James Cameron: Iconic filmmaker

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James CameronCanadian filmmaker James Cameron discusses his legendary movie-making career and his bigger global-saving mission.

Iconic Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron’s movies have shattered box office records and entertained and enlightened audiences around the world.

Mega-hits like Titanic and Avatar have wowed moviegoers with wondrous special effects and characters from other eras and other worlds.

In China, the 2010 release of Cameron’s Avatar started a box-office boom era in the country that continues today.

“I think everybody pretty much agrees on the fact that [China’s] going to be the biggest cinema market probably by 2018, but it’s all a fairly new relationship,” explained Cameron. “We’re still in the romance period.”

James Cameron: Iconic filmmaker

Canadian filmmaker James Cameron discusses his legendary movie-making career and his bigger global-saving mission.

When Cameron isn’t conceiving his next blockbuster, he’s a self-described “warrior for the natural world,” working to increase awareness about climate change and appealing to the masses to take individual responsibility for the health of the planet. An advocate of alternative and sustainable energy, Cameron suggests everyone can do something to help reduce carbon emissions.

“We don’t have to wait to build wind farms, we don’t have to wait to build solar plants, we can just change what we eat,” explained Cameron. “Just eat less meat and dairy and your carbon footprint drops way down.”

He also suggests we shift our habit of being “takers” of the earth’s riches to becoming “caretakers” of its precious resources.

Mike Walter sat down with James Cameron at a California climate conference and discussed the business of movie making and his bigger global mission.