CGI pioneer, Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron, on the need to unplug in digital age and ‘pump the brakes’ on AI

James Cameron’s films are famous for their vivid computer-generated imagery. Less well known is that most were inspired by drawings and dreams from his youth

As his drawings go on show in Paris, he reflects on the digital age and the need to unplug from time to time, and why we should not rush to embrace AI

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Published: 4:15am, 8 Apr 2024

James Cameron, the director behind films including The Terminator, Aliens and Titanic, is showcasing his lesser-known skills with pencil and paper in an exhibition that’s just opened in Paris.

“The Art of James Cameron” is running at the Cinematheque Francaise until January.

In a recent interview, the 69-year-old discussed the childhood origins of his films, offered his thoughts on artificial intelligence and provided a few teasers about the third Avatar film, due in 2025.

“Drawing was everything. It’s how I processed the world,” Cameron says. “I was reading, watching films, taking in all the storytelling, and I just had to tell my own.

Jake Sully and Neteyam in Avatar: The Way of Water. A third Avatar film is in the works, director James Cameron says. Photo: courtesy of 20th Century Studios

“I remember very distinctly (aged eight or nine), I went to see the film Mysterious Island. And I was so amazed by the big creatures and the giant crab, but I didn’t go back and draw Mysterious Island. I drew my own version with different animals.