Host John: Bruce Haldane says: Mr. Cameron, were all the extras accounted for at the end of the movie? ;-)
James Cameron: (Laughs)
James Cameron: In any endeavour this large, you have to expect losses.
James Cameron: No-one was ever reported missing.
James Cameron: We had very complex save guards against people being injured in the water.
James Cameron: We utilised a buddy system and ...
James Cameron: had a headcount after every take. It's important, sometimes we had 200 people in the water.
James Cameron: There were also 30 lifeguards wearing costumes interspersed amongst the extras and stunt people.
Host John: Plato says: Mr. Cameron, was the Californian incident omitted or cut? Splendid film. You will be remembered for it!
James Cameron: Well,thank you, Plato.
James Cameron: I did not focus on the Californian because I was primarily interested in events on Titanic.
James Cameron: And ultimately the Californian did not save anybody or make a difference.
James Cameron: However, we did shoot the scene where the Californian wireless operator ..
James Cameron: tries to warn Titanic, and is ignored.
Host John: Niagara Falls says: James What about the Rose giving the finger going down the elevator? Historically inaccurate?
James Cameron: Niagara Falls - my hometown!
James Cameron: I can't believe I'm being dissed by someone from my own town!
James Cameron: My understanding is that that gesture was evented by the Romans ..
James Cameron: to taunt their enemies - its called the Digitus Inputicus
Host John: Tom Mustaine says: PLEASE ASK HIM THIS QUESTION: How soon before you and other directors begin to produce fully realistic computer animated movies? Is it closer than we think?
James Cameron: Well, the effects budget on Titanic was $40m and it accounts for about a half hour of the film ...
James Cameron: I think we're a long way from photo-realistic, computer generated film of feature length.
Host John: K says: Mr. cameron- did you keep any of the props of the titanic film yourself- for example- the picture of Rose you drew?
James Cameron: Well, I kept the drawing because I drew it. And they'd have to wrestle me for it.
James Cameron: 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.
Host John: BlueFrog says: Mr. Cameron: I'm assuming all the computer generated effects were done at Digital Domain. Any idea what software was used?
James Cameron: Oh, we used ...
James Cameron: there were so many different software packages.
James Cameron: The one that was the most interesting was Arete ...
James Cameron: that was the most interesting.
James Cameron: Most of the effects were done NT platform as well as the silicon graphics.
James Cameron: Correction: it's interesting that some of the effects were done on the NT platform as well as silicon graphics.
Host John: Tracy says: QUESTION: What is the primary thing that attracts you making a particular movie?
James Cameron: It varies. For example, on True Lies I was interested in the character ...
James Cameron: where Arnold shows vulnerability and comes unravelled .. for love ...
James Cameron: and I was also interested in the comedy potential in True Lies.
James Cameron: With Titanic, I was attracted to the opportunity to work with the full emotional spectrum ...
Host John: Jo says: There are tales that superstitions prevented many from joining the voyage. These arose from the unexplainable events that took place during the building of the ship. Are you superstitious?.
James Cameron: Well, I like to think I;m not but I find myself occasionally being superstitious.
James Cameron: For example, the date originally set for our first test screening for the film was the 13th and I said no.
Host John: 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?
James Cameron: First of all, you're welcome, thank you for the compliment.
James Cameron: The more people that know about Titanic, the more we collectively
Host John: James thank you very much for joining us online.
James Cameron: the more we collectively stand to profit from the warnings of history.
Host John: Good luck at the Oscars!
James Cameron: It was a great pleasure. Thank you.
Host John: Thankyou...
James Cameron: Thank you.
James Cameron: Goodnight.
Host John: This is London signing off.