Filmmaker James Cameron acknowledges previous autocratic behavior on set. The three-time Oscar winner is a legendary director, having made films such as Titanic, The Terminator, and Aliens. He is also known for implementing new technology in astonishing ways, such as his visual work on Avatar, which is the highest-grossing film of all time.
Cameron is currently in post-production on Avatar 2 and Avatar 3, while he is filming Avatar 4 and Avatar 5. For the sequels, Cameron and his team developed a new technology for filming motion-capture underwater, ensuring the films will follow the innovative precedent set by the original. However, presiding over such large and complex productions is difficult, and Cameron admits he hasn't always handled the responsibility well.
Slashfilm listed some key takeaways from Cameron's MasterClass, where he explores an array of different topics, including the major components of making a film. During one section, in particular, Cameron reflects on his career as a director and as a leader. While the filmmaker is known to be tough to work with, he fully admits to having autocratic ways, referring to himself as a "tinpot dictator." He does note that if he could reverse time to change that and make set environments better for cast and crew, he would. However, he emphasizes that while he is a demanding filmmaker, he is not an overly harsh one. Even so, he recalls how surprised he was when he visited one of Ron Howard's sets, as Howard was constantly complimenting people around the set. Speaking about his past behavior, Cameron's said:
“I could’ve listened more. I could’ve been less autocratic. I could’ve not made the movie more important than the human interaction of the crew. I aspire, even today, to try to be my inner Ron Howard.”
Directing a movie, especially a large one, comes with a huge amount of responsibility. Beyond the expected job responsibilities that come with being a director, it also requires leadership skills in multiple different areas. Directors run their sets in a variety of ways based on how they prefer to conduct their work. While some act as mentors and take the time to make the cast and crew experience positive, others believe that the project takes precedence over everything else. Similar to any other workplace, a film or television set can be a good environment or a toxic one. Over the past year, Joss Whedon was called out for making a poor work environment on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Perhaps Cameron's self-reflection in this MasterClass could set him on a path to achieving his "inner Ron Howard," as he puts it. After spending decades with the same work habits, they can be difficult to shed, although it is not impossible. Cameron's candor is also positive for up-and-coming filmmakers, who may still be finding their footing in how they lead the cast and crew on a set.
Source: Slashfilm, MasterClass
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/35PXFjw
0 Comments