don’t put limitations on yourself other people will do that for you don’t do it
people will do that for you don’t do it
people will do that for you don’t do it to yourself don’t bet against yourself a
to yourself don’t bet against yourself a
to yourself don’t bet against yourself a lot of stuff comes to me in dreams and I
lot of stuff comes to me in dreams and I
lot of stuff comes to me in dreams and I remember it sometimes I write it down
remember it sometimes I write it down
remember it sometimes I write it down sometimes it’s an image and I’ll go I’ll
sometimes it’s an image and I’ll go I’ll
sometimes it’s an image and I’ll go I’ll go draw or paint that image just do it
go draw or paint that image just do it
go draw or paint that image just do it just pick up a camera and start shooting
just pick up a camera and start shooting
just pick up a camera and start shooting something it’s all driven by curiosity
something it’s all driven by curiosity
something it’s all driven by curiosity and the desire to be personally
and the desire to be personally
and the desire to be personally challenged you know I look back on it
challenged you know I look back on it
challenged you know I look back on it and every single thing I learned at that
and every single thing I learned at that
and every single thing I learned at that time has paid off for me I may not be
time has paid off for me I may not be
time has paid off for me I may not be very good at this but I know I’m better
very good at this but I know I’m better
very good at this but I know I’m better than that guy the special thrill as a
than that guy the special thrill as a
than that guy the special thrill as a filmmaker comes from seeing an immediate
filmmaker comes from seeing an immediate
filmmaker comes from seeing an immediate audience response you do have to have a
audience response you do have to have a
audience response you do have to have a really strong personal ethos in the film
really strong personal ethos in the film
really strong personal ethos in the film business we’ve managed to get the
business we’ve managed to get the
business we’ve managed to get the eyeballs we’ve got people thinking about
eyeballs we’ve got people thinking about
eyeballs we’ve got people thinking about this film why not use it to focus a
this film why not use it to focus a
this film why not use it to focus a spotlight on some very specific issues
spotlight on some very specific issues
spotlight on some very specific issues there’s no just open for you every once
there’s no just open for you every once
there’s no just open for you every once in a while one will open a crack and you
in a while one will open a crack and you
in a while one will open a crack and you have to recognize that that’s the moment
have to recognize that that’s the moment
have to recognize that that’s the moment he’s a Canadian filmmaker inventor
he’s a Canadian filmmaker inventor
he’s a Canadian filmmaker inventor engineer and deep-sea Explorer his first
engineer and deep-sea Explorer his first
engineer and deep-sea Explorer his first major success was with the science
major success was with the science
major success was with the science fiction action film Terminator in 1984
fiction action film Terminator in 1984
fiction action film Terminator in 1984 in total his movies have grossed over
in total his movies have grossed over
in total his movies have grossed over two billion dollars in North America and
two billion dollars in North America and
two billion dollars in North America and over six billion dollars worldwide he’s
over six billion dollars worldwide he’s
over six billion dollars worldwide he’s James Cameron and here his top 10 rules
James Cameron and here his top 10 rules
James Cameron and here his top 10 rules for success I have young filmmakers come
for success I have young filmmakers come
for success I have young filmmakers come up to me and say you know give me some
up to me and say you know give me some
up to me and say you know give me some advice for doing this and I say don’t
advice for doing this and I say don’t
advice for doing this and I say don’t put limitations on yourself other people
put limitations on yourself other people
put limitations on yourself other people will do that for you don’t do it to
will do that for you don’t do it to
will do that for you don’t do it to yourself don’t bet against yourself and
yourself don’t bet against yourself and
yourself don’t bet against yourself and and take risks nASA has this has this
and take risks nASA has this has this
and take risks nASA has this has this phrase that they like failure is not an
phrase that they like failure is not an
phrase that they like failure is not an option but failure has to be an option
option but failure has to be an option
option but failure has to be an option in art and an exploration because it’s a
in art and an exploration because it’s a
in art and an exploration because it’s a leap of faith and no important endeavor
leap of faith and no important endeavor
leap of faith and no important endeavor that required innovation was done
that required innovation was done
that required innovation was done without risk you have to be willing to
without risk you have to be willing to
without risk you have to be willing to take those risks so that’s the thought I
take those risks so that’s the thought I
take those risks so that’s the thought I would leave you with is it in whatever
would leave you with is it in whatever
would leave you with is it in whatever you’re doing
you’re doing
you’re doing failure is an option but fear is not so
failure is an option but fear is not so
failure is an option but fear is not so this is going back to 1976
this is going back to 1976
this is going back to 1976 and this was for a film project that
and this was for a film project that
and this was for a film project that never went anywhere the thing that’s
never went anywhere the thing that’s
never went anywhere the thing that’s interesting about it is that I’ve
interesting about it is that I’ve
interesting about it is that I’ve already got a tall hot blue girl in that
already got a tall hot blue girl in that
already got a tall hot blue girl in that movie her name was in a tiara and it was
movie her name was in a tiara and it was
movie her name was in a tiara and it was in a completely different context but I
in a completely different context but I
in a completely different context but I was already thinking about it then a lot
was already thinking about it then a lot
was already thinking about it then a lot of stuff comes to me in dreams and I
of stuff comes to me in dreams and I
of stuff comes to me in dreams and I remember it sometimes I write it down
remember it sometimes I write it down
remember it sometimes I write it down sometimes it’s an image and I’ll go I’ll
sometimes it’s an image and I’ll go I’ll
sometimes it’s an image and I’ll go I’ll go draw or paint that image I remember
go draw or paint that image I remember
go draw or paint that image I remember waking up from a dream in college and I
waking up from a dream in college and I
waking up from a dream in college and I remember this very clearly having leaped
remember this very clearly having leaped
remember this very clearly having leaped through a book of paintings and waking
through a book of paintings and waking
through a book of paintings and waking up and saying wow I wish I could paint
up and saying wow I wish I could paint
up and saying wow I wish I could paint like that and saying it dummy you just
like that and saying it dummy you just
like that and saying it dummy you just painted all those paintings in your head
painted all those paintings in your head
painted all those paintings in your head now paint them for real and I quickly
now paint them for real and I quickly
now paint them for real and I quickly painted as many of them as I could
painted as many of them as I could
painted as many of them as I could remember one of them was a glowing
remember one of them was a glowing
remember one of them was a glowing forest with a river of light running
forest with a river of light running
forest with a river of light running through it and trees that kind of look
through it and trees that kind of look
through it and trees that kind of look like fiber-optics well guess what cut to
like fiber-optics well guess what cut to
like fiber-optics well guess what cut to you know 30 years later I’m making a
you know 30 years later I’m making a
you know 30 years later I’m making a movie where we’re spending millions of
movie where we’re spending millions of
movie where we’re spending millions of dollars to actually create that image
dollars to actually create that image
dollars to actually create that image but that image came in in a dream when I
but that image came in in a dream when I
but that image came in in a dream when I was 18 years old just do it just pick up
was 18 years old just do it just pick up
was 18 years old just do it just pick up a camera and start shooting something
a camera and start shooting something
a camera and start shooting something don’t wait to be asked because nobody’s
don’t wait to be asked because nobody’s
don’t wait to be asked because nobody’s going to ask you and don’t wait for the
going to ask you and don’t wait for the
going to ask you and don’t wait for the perfect conditions because they’ll never
perfect conditions because they’ll never
perfect conditions because they’ll never be perfect it’s a little bit like having
be perfect it’s a little bit like having
be perfect it’s a little bit like having a child if you wait until the right time
a child if you wait until the right time
a child if you wait until the right time to have a child you’ll die childless and
to have a child you’ll die childless and
to have a child you’ll die childless and I think filmmaking is very much the same
I think filmmaking is very much the same
I think filmmaking is very much the same thing you just have to take the plunge
thing you just have to take the plunge
thing you just have to take the plunge and just start shooting something even
and just start shooting something even
and just start shooting something even if it’s bad you can always hide it but
if it’s bad you can always hide it but
if it’s bad you can always hide it but you will have learn something for me I
you will have learn something for me I
you will have learn something for me I would say it’s all driven by curiosity
would say it’s all driven by curiosity
would say it’s all driven by curiosity and the desire to be personally
and the desire to be personally
and the desire to be personally challenged those two things I can sum up
challenged those two things I can sum up
challenged those two things I can sum up sum it all up and I don’t know if it’s a
sum it all up and I don’t know if it’s a
sum it all up and I don’t know if it’s a if it’s a formula for success it’s just
if it’s a formula for success it’s just
if it’s a formula for success it’s just what what drives me very curious I want
what what drives me very curious I want
what what drives me very curious I want to know more I choose projects that I’m
to know more I choose projects that I’m
to know more I choose projects that I’m going to learn from I choose projects
going to learn from I choose projects
going to learn from I choose projects that are challenging I don’t want to do
that are challenging I don’t want to do
that are challenging I don’t want to do the same thing twice so I think you know
the same thing twice so I think you know
the same thing twice so I think you know I think personal challenge you know
I think personal challenge you know
I think personal challenge you know trying trying to to strive for
trying trying to to strive for
trying trying to to strive for excellence and to me that the in
excellence and to me that the in
excellence and to me that the in filmmaking the excellence is how
filmmaking the excellence is how
filmmaking the excellence is how excellent can the the entertainment
excellent can the the entertainment
excellent can the the entertainment experience be for the audience and I’ll
experience be for the audience and I’ll
experience be for the audience and I’ll pull out all all stops to do that
pull out all all stops to do that
pull out all all stops to do that these are storyboards for the Terminator
these are storyboards for the Terminator
these are storyboards for the Terminator the Terminator was actually my best
the Terminator was actually my best
the Terminator was actually my best prepared film but I’ve ever shot because
prepared film but I’ve ever shot because
prepared film but I’ve ever shot because I storyboarded it was shot myself I
I storyboarded it was shot myself I
I storyboarded it was shot myself I found that kind of everything that I had
found that kind of everything that I had
found that kind of everything that I had been doing before all slowed perfectly
been doing before all slowed perfectly
been doing before all slowed perfectly to that moment of film directing and you
to that moment of film directing and you
to that moment of film directing and you know that’s the first time I ever really
know that’s the first time I ever really
know that’s the first time I ever really felt like I belong to where I was but
felt like I belong to where I was but
felt like I belong to where I was but you know now I look back on it and every
you know now I look back on it and every
you know now I look back on it and every single thing I learned at that time has
single thing I learned at that time has
single thing I learned at that time has paid off for me
paid off for me
paid off for me how to drive a truck you know how to be
how to drive a truck you know how to be
how to drive a truck you know how to be a machinist even being a high school
a machinist even being a high school
a machinist even being a high school janitor and scraping the gum off the off
janitor and scraping the gum off the off
janitor and scraping the gum off the off the bottom of the desks you know even
the bottom of the desks you know even
the bottom of the desks you know even that was something that I value know was
that was something that I value know was
that was something that I value know was something that I needed to go through
something that I needed to go through
something that I needed to go through what finally attracted me to film in
what finally attracted me to film in
what finally attracted me to film in such a definitive way was it was the
such a definitive way was it was the
such a definitive way was it was the only place I could reconcile the need to
only place I could reconcile the need to
only place I could reconcile the need to tell stories and to work in a visual art
tell stories and to work in a visual art
tell stories and to work in a visual art medium and the desire to understand
medium and the desire to understand
medium and the desire to understand things at a technical technological
things at a technical technological
things at a technical technological level and my fascination with with
level and my fascination with with
level and my fascination with with engineering and technology I watched a
engineering and technology I watched a
engineering and technology I watched a couple of really bad directors work and
couple of really bad directors work and
couple of really bad directors work and I saw how they completely botched it up
I saw how they completely botched it up
I saw how they completely botched it up and missed the visual opportunities of
and missed the visual opportunities of
and missed the visual opportunities of the scene when we had put things in
the scene when we had put things in
the scene when we had put things in front of them as opportunity set pieces
front of them as opportunity set pieces
front of them as opportunity set pieces props and so on they had these great
props and so on they had these great
props and so on they had these great actors to work with and they just blew
actors to work with and they just blew
actors to work with and they just blew it and there was a moment where I said I
it and there was a moment where I said I
it and there was a moment where I said I may not be very good at this but I know
may not be very good at this but I know
may not be very good at this but I know I’m better than that guy and that was
I’m better than that guy and that was
I’m better than that guy and that was kind of a critical moment because when
kind of a critical moment because when
kind of a critical moment because when you realized that you can at least be
you realized that you can at least be
you realized that you can at least be better than somebody else who’s already
better than somebody else who’s already
better than somebody else who’s already doing it then you can visualize yourself
doing it then you can visualize yourself
doing it then you can visualize yourself doing the job what does it take coming
doing the job what does it take coming
doing the job what does it take coming out of you what’s inside you that
out of you what’s inside you that
out of you what’s inside you that enables you or compels you to make films
enables you or compels you to make films
enables you or compels you to make films with such relentless drive where in the
with such relentless drive where in the
with such relentless drive where in the world is that come it’s I don’t know
world is that come it’s I don’t know
world is that come it’s I don’t know it’s hard to say it’s it’s uh it comes
it’s hard to say it’s it’s uh it comes
it’s hard to say it’s it’s uh it comes from from unwritten Orville yeah well
from from unwritten Orville yeah well
from from unwritten Orville yeah well you never know I mean if the demons
you never know I mean if the demons
you never know I mean if the demons weren’t unleashed through film I’d
weren’t unleashed through film I’d
weren’t unleashed through film I’d probably go Amelia you know somewhere
probably go Amelia you know somewhere
probably go Amelia you know somewhere and there’s a theory on Thursday on
and there’s a theory on Thursday on
and there’s a theory on Thursday on Thorazine you know know that I don’t
Thorazine you know know that I don’t
Thorazine you know know that I don’t think that’s true I think it just has to
think that’s true I think it just has to
think that’s true I think it just has to do with with how films that I liked it I
do with with how films that I liked it I
do with with how films that I liked it I remembered you know enjoying and having
remembered you know enjoying and having
remembered you know enjoying and having that exhilaration hit me and I want to
that exhilaration hit me and I want to
that exhilaration hit me and I want to transfer that back to other people
transfer that back to other people
transfer that back to other people just studying the craft and learning how
just studying the craft and learning how
just studying the craft and learning how to do it and and the special thrill as a
to do it and and the special thrill as a
to do it and and the special thrill as a filmmaker comes from seeing an immediate
filmmaker comes from seeing an immediate
filmmaker comes from seeing an immediate audience response now the only the only
audience response now the only the only
audience response now the only the only other thing the only other sort of genre
other thing the only other sort of genre
other thing the only other sort of genre or if it’s not even a genre but the only
or if it’s not even a genre but the only
or if it’s not even a genre but the only the only other thing that has that
the only other thing that has that
the only other thing that has that effect in films is comedy and comedy is
effect in films is comedy and comedy is
effect in films is comedy and comedy is not my forte demonstrably yet it allows
not my forte demonstrably yet it allows
not my forte demonstrably yet it allows a people found that a terminator and and
a people found that a terminator and and
a people found that a terminator and and there’s some comedy in this film but for
there’s some comedy in this film but for
there’s some comedy in this film but for a film to function as a comedy I think
a film to function as a comedy I think
a film to function as a comedy I think there’s a special magic there and I’m
there’s a special magic there and I’m
there’s a special magic there and I’m you know I’m creeping toward it but I’m
you know I’m creeping toward it but I’m
you know I’m creeping toward it but I’m not sure I can do that but that’s the
not sure I can do that but that’s the
not sure I can do that but that’s the that’s the other area where where you
that’s the other area where where you
that’s the other area where where you can look at it at a sea of 700 faces and
can look at it at a sea of 700 faces and
can look at it at a sea of 700 faces and see them all having the same reaction
see them all having the same reaction
see them all having the same reaction and you know you’re touching touching
and you know you’re touching touching
and you know you’re touching touching them that’s I mean I I’m not a performer
them that’s I mean I I’m not a performer
them that’s I mean I I’m not a performer I can’t stand up on a stage and tell
I can’t stand up on a stage and tell
I can’t stand up on a stage and tell jokes or sing or do something that that
jokes or sing or do something that that
jokes or sing or do something that that affects people directly
affects people directly
affects people directly the closest thing for me is being able
the closest thing for me is being able
the closest thing for me is being able to sit in the theatre and watch a
to sit in the theatre and watch a
to sit in the theatre and watch a reaction to something that I’ve put up
reaction to something that I’ve put up
reaction to something that I’ve put up on the screen so it’s at one remove but
on the screen so it’s at one remove but
on the screen so it’s at one remove but it’s the same sort of feeling that’s
it’s the same sort of feeling that’s
it’s the same sort of feeling that’s that’s where the the drive and the
that’s where the the drive and the
that’s where the the drive and the desire to do that comes from you do have
desire to do that comes from you do have
desire to do that comes from you do have to have a really strong personal ethos
to have a really strong personal ethos
to have a really strong personal ethos in the film business because there is so
in the film business because there is so
in the film business because there is so much craziness and backstabbing and and
much craziness and backstabbing and and
much craziness and backstabbing and and and famous is very fleeting and fickle
and famous is very fleeting and fickle
and famous is very fleeting and fickle and all those things so ultimately being
and all those things so ultimately being
and all those things so ultimately being a person of your word I think is really
a person of your word I think is really
a person of your word I think is really important and that’s what’s really
important and that’s what’s really
important and that’s what’s really allowed me to accomplish a lot of what
allowed me to accomplish a lot of what
allowed me to accomplish a lot of what I’ve done maker what’s next is there
I’ve done maker what’s next is there
I’ve done maker what’s next is there another new avatar well we’re gonna make
another new avatar well we’re gonna make
another new avatar well we’re gonna make we’re gonna make two more avatar films I
we’re gonna make two more avatar films I
we’re gonna make two more avatar films I guess my most powerful motivation for
guess my most powerful motivation for
guess my most powerful motivation for that other than then you know obviously
that other than then you know obviously
that other than then you know obviously we’ve got a huge fan base now is that
we’ve got a huge fan base now is that
we’ve got a huge fan base now is that the film’s had this interesting effect
the film’s had this interesting effect
the film’s had this interesting effect around the world they they made a lot of
around the world they they made a lot of
around the world they they made a lot of money but they made they made money in a
money but they made they made money in a
money but they made they made money in a way that that that I actually found
way that that that I actually found
way that that that I actually found really inspired hope in me because
really inspired hope in me because
really inspired hope in me because people were connecting with the message
people were connecting with the message
people were connecting with the message of you know connectedness with each
of you know connectedness with each
of you know connectedness with each other you know I see you connectedness
other you know I see you connectedness
other you know I see you connectedness with nature and there was this this huge
with nature and there was this this huge
with nature and there was this this huge outpouring of interest from
outpouring of interest from
outpouring of interest from environmental groups NGOs you know
environmental groups NGOs you know
environmental groups NGOs you know nonprofits that were involved in
nonprofits that were involved in
nonprofits that were involved in indigenous rights and so on that that
indigenous rights and so on that that
indigenous rights and so on that that came to me wanting to be involved
came to me wanting to be involved
came to me wanting to be involved somehow you know help use
somehow you know help use
somehow you know help use asked me if they could help use avatar
asked me if they could help use avatar
asked me if they could help use avatar not to further our message but to
not to further our message but to
not to further our message but to further their message I thought okay you
further their message I thought okay you
further their message I thought okay you know that’s that’s fair enough you know
know that’s that’s fair enough you know
know that’s that’s fair enough you know we’ve we’ve managed to get the eyeballs
we’ve we’ve managed to get the eyeballs
we’ve we’ve managed to get the eyeballs we’ve got people thinking about this
we’ve got people thinking about this
we’ve got people thinking about this film why not use it to focus a spotlight
film why not use it to focus a spotlight
film why not use it to focus a spotlight on some very specific issues and that’s
on some very specific issues and that’s
on some very specific issues and that’s why we went down to the to the Amazon
why we went down to the to the Amazon
why we went down to the to the Amazon and got involved in some of the
and got involved in some of the
and got involved in some of the indigenous rights issues there went up
indigenous rights issues there went up
indigenous rights issues there went up to Canada to the to the tar sands and
to Canada to the to the tar sands and
to Canada to the to the tar sands and you know did a little fact-finding
you know did a little fact-finding
you know did a little fact-finding expedition up there and have gotten more
expedition up there and have gotten more
expedition up there and have gotten more and more involved in in a lot of these
and more involved in in a lot of these
and more involved in in a lot of these causes I mean I was always involved you
causes I mean I was always involved you
causes I mean I was always involved you know as a kind of a lay it you know
know as a kind of a lay it you know
know as a kind of a lay it you know environmentalist now I’m much more
environmentalist now I’m much more
environmentalist now I’m much more involved the incentive to make the the
involved the incentive to make the the
involved the incentive to make the the second and third Avatar film is that
second and third Avatar film is that
second and third Avatar film is that that I think we can continue to do good
that I think we can continue to do good
that I think we can continue to do good we can do well and we can do good as
we can do well and we can do good as
we can do well and we can do good as weird as we’re doing well and I
weird as we’re doing well and I
weird as we’re doing well and I certainly would encourage anybody I
certainly would encourage anybody I
certainly would encourage anybody I would challenge anybody given the state
would challenge anybody given the state
would challenge anybody given the state of the world as it might be if we’re not
of the world as it might be if we’re not
of the world as it might be if we’re not careful to try to find ways to be
careful to try to find ways to be
careful to try to find ways to be entrepreneurs and be innovative and be
entrepreneurs and be innovative and be
entrepreneurs and be innovative and be inventive funnel all that towards
inventive funnel all that towards
inventive funnel all that towards something it also is going to be good
something it also is going to be good
something it also is going to be good for the planet
for the planet
for the planet and for our children there’s no just
and for our children there’s no just
and for our children there’s no just open for you every once in a while one
open for you every once in a while one
open for you every once in a while one will open a crack and you have to
will open a crack and you have to
will open a crack and you have to recognize that that’s the moment there
recognize that that’s the moment there
recognize that that’s the moment there are all open just a crack for a split
are all open just a crack for a split
are all open just a crack for a split second and you have to push it the rest
second and you have to push it the rest
second and you have to push it the rest of the way open and you have to know
of the way open and you have to know
of the way open and you have to know that that’s the moment to step through
that that’s the moment to step through
that that’s the moment to step through it’s a question of being prepared
it’s a question of being prepared
it’s a question of being prepared knowing what you want moving toward it
knowing what you want moving toward it
knowing what you want moving toward it so that you are prepared in that moment
so that you are prepared in that moment
so that you are prepared in that moment to step through the door I always think
to step through the door I always think
to step through the door I always think the universe is like a giant bank vault
the universe is like a giant bank vault
the universe is like a giant bank vault lock you know and the tumblers are
lock you know and the tumblers are
lock you know and the tumblers are constantly moving and every once in a
constantly moving and every once in a
constantly moving and every once in a while the tumblers line up and you’ve
while the tumblers line up and you’ve
while the tumblers line up and you’ve got to listen for the clip thank you so
got to listen for the clip thank you so
got to listen for the clip thank you so much for watching we made this video
much for watching we made this video
much for watching we made this video because Henry asked us to so there’s a
because Henry asked us to so there’s a
because Henry asked us to so there’s a famous entrepreneur that you want us to
famous entrepreneur that you want us to
famous entrepreneur that you want us to profile next leave in the comments below
profile next leave in the comments below
profile next leave in the comments below and I’ll see what I can do I’d also love
and I’ll see what I can do I’d also love
and I’ll see what I can do I’d also love to know which of James Cameron’s top 10
to know which of James Cameron’s top 10
to know which of James Cameron’s top 10 rules meant the most to you had the
rules meant the most to you had the
rules meant the most to you had the biggest impact leaving the comments all
biggest impact leaving the comments all
biggest impact leaving the comments all during the discussion thank you so much
during the discussion thank you so much
during the discussion thank you so much for watching
for watching
for watching can you should believe and we’ll see you
can you should believe and we’ll see you
can you should believe and we’ll see you soon
”
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