JAMES CAMEROON

JAMES CAMEROON

James Francis Cameron (born August 16) is an Academy Award winning Canadian director, producer and screenwriter. He is noted for his action/science fiction films, which are often highly successful financially and innovatively. Thematically, James Cameron's films generally explore the relationship between man and technology. Cameron directed the film Titanic, which went on to become the top-grossing film of all time, with a worldwide gross of over US$1.8 billion. He also created the Terminator franchise.

Background

James Cameron was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada, to Phillip, an electrical engineer, and Shirley Cameron, an artist. He grew up in Chippawa, Ontario, and in 1971 his family moved to Brea, California. There he studied physics at Cal State-Fullerton, but his passion for filmmaking would draw him to the film archive of UCLA at every opportunity. After seeing the film Star Wars, Cameron quit his job as a truck driver to enter the film industry.

Early career

He started in the film industry as a screenwriter, then moved into art direction and effects for films such as Battle Beyond the Stars and Escape from New York. Working with producer Roger Corman, Cameron landed his first directorial job in 1981 for the film Piranha II: The Spawning, shot at Grand Cayman Island for the underwater diving sequences, and in Rome, Italy for most of the interior scenes. He was originally hired as the special effects director (and his hand in story-writing can be suspected under the H. A. Milton pseudonym on the original script), and took over the direction when the original director left.

Awards

Cameron received the Bradbury Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1991 — but, being primarily thought of as a genre filmmaker, he did not receive any major mainstream filmmaking awards prior to Titanic. With Titanic, Cameron received the Academy Awards for Best Editing (shared with Conrad Buff IV and Richard A. Harris), Best Picture (shared with John Landau), and Best Director.

In recognition of his contributions to underwater filming and remote vehicle technology, the University of Southampton awarded Cameron the honorary degree of Doctor of the University. Cameron received his degree in person at the graduation ceremony in July, 2004.

Filmography (Director)

Year	Title
1978	Xenogenesis
1981	Piranha II: The Spawning
1984	The Terminator
1986	Aliens
1989	The Abyss
1991	Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1994	True Lies
1996	T2 3-D: Battle Across Time
1997	Titanic
2000–2002	Dark Angel
2002	Expedition: Bismarck
2003	Ghosts of the Abyss
2005	Aliens of the Deep
2007	Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)
2009	Avatar
TBA	Battle Angel
TBA	The Dive

Filmography (Screenwriter)

Year	Title
1978	Xenogenesis
1984	The Terminator
1985	Rambo: First Blood Part II
1986	Aliens
1989	The Abyss
1991	Point Break
1991	Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1994	True Lies
1995	Strange Days
1996	T2 3-D: Battle Across Time
1997	Titanic
2000–2002	Dark Angel
TBA 2008	James Cameron's Sanctum
2009	Avatar
CBA	Battle Angel