In the list of badass directors who deliver on their promises, James Cameron might be at the very top. The guy has consistently delivered the top-grossing movies of all time...movies that build stunning worlds, and that tap into the cultural lexicon. In the world of blockbuster filmmaking, there is James Cameron, and then there is everyone else. His newest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, hit my top 25 for 2025, and hits theaters wide this Friday. The director sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for a career-spanning deep dive into the future of Pandora, the threat of AI, and his relentless pursuit of "Ferrari-level" cinema.I thought Cameron delivered some truths that filmmakers need to hear, so let's unpack them below. Here are the best quotes and takeaways from the interview.1. He Once Got Trapped 12,500 Feet UnderwaterJames Cameron is an adventure director. The guy sort of goes method when he wants to get a shot, like actually visiting the Titanic for the opening of the movie and getting into the massive tubs for Avatar. Long before the Titan submersible tragedy of 2023, Cameron experienced his own "spooky" brush with death. While exploring the Titanic wreck in a Russian sub, a vortex pinned the craft to the ocean floor.“We had been caught in a vortex on the downwind side of the wreck that kept driving us back to the bottom,” he said.So what did the famed director do? Well, he didn't panic. Cameron did what he calls "working the problem." He...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today