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Sam Worthington Talks Avatar Day and Cameron's Tactics

by Alex Billington
August 24, 2009
Source: Collider

If there is one person we haven't heard much from yet regarding Avatar, it's the star of the show himself, Sam Worthington. Since breaking onto the scene quite recently with Macbeth and Rogue, Worthington has been working non-stop with filmmakers like James Cameron, McG, and now Louis Leterrier. Not only is he a hard worker and a fantastic actor, he's smart as hell, too, and a very down to earth guy familiar with what's going on in the world around him. Collider talked with Worthington recently and asked him about his thoughts on the outcome of Avatar Day. You might be surprised to hear what he had to say in response.

"Its got a hell of a lot of hype. I read all what was said yesterday about the trailer. I can see their point, but as I said, it's not meant to be built for an Apple Mac. It's built for IMAX, it's built for 3D, that's what [Cameron] designed it for. He's designed it to bring people back to the cinema. It's interesting that he's released that trailer and then the next day goes and shows it on IMAX. It's one extreme to the other."

"We get the criticism, and then we get the rave reviews of what it really looks like in its own formula. That's obviously going to get people to think and go, 'Damn right! I'm going to go and see this at the cinema.' Jim has always said to me that he wants to bring people back to the movies. And he's a smart enough man for [what occurred] to be tactical."

Was that outcome really a tactical strategy on the part of James Cameron? I don't think it was his strategy to get negative feedback. Cameron even admitted that he was unhappy that Fox put the trailer online first. But I can see what Worthington is saying in regards to making people feel like they need to see it in theaters. I'm actually sensing that feeling, even from the negative people. Even just out of curiosity and interest, even if they still think it looks bad, they'll go to theaters to see it. It's a fascinating result and it may work, but of course, they have a long way to go. I don't know if I'm completely sold on it being a tactic, but I'm intrigued.

Worthington also talked about Terminator Salvation. "I can nitpick with the best of them, man, and go down the list of things I saw on IMDb where they found holes in it and go, you are fucking right... So that kind of raises my games a bit, because I feel like an idiot for not saying it to McG." Full interview at Collider.

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Ben

Can we please go one day with Avatar "news"?
Ben

I meant to write "without" by the way
El Hoopso

No I live not far from where Sam is from too. It's true, we are all smart, tough guys
Roib

Jesus christ, you're right #1. Alex, get off the Avadick.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

It was a good story with great quotes! I had to decide between focusing on Terminator or Avatar and realized Avatar was a bit more relevant - people still want to hear about it! Maybe not everyone, but most people. I'll probably take a break for a bit from it, though.
Freddy

Terminator?? Yeah Alex!! I think i'm one of the guys who still wanna know about it.
Ben

Hey El Hoopso... you from round Bunbury? Good to see another West Aussie on here. Alex, what did Worthington have to say about Terminator?
SuicidalOptimist

/headdesk I have not seen the 15 minutes footage of Avatar. I have only watched the HD teaser on apple.com, but I am finding myself already sick and tired of that movie due to "excessive coverage". By the time the movie finally hits theaters I will probably hate it AND Cameron. >.< I guess I should just avoid movie sites for a few weeks.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

^ Uh, read the articles guys, last paragraph, Worthing on Terminator Salvation and how he even saw the plot holes and sort of blames himself for not yelling at McG.
TTEX

I'm not sure what everyone expected. The trailer rocked! The IMAX preview was jizz worthy. This has to be huge. It's James-Freakin-Cameron. I mean, come on. After all he's achieved, how can anyone doubt him?
BBROWN

you guys need to chill. I'll have to go on a scavenger hunt to find this film in IMAX. Just enjoy big city life and grope and moan.
DoomCanoe

so wait... us not liking the trailer was all part of Cameron's plan? that crafty mo fucka I would believe it to because honestly i think he is just an evil mastermind who wants to sell us all I-MAX 3D tickets for 20$ a pop. that way he makes 1 bazillion dollars. What will he do with this 1 Bazillion you ask... well seeing as he has already explored the Titanic and the darkest parts of the ocean, my guess would be that he is going to build a space ship and a couple houses on the moon. Maybe he will even travel to Gliese 518-D and find new life on the larger then earth planet.
Terence

Huh, Sam throwing his old director under the bus! While I give him props for thinking he could point out problems and wanting to speak his mind, this may give some directors pause to working with him.
bozoconnors

@13 - and hopefully... actors a second thought about working with McHack.
Trey

lol @ Avadick...
Mark Drennan

I actually came here this morning hoping for a further tidbit on Avatar. This was interesting to me, being a fan of cinema in general. Alex thanks for the post. I'm following the build up to Avatar's release like hawk, and getting some of my best info from you.
Syphous

I'm going to start hating this movie because of all it's damn hype. This is getting ridiculous. AVATAR AVATAR AVATAR STFU
André

If you're going to be so bold as to create a film which is only "meant" to be witnessed in the most expensive and most exclusively located theaters there are, you're kind of cursed with the burden of hyping the crap out of it. Simply appealing to the people who would have been paying attention anyway wouldn't turn you a profit for such a project. JC not only has to get everyone and their grandma to see this, he has to get them all to drive half a county away and pay $20 for their tickets. And not just to make his money...but apparently, as Worthington describes it, in order to get the respect his film may deserve. If nobody bothers to see the movie in IMAX 3D, he's going to be known as the guy who didn't do anything for 10 years and then made some cheesey pulp sci-fi. And he can't have that...he's the kind of the world. Good luck dude. I'm gonna go see Ponyo.
Vold

Interesting article. Funny about every bitchng about the hype and yet reading the article anyway. If you are tired of reading news about it THEN STOP READING IT!
http://juno.com Jamdolin

I like SW - however, his acting chops are mediocre at best [the Terminator Salvation scream anyone?]. As far as how this film is supposed to be seen - I agree - it has to be IMAX 3D $20 ticket-style. And...that is also why I will stick with my contention that this film will be a failure monetarily, simply because not enough people will go for the IMAX experience.
Timothy

# 17 You don't have to drive across the country. Most places - enough places, at least - have Real D which should at least be pretty much the same experience as a 'Fake' Imax - which there are lots of. An article comparing Real D and Imax might be helpful, I don't have any experience with Imax but I have plenty with Real D and would think that the technology is mostly there. The screens are smaller (when we're comparing it to 'Real' Imax) but the 3D should be the same - or close enough.
Branden

I think only the overhyped people that are on this site and others are the only ones that are going to see it in IMAX. I'm sure everyone else will be hyped once it gets closer to December, but the general public does not know what the heck Avatar is. The general public isn't going to research it either. I guess more people will know once more trailers come out, but still And PLEASE stop with the articles. Even if this is as good or hyped as like a Dark Knight was I wouldn't want a freakin article everyday about it 4 months before it comes out. All the nerds (like me) on this site already know and are hyped about the movie, so please spread these out or pick ones that are actually interesting.
Cody

Hey assholes if you dont wanna hear anything about Avatar, heres an idea...DONT READ A POST WITH AVATAR IN IT!!!!! Jesus fucking christ buncha whiny little babies over a fucking movie. You people is whats goddamn rediculous.
dom

Sounds like Cameron and crew are in defense mode. Going to the cinema and going to the Imax are 2 VERY different things, and the numbers proove that. This is one hell of an expensive movie that wouldn't make back its costs if Cameron was intending to just show it in its true form in one limited format. The fact is, it doesn't look half as good as it was being raved up to be. It still looks like 10,000 BC on steroids.
fellintoorbit

Totally agree with #23. Can't believe some people. I don't read 90% of the articles on this site, because they're about movies I'm not interested in. And that's OK. They're for other people. If you're not interested in Avatar, then fuck off. Simple. But anyone who literally goes into Avatar topics purely to troll or whinge about *the existence* of Avatar coverage, is pretty much telling the world "I have no job, no wife, no friends and no dick". Back to topic, Sam Worthington seems cool, and his comments are right on the money. I'm sure they hoped for positive feedback on the teaser, but regardless, the whole point of "Avatar Day" was to build word-of-mouth buzz for the film in the format that really shows off it's strengths - large format 3D. And the reaction to that has been almost universally positive. I don't mind if it isn't that great on ordinary LED or Plasma TVs. But in about 1-2 years, 3D TVs will be released that can take advantage of it (they are already being shown at tech fairs). Long term, you should get the same experience watching it in your own home.
Alex T.

I have to agree with #23 and # 25. If you don't want to read more about Avatar than dont read an article with "Avatar" in the headline. You are not obliged to read every single article posted on this site and no one is forcing you to either. This is not one of the "Sound-off" articles where you should post your critiques of the film this is an informative article for people who are interested to read and make relevant posts based on what was read. For instance I personally hated District 9 so I went to the "Sound off" District 9 article and gave examples of why I hated it. I didnt go into any other District 9 articles and say something like "Dicklick 9" and put an arrogant little smiley face next to it. Seriously people grow up. If you think Avatar is already overhyped in your mind than what makes you think reading another article about it is going to fix that. This was a great article Alex don't let these pissy little haters get you down.
Alex T.

I can't wait for 3D TVs.
wender

NEWS TIP: SAM WORTHINGTON TO PLAY AUSTRALIAN WAR SURGEON CRAIG JURISEVIC IN NEW FEATURE FILM. Film covers surgeon's time during Kosovo War; fighting with Kosovo Liberation Army against Milosevic's forces. Producer E. Orner. Director and studio yet to be announced.