Movies - TV
How An Old Sketch Saved James Cameron From A Wave Of Avatar Lawsuits
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
Filmmaker James Cameron told GQ that the idea of Avatar was created when he dreamt of flying lizards in “this kind of bioluminescent forest.”
“It was all in the dream,” Cameron said, “I woke up super excited and I actually drew it. So I actually have a drawing." He saved the sketch from a previous experience.
Cameron’s "The Terminator" was also inspired by a dream, but closely resembled "The Outer Limits" episode called "Soldier," written by Harlan Ellison, who famously sued him.
This time, Cameron knew that having a sketch that could be dated to prove when an idea was conceived could clear up any legal disputes over intellectual property.
Cameron added, “[...] There's always some freak with tinfoil under their wig that thinks you've beamed the idea out of their head. And it turned out there were 10 or 11 of them."