James Cameron, known for his blockbuster films, is notorious for subjecting actors on set to unimaginable ordeals that haunt them long after the cameras stop rolling.
In movies like Avatar and Titanic, underwater scenes required intense training for the cast.
However, it was during the filming of the 1989 sci-fi/adventure film, The Abyss, that Cameron took things to a whole new level.
Famous for his commitment to authenticity and visual perfection, Cameron has been known to push boundaries to achieve the desired results.
But during the production of The Abyss, he went beyond what anyone expected.
Despite winning an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and receiving critical acclaim, the cast had to endure grueling conditions for the movie to reach its success.
Ed Harris, who played the lead role of Virgil Bud Brigman, revealed in an interview with EW that Cameron treated the cast as “guinea pigs” throughout the entire project.
They had to endure weeks of shooting for up to 70 hours per week for six months.
Additionally, they had to film underwater scenes, leaving them exhausted and frustrated.
In one particular scene, Harris was required to repeatedly slap his co-star, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
This pushed Mastrantonio to her breaking point, and she walked off the set in anger.
The situation had escalated so much that even Cameron himself came close to drowning and faced a near-death experience.
During filming, Cameron found himself in a terrifying situation when the person responsible for monitoring his oxygen levels disappeared.
Desperate for air, he decided to swim to the surface without any diving gear.
Unfortunately, this only worsened the situation.
A safety driver tried to help, but miscommunication led to Cameron swallowing water instead of getting the air he needed.
In his panic, Cameron had to resort to punching the safety driver to break free.
Luckily, Cameron survived without serious injuries, but the incident was a chilling reminder of the dangers involved in the filmmaking process.
The Abyss remains a testament to Cameron’s dedication to his craft, even at the risk of his own life.
The Abyss is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: SyFy
