Video: James Cameron vs. The Autograph Hound

I'd like to get your feedback about this video, in which James Cameron lets fly a few choice words for an autograph seeker at LAX. It's not an uninterrupted video, so I can't say exactly what prompts it, but there's no question Cameron may have crossed a line. In his defense, celebrities are under no obligation to be "on" when they're at the airport or in a grocery store, and as the video goes on, the fan (if he's not a full-on plant) gets way too beligerent. Even if you feel sorry for him at the beginning, by the end of the altercation you just want him to go away. Why Cameron continued to acknowledge him is beyond me. To be sure, Cameron has what we would call "a reputation," although the one time I interviewed him for Ghosts of the Abyss, I found him to be extremely engaging and even self-deprecating. Bad day? Maybe, but with Avatar, do you think Cameron is having a lot of bad days this month? He should have just avoided the guy or, you know, been gracious enough to sign the autograph. It occurs to me that Cameron might be one of those celebrities who hates signing autographs, a sect that includes Tobey Maguire, John Malkovich, and Joaquin Phoenix. Johnny Depp, incidentally, has for years won points for going out of his way to accommodate auograph seekers, so it's not like Cameron or anybody else is really "above" it. They just choose not to be made into a commodity or a target in that way. Still, there are no winners here, but given that the video's from TMZ, the guy might have been a ringer hired for exactly that purpose, and he sure did antagonize Cameron.

Comments

[Lengthy Johnson]

I can't really blame Cameron for refusing. I'm just suprised that his personal security arrangements are not better. That autograph hunter could just as well have been a knife-wielding maniac.

I also think that there is a difference in what you can expect from people who work behind the camera as they do not invite public attention in a way that an actor does.

An actor who deplores public attention is a hypocrite, but I wouldn't say that of a director.

[SEAN]

The autograph seeker is a ringer & quite annoying if you ask me, his constant badgering isnt really nice or appropriate, I mean if the person says no that means no, stop there, you will live if you dont have his autograph, at least you saw the guy in person...

I mean these actors,directors,etc they are regular people as well, I mean they have bad days & often times don't want to be hounded, Cameron must be dead tired from all the press for the film & his big comeback, not including his nerves to get his $$ back....

Agree w/ Lengthy Johnson...but with your last sentence I am indifferent there is a famous quote Laurence Olivier told DHoffman about why we are actors, he said "look at me look at me look at me.." -thats it somewhat the point, but you should understand some people want privacy as well.....including actors

Marlon Brando said it like a true stud that he was,... "An actor is a person if you aint talking about him , he aint listening"

[Tomás Cornejo]

Im with James. The guy is selling the poster (not autographed XD) on ebay...

[Will]

I saw this video on TMZ the other day and argued for five minutes with a friend in Cameron's defense. The video to me appears to be a set up, and unfortunately Cameron took the bait hook line and sinker...

[MRPigg]

I hate it hate it hate it when assholes bring up what someone's salary is and factor that into the equation. Making "gajillions of dollars" doesn't automatically obligate you to be a gracious person. Cameron should have known better, but it is hard for me to have sympathy for anyone who argues about "hard-earned" money when that has nothing to do with anything.

[anybody]

I never really understood the autograph thing... unless you have a piece of memorabilia handy why the hell would you want someone to sign something for you? I can see going to a place with your DVD, poster or whatever and getting it signed (still not my thing but understandable) but just jumping on someone in public to sign a napkin or something just doesn't make sense to me. I know I'm a grumpy asshole both before and after flying so I can completely sympathize with JC. Plus the other dude is a hugely annoying asshole, screw him.

[Get The Big Picture]

I don't disagree with any of that, guys, but I just wonder why he took the bait...over and over.

[wtf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thsc60UTUIE&feature=player_embedded

Avatar: The Making of a Bootleg