A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - Dinner With James Cameron

Washington D.C., June 24, 2008mountainous seafloor, and the condition of the
Thank God I didn't have to re-live anothercurrent wreck. In his signature Cameron style, he
shipwreck, like the Andrea Doria, to feel a closeemphasized the relationship between humanity
connection with the 1997 movie, Titanic. As aand technology. As we viewed the last clips of
guest at the American Society of Naval Engineersthis rare footage, Cameron explained:
(ASNE) dinner, Titanic's Academy Award winning"Although I have a fascination with geeky
director sat one seat away from me. Jamestechnology and exploration, I'm showing you the
Cameron was about to present his talk, 'Underseaboots, the leather bags, and personal articles so
Exploration of the DKM Bismarck.'that we never forget what this disaster is about:
I was introduced to the tall, stately lookingthe human tragedy...I have an 18-year-old son
gentleman by my friend William Garzke, one ofwho is older than some of the young men who
Cameron's chief consultants for his presentationperished...this tragedy brings the message close to
on the Bismarck.home..."
"This is Pierette Simpson. She is a survivor of theThe fluid, engaging speaker explained that he
Andrea Doria and has recently written anobtained some of the film footage with his
excellent book on the loss of this ship."trusted robotic camera (ROV), fondly named
The silver-haired gentleman extended his hand toElwood, and that he has personally logged 3,000
me and graciously exclaimed, "You must havehours as a shipwreck diver. It is no wonder that
been very young."he has made outstanding contributions to marine
I clumsily replied, "Probably not as young as youscience and maritime archeology as part of his
many think...but thank you for the compliment."film making. As he finished his talk, the audience
Shaking hands, I immediately I felt a warmswiftly stood up to applaud his work and brilliant
connection to the film giant.documentation.
Bill Garzke continued to explain: "I reviewedThe presentation was followed by a question and
Pierette's book for the Society of Navalanswer segment. Cameron answered each
Architects and Marine Engineers. We alsoquestion thoroughly, as if each one mattered. Bill
collaborated on a report called 'The Loss of theGarzke, his right-hand man on the Bismarck
Andrea Doria', which we presented in New Yorkresearch, joined him on stage to answer
last week."questions about Titanic and Bismarck survivors. Bill
I felt great pride being accepted by thesehas spent decades interviewing Bismarck
legendary shipwreck experts. Immodestly, Isurvivors and analyzing the testimony of Titanic
added that Bill was my mentor and in collaborationsurvivors; he believes that by using eyewitness
we had become authorities on the Andrea Doriaaccounts in conjunction with scientific findings, the
tragedy. Then, quickly, before someone else couldpublic will have a better understanding of
intervene on what seemed to be a magicalshipwreck events.
moment, I introduced Cameron to my companion,Another partial standing ovation followed. James
Richard Haskin. I was impressed that the specialCameron and Bill Garzke returned to our table.
guest walked over to Richard to shake his hand;People followed them, hoping for a quick chat or
he could have more efficiently extended his handto give praise. I offered Cameron my
across a few people. Immediately, Cameroncompliments for his interesting talk:
became the consummate gentleman and scholar"I never thought I could be so fascinated by a
in my mind. These precious moments set thesunken battleship story. It was a great
tone to what would turn out to be a night topresentation."
remember.I know how valuable it is to receive feedback
My friend Bill had helped to organize the evening'safter my speaking engagements on the Andrea
event for the American Society of NavalDoria. Cameron seemed to relish in everyone's
Engineers (ASNE). Little did I know that Richardpositive comments as if he had heard these
and I would sit at the 'Reserved' table, front andwords for the first time. It was another way to
center, with Cameron and his three mainshare the message that he appreciated our
consultants for the Bismarck presentation.Afterinterest in his work. People continued to flock at
meeting all the distinguished scientists, I had ahis side. I took this opportunity to chat with a
feeling that maybe I shouldn't be drinking wine, forcouple of distinguished marine engineers. One had
fear of loosing coherence. I took a small sipbeen to the Andrea Doria 'gravesite' on July 26,
anyway, hoping to put me more at ease.1956. He explained almost apologetically that with
The chairperson for the evening began herother Coast Guard cadets, he was ordered to
introduction of ASNE's coveted guest:shoot holes into the lifeboats that were still afloat.
...He studied physics and English at California State"We used them for target practice," he quipped.
University. Later, he discontinued his studies and"They were considered a danger to navigation."
worked several jobs such as machinist and truckI peeked over to what had become an autograph
driver and wrote when he had time. Mr. Cameronsession. A gentleman saw that I was anxious to
taught himself special effects.... After seeing theoffer my book to the famous film maker. He
film Star Wars in 1977, Cameron quit his job as agave me his place in line and I actually dared to
truck driver to enter the film industry. Whentake a seat facing James Cameron. I handed him
Cameron read the book Screenplay, it occurredmy book, Alive on the Andrea Doria! The
to him that integrating science and art wereGreatest Sea Rescue in History. Inside I had
possible and he wrote a ten minute science fictionwritten a lengthy dedication. Cameron looked at
script with two friends, entitled Xenogenesis. Theythe cover with great interest as I told him that I
raised money and rented a camera, lenses, thewould love the opportunity to see this shipwreck
film stocks, and studio and shot it in 35mm. Toon the seafloor for myself; that it would allow me
understand how to operate the camera, theythe chance to make peace with the cadaver that
dismantled it and spent the first half-day of thewas once a luxury liner.
shoot trying to figure out how to get it running."Do you think Elwood would like to explore the
(Wikepedia)Andrea Doria?" I boldly asked.
How admirable, I thought---and a genius too! AfterCameron, the explorer-humanitarian understood
the chairperson enumerated his successful movies:my need, having offered this kind of therapy to
The Terminator and Terminator 2, Rambo,the Bismarck survivors.
Abyss, Alien, True Lies, she emphasized his most"Since the wreck is only at 250 feet, I think it's
grandiose accomplishment, Titanic.feasible. I would let you navigate him from the
"He wrote and directed the film Titanic, whichsurface...but I need to know that there is scientific
earned 11 Academy Awards and grossed overvalue for using this approach, as opposed to what
$1.8 billion worldwide. To date, his directorialis already being done."
efforts have grossed approximately $3 billion."I heartily assured him that I would do my
And now he is striving for a repeat performanceresearch on that.
with the upcoming Bismarck. As with Titanic,The evening offered precious moments in my life
Cameron will rely only partially on his consultantsas a shipwreck survivor and author. Moreover,
for information. He has already explored thespeaking to James Cameron felt like I had climbed
wreck at 15,000 feet below the water surface ina mountain top, even though we were discussing
a submersible and brought back priceless data ofthe bottom of the planet.
the World War II battleship sunk by British forces.Speaking of planets, Cameron is a member of the
Moreover, on the 2002 expedition he broughtNASA Advisory Council and is working on the
along two survivors of the German battleshipproject to get cameras on the pending manned
who survived the carnage, but wanted to makeMars mission. I hope the marine world doesn't lose
peace with the tragedy.one of its most ardent researchers to another
The audience sat mesmerized while viewing apart of the universe.
40-minute video of Cameron's photographicN.B. Bill Garzke told with me later that Cameron
examination of the Bismarck. He discussed theshared his delight for receiving an honorary
results of his extensive survey which resulted ininduction into ASNE. As the two men descended
scientific conclusions about the battle between thethe stage, the outstanding film maker beamed,
British and the Germans, the damage which sank"My Dad will be very proud of me."
the German battleship, the damaging drop on aCameron's father is an engineer.