If you’re overthinking a pitch deck, just know that James Cameron convinced Hollywood execs in the mid-80s to make the sequel for “Alien” by writing the word “Aliens” on a peice paper with a ‘$’ instead of the letter ‘s’: “Alien$”

James Cameron made the two (Aliens, T2) of the best 3 sequels ever (Godfather II). Here’s Cameron confirming the “Alien$” story to Empire in 2023: The “Aliens” trailer above was nicely re-cut by someone as a modern trailer in 4K:

Cameron had a harder time pitching “Titanic” — even after all his success — because he said the film had no sequel potential, no ride potential and filming in water is so hard. It then became the most successful film ever and I wrote how it happened here:

Some more Cameron context pre-Aliens:

James Cameron did a short sci-fi film — Xenogenesis” — in 1978. It was made on $30k (raised from 12 dentists). The full film was never finished but he re-did the main fight scene from it for the “Aliens” (1986) finale.

Great movie

FX still look amazing for a 1986 film

$igourney

hahahah that’s the other part they don’t want you to know

To be fair, it also helps to have the last two movies you directed be huge box office blockbusters.

Hahah, fair. Wait, Was there one before T1?