“I had dark hours on Titanic as dire as Piranha II. We missed the iceberg by that much. But I’m at my best when I’m neck-deep in ice water trying to work out how we’re going to keep the lights turned on when the water hits the bulbs.

Titanic was conceived as a love story. If I could have done it without one effect, I would’ve been happy. It was definitely a goal to integrate a very personal, emotional style with spectacle – and try to make that not be chocolate syrup on a cheeseburger, you know.

The cathartic experience is what made the film work.”

Effect On Avatar: It doesn’t matter how big the event, you need a story to hook in. Titanic had one. It did well. Avatar will need one to stop folk going, “Wow... Bored now”.