James Cameron Interview on NPR

By Norm Schrager at February 23, 2010 | 11:24 pm | Print

What movie has been the greatest influence on Avatar creator James Cameron? 2001: A Space Odyssey. Cameron saw the film 18 times in its first two years of release, soaking in the story, and then pondering the special effects. Oh, and his favorite movie of all time? The Wizard of Oz. These are just a couple nuggets from Cameron’s recent appearance on NPR’s radio show Fresh Air.

Which leads to another question: Why would Cameron still be doing press? His $240-million risk has overdelivered (financially, certainly) beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, currently on its way to $700 million at the North American box office. It’s the biggest money maker of all time, and in the all-time Top 15 for tickets sold. So what’s he doing on NPR?

A visible Oscar push? Perhaps, as the media has him locking figurative horns with Kathryn Bigelow and The Hurt Locker for all the major statues. No matter, this particular interview reveals Cameron as a real intellectual. Not just a movie brain, or a fantasy dork, but a bona fide smart guy. His research and thought process for Avatar include worlds of knowledge about art, architecture, science, linguistics, and then some. And he sounds far more humble than he’s appeared elsewhere at times.

Check it out, and let us know what you think.
Listen to the James Cameron interview on NPR’s Fresh Air.

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