December 9, 1997. Copyright, 1997, Graphic News. All rights reserved

TITANIC: THE MAKING OF THE WORLDÕS MOST EXPENSIVE MOVIE
By Oliver Burkeman

London, December 9, Graphic News: EVERYTHING about the making of ÔTitanicÕ was as epic as the story it relates. 
At 194 minutes, James CameronÕs $200m movie Ð the most expensive in history, a record previously held by the $170m flop, ÔWaterworldÕ Ð cost a staggering $1.03m per minute. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio lead a cast of over a thousand in the tale of the ÔindestructibleÕ liner, which sank on its maiden voyage from England to New York in 1912.
So arresting was the replica ship, only 77.5ft (23.6m) shorter, at 775ft (236m), than the original, that it caused traffic accidents near the set at Rosarito Beach on MexicoÕs Pacific coast. Built according to authentic plans, released for the first time by the TitanicÕs Belfast shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, it was manipulated by hydraulic lifts to simulate the vesselÕs final lurches as it collided with an iceberg 400 miles (644km) off Newfoundland.
Not satisfied with a mere replica, Cameron took two submarines 2.5 miles (4km) down to the wreck, discovered in 1985, where he filmed with cameras protected by titanium housing. The pressure would have destroyed conventional moviemaking equipment.
Premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival last month, the film Ð co-produced by Fox and Paramount Ð opens in the U.S. on December 19 and in Europe in January. Variety calls ParamountÕs $40m purchase of U.S. rights Ôone of the bargain deals of the centuryÕ, but FoxÕs chances of recouping its investment from international rights are thought to be slimmer.
But the spiralling costs have not been the productionÕs only problem. Soup laced with hallucinogenic drugs was served on the set, though no culprit was discovered. And Cameron was accused of overstretching his crew, some of whom reported working 90-hour weeks, mostly at night, as the team struggled Ð and failed Ð to meet last JulyÕs scheduled release date. 
Stung by press criticisms, Cameron waived his fees as producer and director. ÔThey are not slaves or indentured servants,Õ he said of his employees. ÔThey love the intensity and the challenge. And because they are the best, they get paid as the best.Õ

Sources: E!Online (www.eonline.com) Titanic Ð The Movie (www.titanicmovie.com), Variety, Preview Magazine