Titanic and the Making of James Cameron: The Inside Story of the Three-Year Adventure That Rewrote Motion Picture History

by Paula Parisi

“A lively, true-life adventure saga…The incredible story of how James Cameron willed Titanic into existence.”
— Newark Sunday Star Ledger “Like the movie, this book’s a winner [and] the final word on the Hollywood come-from-behind story of the decade.”
— Parade 14 Academy Award nominations, 11 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, a $1 billion dollar worldwide box office, James Cameron’s Titanic was, and remains, a monumental achievement in film. Titanic and the Making of James Cameron by former Hollywood Reporter journalist Paula Parisi recounts the making of this modern classic motion picture from conception to completion, offering a fascinating, detailed, behind-the-scenes look at its stars, including Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, its crew, and its genius director. Republished in time to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the catastrophic sinking of the gargantuan ocean liner, Titanic and the Making of James Cameron is a must-read for Titanic fans and for true movie buffs everywhere.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Film

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Presley Roush · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Cameron is a visionary and did justice to a tragedy. His story is so beautiful and teaches life’s most important lesson: the unthinkable can happen at anytime and therefore today is precious. He’s a god in my eyes. I loved this.

[kb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read, especially after having watched Titanic again recently. It's a gloriously detailed account of the three-year production, from ideation to blockbuster spot. Also interesting to look at the creative process of James Cameron, and how he handled challenges. The photo inserts were cool, and I wish there were more. The only thing is that I felt like I would've enjoyed the book if it could've been organized both by chronology and topic.





Everything I read in 2020 here :)

[Travis Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the early partnership with the Russians, to the studio politics, to the logistics of building a new studio just so they could sink the ship, and the fight to make the film right down to the most minute detail, was certainly awe inspiring. A wonderful account of the passions behind such a film!

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inside look at the passion and heart Cameron puts into all of his work. I did not think about how risky a picture Titanic actually was. The film industry at the time did not believe audiences wanted or would turn out for an old-fashioned epic. Cameron was working outside of his usual genre. So many things had to click into place for this to work. I enjoy reading/watching behind-the-scenes features of how movies are made and all the work that goes into them. There's so much time and effort for 2.5-3 hours on screen - and many of those films are quickly forgotten once watched. It's a fascinating industry, creating and re-creating worlds, hoping to transport people for just a moment in time. The Abyss was mentioned many times throughout the book, as it gave Cameron the impetus and credibility to be able to do another water-based feature. I haven't seen it, but would like to now. This book isn't the best writing in the world and sometimes seemed choppy and rushed, but I liked it nonetheless.

[Roxane Llanque · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look into the groundbreaking filmmaking it took to realize Titanic! I'm shocked I had never heard of Mike Cameron before, James Cameron's brother, who is behind the incredible new camera technology hat was needed for the director's vision - that man deserves way more recognition!
My only complaint is that the first long part of the book focusing on the dive to the actual Titanic could have been shorter in favor of more insight into, for example, the lightening or editing. But overall it is a wonderful investigative work that left me with even more apreciation of the tour de force it took to make this special movie :)

[Elliot Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugely entertaining book if you're into filmmaking and the lengths one obsessive filmmaker will go to to create his film no matter the cost.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is kind of a toad who really doesn't like DiCaprio, or seemingly Hollywood in general.

[Jason Parke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is like a documentary book-style. If you already enjoyed the movie, you'll like the behind-the-scenes footage with everything James Cameron, the man with many hats in the making of the movie, including director. Balancing the scope of Cameron's personal life, starting with his upbringing and ultimately his evolution into Hollywood hierarchy, with the politics within highs and lows of the making of "Titanic," are well documented by the Paula Parisi. Was the movie destined to be a record-breaker at the box office? Was James Horner Cameron's first choice as composer, and superstar pop sensation Celine Dion even on Cameron's radar? What controversy would envelop within the press in regards to Cameron's directorial and production style?

You will read testimonies from those who worked with James Cameron, including that from the author. It is a read about a man who cemented himself into Hollywood glory with "Titanic." Ultimately, the success of James Cameron defines the success of "Titanic" as the questions of how and why the movie was successful is answered through the passion and dedication of Cameron.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book. The movie was indeed an achievement, and Cameron's attention to detail was commendable. To learn about the making of the movie was most interesting.

Yet the writing wasn't the most professional. It seems like the author was subjective, referring to people who asked why the ship wasn't reproduced electronically as idiots.

Still a decent story about a movie that caught the world's attention.