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How James Cameron Is Different On Avatar 2 Compared To Titanic
Kate Winslet explains how working with James Cameron on Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 differs from her experience on Titanic. The 1997 movie catapulted stars Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio to instant celebrity status and marked their first collaborations with Cameron. Now, Winslet and Cameron are reteaming for the first time in over twenty years.
Despite the massive success of Titanic, Winslet was very vocal about how difficult filming was, especially as it pertained to the demands set by Cameron. He was so strict about the filming schedule, for instance, that actors peed in the filming pool instead of asking for bathroom breaks—Winslet among them. After Titanic, Cameron put all of his focus on his next project, Avatar, while Winslet moved away from blockbuster tentpoles into more artistic fare like her nominated turn in The Reader.
Winslet and Cameron are finally collaborating again, and this time around, Winslet reports a changed demeanor in the director when it comes to his attitude on set. In a recent interview with THR, Winslet talked about working with Cameron on Avatar 2 and 3 and had nothing but praise for the director, who is usually known for being quite intense during production. “It was so wonderful to work with Jim again...Time has changed him. Jim has become a father a few more times over. He is a calmer person. Chilled. You can just feel him enjoying it more this time.”
Such praise is surprising coming from Winslet, as her Titanic experience was not enjoyable. She suffered many injuries during production and claimed Cameron had a terrible temper. Cameron reportedly felt pressure to move quickly and stay on schedule, since the budget for Titanic topped $200 million. Perhaps he has recently “chilled” because the subsequent success of Titanic, and then Avatar, now allows him the freedom to spearhead projects important to him regardless of budget. Avatar is such a passion project for Cameron that he is planning on four sequels.
It’s comforting to know that Winslet survived filming the Avatar sequels without any complaints—as a water character, no less. On Titanic, Winslet famously refused to wear a wetsuit while in the filming tank and got pneumonia, nearly causing her to quit the film. Perhaps it is this new relaxed and passionate Cameron that convinced Winslet to sign on for not one but two Avatar movies that heavily involve water. If she’s this happy about her experience in the next Cameron project, then the long thirteen-year wait for Avatar 2 will be well worth it.
