"Avatar" and "Titanic" film director James Cameron said on Monday in Beijing that China's film market growth is astonishing and he is very interested in Chinese collaborations.

58-year-old Cameron was in Beijing to attend the 2nd Beijing International Film Festival, and was going to participate in exchanges with fellow Chinese filmmakers during his five-day visit. Cameron revealed at the festival's opening ceremony press conference that he had met with famed Chinese actor and director Jiang Wen, and will sit down with Zhang Yimou before leaving the country.

"It's such a great opportunity to meet with some of the Chinese filmmakers I admire so much," Cameron said. "The market here is growing so rapidly, ...literally astonishing all of us in the United States and the West with the rapid growth of installations and theaters, and truly embracing and accepting 3D and digital theaters."

Cameron couldn't be happier when he learned that the 3D re-release of his 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" had already created a frenzy, and raked in US$105.2 million in China alone. This almost equals all other markets including the U.S. combined, according to box office tracking website BoxOfficeMojo.com.

"When I came to China in 2010, there were 600 screens showing films," he said. "Now, however, 'Titanic 3D' has been projected onto 2,800 screens. China has a huge film market and is huge hope for the film industry."

James Cameron had nothing but good words for China's film industry. He said he didn't think there were problems in directing, acting and other production aspects by his standards, and the only problems might exist in advanced technologies and some restricted subjects in China.

Cameron now is looking at some Chinese co-productions, but hasn't decided yet as he would first see and weigh commercial potential and Chinese restrictions and regulations.

He eventually admitted that he and his team were in discussion with a Chinese studio about the collaboration on "The Art of War", a film about ancient Chinese strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu, which is estimated to cost between US$80 million and US$100 million.

The Canadian director said Chinese filmmaker Hu Bo approached him and his company a year ago, asking them to provide 3D cameras and 3D production technology to produce China's first 3D epic. They haven't signed an agreement yet, but have agreed in principle make it "CPG Certified." Martin Scorsese's 3D movie "Hugo" was the first "CPG Certified" 3D movie in the world and the effects are stunning.

James Cameron said at the press conference that his next projects will be 100 percent focused on "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3", which he will do over next few years. Although he will surely use Chinese elements and landscapes if there are any co-productions, he said he may not come to China to shoot beautiful scenery on locations for "Avatar" sequels -- which is not necessary, he said he will use Chinese landscapes as a source of inspiration.

Cameron also explained that the biggest possibility of "3D without glasses" is happening at home rather than in theaters. "We don't know the technology right now," as he said this is involved with separate viewing angles in theaters that can't be dealt with right now.

James Cameron made an appearance at the Beijing Film Academy before arriving with Wendi Murdoch, producer Jon Landau and the 20th Century Fox CEO Jim Gianopulos at the press conference Monday afternoon.

Hundreds of students camped out in the academy's screening room to welcome the director with applause and occasional screaming. James Cameron, however, told his fans not to idolize him. He said: "Don't idolize me. To become excellent filmmakers, you need to shoot life itself. Find your own voice, that's the most important thing there is. Once you've done that, you don't need to idolize anyone."

He encouraged the students to combine "technology" with the "story" during filming. "The technology and the story aren't contradictory. After you have learned about technology, you must remember that films are about human stories. You need to communicate these to the audience with your heart," he said.

On Monday's meeting with Beijing Film Academy students, James Cameron was granted a visiting professor title, and assigned homework which included "watching 'Titanic 3D.'"

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