Cameron, temperamental in best of times, was surviving on three hours sleep and saved most of his screaming for film crew. His philosphy was you couldn't get great perfomances out of actors by yelling. In one scene, Winslet and DiCaprio were running away from a huge wave on one of decks and actress was submerged and nearly drowned. Moments after she was rescued Cameron calmly said," OK. Let's do it again."

As costs began to mount along with stories of director's slow pace and temper tantrums, Fox executives began to freak out. They suggested an hour of specific cuts from three hour film. They argued extended length would mean less showings thus less money. But long epics are more likely to help directors bring home Oscars, and Cameron was more defiant than DiCaprio. "You want to cut my movie? You're going to have to fire me!" You want to fire me? You're going to have to kill me!" The executives, knowing that starting from scratch meant their entire investment would be gone, did neither. They also rejected Cameron's offer of forfeiting his share of profits as an empty gesture; they were sure there wouldn't be any.

With more special effects being added Titanics's release date was moved back from summer to Christmas 1997. At one point Cameron visited Twentieth Century Fox studio headquarters to request permission to shoot additional footage and ran smack dab into company chairman Rupert Murdoch (no relation to William) in hallway. After months of fiercely ordering people about, self proclaimed "King of World" could not look his real boss in eye. "Uh hi. Uh I know I'm not your favorite person spending all your money. But I guarantee you movie will be good." Murdoch, with a glint of steel in voice, replied. "Young man, it had be better be better than good!"

Thanks largely to repeated viewings from young girls, film made more money than any other picture in history. It tied Ben Hur (1959) for most Oscars (11) although it was not even nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The Fox Executives were more relieved than euphoric and promised no more $200,000,000 movies, they felt like they had dodged a bullet. DiCaprio who infuriated studio by refusing to promote film and show up at Academy Awards, became a $10,000,000 per picture star, was chased down streets by adoring young females, and later called whole Titanic craze," kind of an empty experience". Winslet, who at one point during shoot woke up and said, "God I wish I was dead", moved back happily into smaller independent films. Cameron got his original profit share and continued to lose his temper, suggesting a film critic who panned Titanic be impeached. He reflected later that movie prices had to be raised to fifteen dollars to pay for overblown budgets. "People would be mad for six months and then they would come back. Of course I wouldn't want one of my movies coming out during those six months."

At Cooper-Hewitt’s gift shop, there are books ranging from etchings of 16th century to modern day design – be it textiles, table settings or castles. Moreover, unique book jackets are always welcome. According to salesman, “The subject of book doesn’t matter if it has an unusual design concept.” These include children’s pop-up books and padded book jackets. A non-three-dimensional book has text beginning on front cover. Self-published and small press accepted. The book buyer is Chris Masaoay. (212-849-8355). http://ndm.si.edu.

The museum shop at Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 (89th Street), 212-423-3500, has books on early European to contemporary artists and architects who are in permanent collection or have been featured in an exhibition at museum. All books that fit in this category, regardless of publisher, are considered by book buyer Ed Fuqua. Send to him at 575 Broadway, New York, New York 10012. (212-423-3852). www.guggenheim.org.

The mother of all museum shops is at Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028 (main entrance on 82nd Street), 212-535-7710. This enormous bookstore carries books about artists and art history, travel, women’s studies, gardening, and costumes, plus a small New York City corner. According to book buyer Marilyn Jensen, majority of books come from major publishers. However, she will accept books from small publishers (no vanity press). Send to her at 6 E. 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028 (212-396-5535). Most of books reflect various departments in museum, i.e., medieval art, ancient Egypt. www.metmuseum.org/store Not on Museum Mile but one block east between 74th and 75th Streets is Whitney Museum. All books in its gift shop are related to art, including technology, new media, film, video, audio, performance art, theory and criticism. Books by small publishers are welcome, but self-published books are doubtful. Send to book buyer, Michael Lagios (212-570-3613), at Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10021-2790. www.whitney.org.