- Title: USA: Blockbuster hopeful "Avatar" premieres in Hollywood
- Date: 20th December 2009
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 16, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE MANN'S GRAUMAN CHINESE THEATER SIGN ON THEATER BLUE CARPET OUTSIDE THEATER VARIOUS OF FANS LINED UP OUTSIDE PREMIERE ARRIVAL LINE AT PREMIERE AVATAR CAST MEMBER STEPHEN LANG AT THE PREMIERE DIRECTOR JAMES CAMERON BEING INTERVIEWED AVATAR CAST MEMBER SAM WORTHINGTON (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR JAMES CAMERON ON WHETHER HE IS NERVOUS OR NOT, SAYING: "At this point I am pretty relaxed about it. Because I am done, I don't have any creative decisions to make. We know it plays and people like it, so that is about it. We are also getting some award recognition. So, that is a trifecta that makes a director happy." WIDE SHOT OF PREMIERE LINE PAN OF MOVIE POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR JAMES CAMERON ON CREDITING 20TH CENTURY FOX FOR BACKING HIS BIG FILM, SAYING: "So, they knew that was going to be the case. I think the big thing was getting them over the hump of thinking that main characters that are blue aliens, how is that going to work? Is it going to be real? Is this whole thing going to blow up in our face? There was some nerves around that, I am sure on my part as well, not just them. I never told them that. We just went out and solved all the problems."
- Embargoed: 4th January 2010 12:00
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- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAESMGT9IL2492SE9VQCOXIQQ37
- Story Text: Director James Cameron's 10-year, 400 million dollar sci-fi movie, "Avatar" had its Hollywood premiere on Wednesday (December 16) at the Mann's Grauman Chinese Theater.
The 55-year-old Canadian director seemed relaxed and confident despite the film's high price tag and the risk associated with that number.
"At this point I am pretty relaxed about it," explained Cameron, who attended the premiere with his wife, actress Suzy Amis.
"Because I am done, I don't have any creative decisions to make."
"We know it plays and people like it, so that is about it. We are also getting some award recognition. So, that is a trifecta that makes a director happy."
Cameron, whose "Titanic" is the highest-grossing film of all time, credited 20th Century Fox for sticking with the project, despite the cost.
"They knew that was going to be the case," said Cameron.
"I think the big thing was getting the studio over the hump of thinking that main characters that are blue aliens, how is that going to work? Is it going to be real? Is this whole thing going to blow up in our face? There was some nerves around that, I am sure on my part as well, not just them. I never told them that. We just went out and solved all the problems."
The film itself has generated positive early reviews. It tells the story of a crippled ex-Marine who is chosen to make contact with the forest-dwelling Na'vi who are fighting for survival against a mining operation bent on stripping their planet.
It combines dazzling visual effects with the more familiar movie mix of romance, action and battles between good and evil.
Despite Cameron's demanding reputation, cast member Zoe Saldana had high praise for her director.
"He is an amazing filmmaker," said Saldana. "The one thing that I found the most overwhelming about him is that he is extremely generous with his art and his knowledge."
"He is very demanding but it starts with himself, of course," added fellow cast member Stephen Lang. "I mean he places an awful lot on his shoulders. He takes it with such tremendous energy and passion that it just operates as an example for the cast and crew."
"Avatar" opens worldwide on Friday (December 18). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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