- Title: USA: Blockbuster hopeful "Avatar" premieres in Hollywood
- Date: 20th December 2009
- Summary: (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) CAST MATES SIGOURNEY WEAVER, ZOE SALDANA AND MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ POSING TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ZOE SALDANA ON WORKING WITH CAMERON, SAYING: "He is an amazing filmmaker. The one thing that I found the most overwhelming about him is that he is extremely generous with his art and his knowledge." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR LAZ ALONSO ON THE FILM, "AVATAR," SAYING: "Like I said, 15 or 20 minutes into the movie and you are no longer seeing blue people, you are just seeing people. You are connecting emotionally with the struggle they are going through." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR STEPHEN LANG SAYING: "He is very demanding but it starts with himself of course. 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 cast and crew." CAST MEMBER PICTURE
- Embargoed: 4th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA4M4Q81YYX55IYBX9DVRHB591V
- 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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