James Cameron visits the University as a guest on Inside the Actor’s Studio

Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio hosted by James Lipton had one of its biggest guests of all time on Feb. 17, director James Cameron.

As soon as Cameron came onto the stage he was instantly a crowd pleaser. It was clear by the standing ovation he received as he walked out that his reputation preceded him. When Lipton commented that his applause was well deserved, Cameron simply made a witty comment about how he didn't care if it was well deserved and rather it was just nice.

Though the show is the same classic interview formula that we've all come to know, Lipton and Cameron played off of one another as if they were a comedic team rehearsing their one act show. Every time Lipton asked a vague or off the wall question, Cameron would point it out, which in turn made the audience roar with laughter.

It was clear that during this interview Lipton was more of a fan than an interviewer. Whenever Cameron would apologize for not giving the best explanation of something, Lipton would simply compliment him on his reputation. Many of his questions also sounded like they were coming from Cameron's biggest fan. Cameron didn't mind.

Like previous shows, Lipton started at the beginning of Cameron's career. Cameron talked about how he grew up near Niagara Falls until he moved to Orange County, Ca. He mentioned that he didn't always know he wanted to be a director, but rather he liked telling stories and being artistic — which happened to be a passion of his mother.

It wasn't until Lipton arrived at the first film Cameron made that the interview really started to pick up. Cameron talked about a nightmare he once had about a chrome skeleton making his way through flames. Without revealing the title, everyone instantly knew that this nightmare was where the idea for The Terminator originated.

Cameron talked about casting for the film and how the first suggestion he was given to play the title role was O.J. Simpson. He also mentioned how he contacted action producer Gale Anne Hurd and sold her the script for $1. The only condition was that he be allowed to direct the movie and direct it his way. The result was a low-budget movie which became an iconic film.

From there Lipton moved to the movie Aliens, which Cameron was asked to direct after the success of The Terminator.

After watching a scene in which Cameron revealed the Queen alien mother, Cameron noted that the actor playing Bishop (Lance Henriksen) a synthetic accidentally revealed a large part of what was supposed to be a missing lower torso. This error made it into the film and was never noticed until Cameron pointed it out during the interview.

Then came the moment everyone in the theater was waiting for: Titanic. Cameron explained the best way to get a studio to do what you want is to ask for something you know they will say no to so that everything else you ask doesn't seem as crazy.

He wanted the studio to pay for the Titanic expedition in addition to financing a period piece that wouldn't have a sequel. The studio didn't pay for the expedition, but he was still able to do it anyway.

He also had one of the most ingenious film pitches. A friend of his had created some really wonderful paintings. There was one particular painting which featured the sinking Titanic with the lights still on and safety boat being deployed. He brought it into the meeting laid it out in front of the executives and said, "Romeo and Juliet on a boat."
He also talked about how the actors dealt with being a part of such a huge project.

Leonardo DiCaprio, being such a young actor at the time would play videogames when the cameras weren't rolling. Kate Winslet on the other hand found it very tough ignoring the excitement of hundreds of onset extras. What Cameron really found interesting about the two actors was that however they felt before the cameras were rolling completely changed when he started filming.

Lipton's interview finally landed on the only film to surpass Titanic, which was of course Avatar. Cameron discussed how he had been holding onto the idea of the film since he was younger. This was his passion project so he spared no expense in making it the best film it could be.

His love of science and technology came into play here as he mentioned that he had to reinvent 3-D imagery. Rather than just making things out to the audience, he made cameras that would make the colors of the movie pop. In such a revolutionary way he nearly broke the wall between the audience and the screen.

When it was all said and done, Lipton thanked Cameron for his time and mentioned that on the night of the taping Lipton was actually supposed to go see Avatar and rightfully cancelled to interview Cameron. Actors who went learned a great many things about how a director operates. Directors that went definitely learned how to be better filmmakers.

The interview was one for the books and it was a night University students will never forget.