James Cameron, micro-manager?

Have you ever considered the difference between a "micro-manager" and a "genius that controlled every detail to make sure it was done perfectly"? It's more than the result; after all, you don't know the result until later.

This bio on James Cameron lays out the difference perfectly.

Micro-managers have their hand in everything and argue about the smallest details. That's exactly what James Cameron does.

Cameron has mastered every job on set, and has even been known to grab a brush out of a makeup artist’s hand. "I always do makeup touch-ups myself, especially for blood, wounds, and dirt," he says. "It saves so much time." ... Cameron inserts himself into every aspect of the filmmaking process.

People who work for micro-managers feel disrespected and despise them for it. Similarly, the crew of "The Abyss" came to refer to it as "The Abuse". Because of his abrasive nature,

Cameron has an uncanny ability to make people want to see him fail.

Yet, despite these flaws, big stars -- people who don't need the work -- will readily work with Cameron. In fact,

A small, loyal band of cast and crew works with him repeatedly

That quite possibly includes the makeup artists.

Cameron brings to the table shared vision and credibility. Without those two things, he would just be a micro-manager.

Cameron aims high.

"This film integrates my life’s achievements," he told me. "It’s the most complicated stuff anyone’s ever done." Another time, he said, "If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success."

Whether or not the film turns out to be any good, his lofty goals can inspire. You want to be a part of something like that.

But if you didn't believe he could get it done, then his goals would just be talk. Some credibility comes simply because he's had some success in the past. But, this is new ground, so he needs more that just his past.

What he has is massive amounts of conviction. This quote captures it perfectly:

Before beginning production on "The Abyss" (1989), the most ambitious underwater movie ever attempted, he went to see Leonard Goldberg, then the president of Fox, which was financing the film. "He said, 'I want you to know one thing -- once we embark on this adventure and I start to make this movie, the only way you'll be able to stop me is to kill me,'" Goldberg told me. "You looked into those eyes and you knew he meant it."

If you don't buy into the vision and didn't think Cameron could get it done, he would be just another unbearable tyrant. If he also worked in an office instead of on movies, he would just be a micro-manager.

But, he's got all those things, so instead, he's a visionary genius.