James Cameron reveals shocking request during first big movie job

The filmmaker got his first job as a production designer on the 1980 Sci-Fi film Battle Beyond the Stars after the previous designer was let go. On his first day, Cameron says he was handed the usual set responsibilities—petty cash, crew lists—and an unexpected task.

"he says, 'okay, here's your petty cash voucher,' ... 'here's your swing shift crew list. here's your day shift crew List. okay, here's your Black Beauties. here's your coke,'" Cameron recalled in an interview with In Depth with Graham Bensinger. "i'm like, 'wait a minute, what do i do with this stuff?' i mean, i didn't take drugs. you know, for me, Coffee was plenty."

Cameron explained, "he said, 'well, you got to give it out to the Crew.' i'm like, so i just became a dealer, i guess? you know, but that was just how things were done in that Super Low-Budget world. 'Will work for coke,' basically. and that was pretty nuts."

Since then, Cameron has gone on to direct some of Hollywood’s biggest Blockbusters, including Titanic, The Terminator, Aliens, and Avatar. He recently became the first director to helm four films that each grossed over $1 Billion, including both Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water.

This early anecdote gives a glimpse into the chaotic and surprising start of one of Cinema’s most iconic careers, proving that even the biggest directors have had unusual beginnings.