Editing The Terminator (section)

==Production==
===Development===
<!--development of the concept and script, as well as the securing of financing and producers -->
In [[Rome, Italy]], during the release of ''[[Piranha II: The Spawning]]'' (1982), director [[James Cameron]] fell ill and had a dream about a metallic torso holding kitchen knives dragging itself from an explosion.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=34}} Inspired by director [[John Carpenter]], who had made the [[slasher film]] ''[[Halloween (1978 film)|Halloween]]'' (1978) on a low budget, Cameron used the dream as a "launching pad" to write a slasher-style film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-terminator/31391/why-the-terminator-is-a-horror-classic#ixzz38LjAc8Xn|title=Why The Terminator is a horror classic|last=Lambie|first=Ryan|work=[[Den of Geek]]|date=July 23, 2014|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107155042/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-terminator/31391/why-the-terminator-is-a-horror-classic#ixzz38LjAc8Xn|url-status=live}}</ref> Cameron's agent disliked the early concept of the horror film and requested that he work on something else. After this, Cameron dismissed his agent.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=36}}

Cameron returned to [[Pomona, California]], and stayed at the home of science fiction writer [[Randall Frakes]], where he wrote the draft for ''The Terminator''.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=35}} Cameron's influences included 1950s science fiction films, the 1960s fantasy television series ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]],'' and contemporary films such as ''[[The Driver]]'' (1978) and ''[[Mad Max 2]]'' (1981).{{sfn|French|1996|p=15}}{{sfn|French|1996|p=20}} To translate the draft into a script, Cameron enlisted his friend [[William Wisher Jr.|Bill Wisher]], who had a similar approach to storytelling. Cameron gave Wisher scenes involving Sarah Connor and the police department to write. As Wisher lived far from Cameron, the two communicated ideas by phoning each other and recording phone calls of them reading new scenes.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=36}}

The initial outline of the script involved two Terminators being sent to the past. The first was similar to the Terminator in the film, while the second was made of liquid metal and could not be destroyed with conventional weaponry.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=110}} Cameron felt that the technology of the time was unable to create the liquid Terminator,{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=110}}{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=111}} and shelved the idea until the appearance of the [[T-1000]] character in ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' (1991).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910703/REVIEWS/107030301 |work=[[Chicago Sun Times]] |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=July 3, 1991 |access-date=September 22, 2010 |title=Terminator 2: Judgment Day |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122161344/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19910703%2FREVIEWS%2F107030301 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Gale Anne Hurd by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Gale Anne Hurd bought the rights to ''The Terminator'' from James Cameron for one dollar.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=37}}]]

[[Gale Anne Hurd]], who had worked at [[New World Pictures]] as [[Roger Corman]]'s assistant, showed interest in the project.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=36}} Cameron sold the rights for ''The Terminator'' to Hurd for one dollar with the promise that she would produce it only if Cameron was to direct it. Hurd suggested edits to the script and took a screenwriting credit in the film, though Cameron stated that she "did no actual writing at all".{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=37}}<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/20/ign-presents-the-history-of-terminator | title=IGN Presents the History of Terminator - IGN | newspaper=Ign | date=May 20, 2009 }}</ref> Cameron would later regret the decision to sell the rights for one dollar.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/james-cameron-sold-rights-to-terminator-for-1-2015-7 | title=James Cameron sold the rights to 'Terminator' back in the '80s for $1 — and it's one of his biggest regrets | website=[[Business Insider]] }}</ref> Cameron and Hurd had friends who worked with Corman previously and who were working at [[Orion Pictures]]. Orion agreed to distribute the film if Cameron could get financial backing elsewhere. The script was picked up by [[John Daly (producer)|John Daly]], chairman and president of [[Hemdale Film Corporation]].{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=38}} Daly and his executive vice president and head of production Derek Gibson became executive producers of the project.<ref name="articles.chicagotribune.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/03/30/high-risk-movie-mogul/|title=High-risk Movie Mogul|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=March 30, 1987 |access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816110403/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-03-30/features/8701240628_1_british-actor-david-hemmings-john-daly-daly-didn-t|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cameron wanted his [[Pitch (filmmaking)|pitch]] for Daly to finalize the deal and had his friend [[Lance Henriksen]] show up to the meeting early dressed and acting like the Terminator.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=38}} Henriksen, wearing a leather jacket, fake cuts on his face, and gold foil on his teeth, kicked open the door to the office and then sat in a chair.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=38}} Cameron arrived shortly and then relieved the staff from Henriksen's act. Daly was impressed by the screenplay and Cameron's sketches and passion for the film.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=38}} In late 1982, Daly agreed to back the film with help from [[HBO]] and Orion.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=38}}{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=39}} ''The Terminator'' was originally budgeted at $4 million and later raised to $6.5 million.{{sfn|French|1996|p=6}} Aside from Hemdale, [[Valhalla Entertainment|Pacific Western Productions]], Euro Film Funding and Cinema '84 have been credited as production companies after the film's release.<ref name=afi /><ref name="MFB">{{cite journal|journal=[[Monthly Film Bulletin]]|title=The Terminator|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|date=1984|quote=''p.c''—Cinema '84. A Pacific Western Production. For Orion|pages=54–55|volume=52|issue=612|issn=0027-0407|last=Petley|first=Julian}}</ref><ref name=bfi>{{cite web| title=The Terminator (1984)| url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7785ce41| publisher=[[British Film Institute]]| access-date=February 11, 2019| archive-date=February 12, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011326/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7785ce41| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Casting===
For the role of Kyle Reese, Orion wanted a star whose popularity was rising in the United States but who also would have foreign appeal. Orion co-founder [[Mike Medavoy]] had met [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] and sent his agent the script for ''The Terminator''.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=39}} Cameron was uncertain about casting Schwarzenegger as Reese as he felt he would need someone even more famous to play the Terminator. [[Sylvester Stallone]] and [[Mel Gibson]] both turned down the Terminator role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/06/a-history-of-iconic-roles-that-famous-actors-turned-down/sylvester-stallone-as-the-terminator|title=A History of Iconic Roles That Famous Actors Turned Down - Sylvester Stallone as T-800 (''The Terminator'', 1984)|website=Complex|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813235852/http://uk.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/06/a-history-of-iconic-roles-that-famous-actors-turned-down/sylvester-stallone-as-the-terminator|url-status=live}}</ref> Medavoy suggested [[O. J. Simpson]] but Cameron did not feel that Simpson, at that time, would be believable as a killer.<ref name="OV-Hurd">{{cite AV media|title=Other Voices documentary|date=2001|publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]|people=Hurd, Gale Anne (producer)|work=The Terminator [Special Edition]|medium=DVD}}</ref>{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=40}}<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=McGovern|first=Joe|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/07/17/the-terminator-oral-history/|title='The Terminator' at 30: An oral history|date=July 17, 2014|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yamato |first=Jen |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-25/o-j-simpson-terminator-james-cameron-arnold-schwarzenegger |title=James Cameron debunks that O.J. Simpson 'Terminator' painting myth: 'Arnold is wrong' |date=October 25, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

Cameron agreed to meet with Schwarzenegger and devised a plan to avoid casting him; he would pick a fight with him and return to Hemdale and find him unfit for the role.<ref name="OV-Cameron">{{cite AV media |people= Cameron, James |date= 2001 |title= Other Voices documentary |work=The Terminator [Special Edition]|medium=DVD|publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Cameron was entertained by Schwarzenegger, who would talk about how the villain should be played, and began sketching his face on a notepad, asking Schwarzenegger to stop talking and remain still.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=40}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Goodyear |first1=Dana |title=Man of Extremes |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/10/26/man-of-extremes-james-cameron-profile-avatar |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=7 September 2024 |date=19 October 2009}}</ref> After the meeting, Cameron returned to Daly saying Schwarzenegger would not play Reese but that "he'd make a hell of a Terminator".{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=41}}{{Quote box |quote=Casting Arnold Schwarzenegger as our Terminator [...] shouldn't have worked. The guy is supposed to be an infiltration unit, and there's no way you wouldn't spot a Terminator in a crowd instantly if they all looked like Arnold. It made no sense whatsoever. But the beauty of movies is that they don't have to be logical. They just have to have plausibility. If there's a visceral, cinematic thing happening that the audience likes, they don't care if it goes against what's likely.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Creator James Cameron on Terminator's Origins, Arnold as Robot, Machine Wars |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |last=Daly |first=Steve |date=March 23, 2009 |access-date=September 18, 2010 |url=https://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/17-04/ff_cameron |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727042523/http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/17-04/ff_cameron |url-status=live }}</ref> |source=—James Cameron on casting Schwarzenegger. |align=right |salign=right |width=33%}}

Schwarzenegger was not as excited by the film; during an interview on the set of ''[[Conan the Destroyer]]'', an interviewer asked him about a pair of shoes he had, which belonged to the wardrobe for ''The Terminator''. Schwarzenegger responded, "Oh, some shit movie I'm doing, take a couple weeks."{{sfn|Andrews|2003|pp=120–121}} He recounted in his memoir, ''Total Recall'', that he was initially hesitant, but thought that playing a robot in a contemporary film would be a challenging change of pace from ''[[Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)|Conan the Barbarian]]'' and that the film was low-profile enough that it would not damage his career if it were unsuccessful. In a later interview with ''[[GQ]]'', he admitted that he and the studio regarded it as just another [[B Movie|B action movie]], since "The year before came out ''[[The Exterminator|Exterminator]]'', now it was the Terminator and what else is gonna be next, type of thing". It was only when he saw 20 minutes of the first edit did he realize that "this is really intense, this is wild, I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before" and realized that "this could be bigger than we all think".<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srksXVEkfAs&t=471s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/srksXVEkfAs| archive-date=2021-12-11|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters GQ|work=[[GQ Magazine]] |date=October 29, 2019 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |url-status=live|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> To prepare for the role, Schwarzenegger spent three months training with weapons to be able to use them and feel comfortable around them.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=41}} Schwarzenegger speaks only 17 lines in the film, and fewer than 100 words. Cameron said that "Somehow, even his accent worked&nbsp;... It had a strange synthesized quality, like they hadn't gotten the voice thing quite worked out."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/07/12/arnolds-schwarzeneggers-few-words/ |title=65 Words...And Arnold Was a Star |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |last1=Chase |first1=Donald |last2=Meyers |first2=Kate |date=July 12, 1991 |access-date=September 20, 2010 |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007124503/http://www.ew.com/article/1991/07/12/arnolds-schwarzeneggers-few-words |url-status=live }}</ref>

Various other actors were suggested for the role of Reese, including rock musician [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=42}} Cameron met with Sting, but he was not interested as Cameron was too much an unknown director at the time.<ref>{{cite web |first=George |last=Bass |date=21 April 2021 |title=The Terminator came to me in a dream: a new interview with James Cameron |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/terminator-james-cameron |access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> Others who were considered for Reese, included [[Christopher Reeve]], [[Matt Dillon]], [[Kurt Russell]], [[Treat Williams]], [[Tommy Lee Jones]], [[Scott Glenn]], [[Michael O'Keefe]], and [[Bruce Springsteen]].<ref name="etonline.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/movies/140439_Casting_Near_Misses_Sting_The_Terminator|title = Casting Near-Misses: Sting in 'The Terminator'?| date=November 6, 2013 }}</ref> Cameron chose [[Michael Biehn]]. Biehn, who had recently seen ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' and had aspirations about acting alongside the likes of [[Al Pacino]], [[Robert De Niro]], and [[Robert Redford]], was originally skeptical, feeling the film was silly.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/terminator-what-happened-star-michael-biehn-1228634 |title="Everything Had to Go Right": What Happened to 'Terminator' Star Michael Biehn |work=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=August 2, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722192631/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/terminator-what-happened-star-michael-biehn-1228634 |url-status=live }}</ref> After meeting with Cameron, Biehn changed his mind.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=42}} Hurd stated that "almost everyone else who came in from the audition was so tough that you just never believed that there was gonna be this human connection between Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese. They have very little time to fall in love. A lot of people came in and just could not pull it off."{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=43}} To get into Reese's character, Biehn studied the [[Polish resistance movement in World War II]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-terminator-30th-anniversary/9/ |title="The Terminator" 30 years later |work=[[CBS News]] |last=Lombardi |first=Ken |date=October 26, 2014 |access-date=November 21, 2016 |archive-date=November 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122153353/http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-terminator-30th-anniversary/9/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the first pages of the script, Sarah Connor is described as "19, small and delicate features. Pretty in a flawed, accessible way. She doesn't stop the party when she walks in, but you'd like to get to know her. Her vulnerable quality masks a strength even she doesn't know exists."{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=44}} [[Lisa Langlois]] was offered the role but turned it down as she was already shooting ''[[The Slugger's Wife]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/3163/a-talk-with-lisa-langlois |title=A Talk With Lisa Langlois |website=retrojunk.com |access-date=July 30, 2021 }}</ref> [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]], [[Melissa Sue Anderson]], and [[Jessica Harper]] were also considered for the role of Sarah Connor.<ref name="etonline.com"/> Cameron cast [[Linda Hamilton]], who had just finished filming ''[[Children of the Corn (1984 film)|Children of the Corn]]''.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=45}} [[Rosanna Arquette]] and [[Lea Thompson]] also auditioned for the role.<ref>{{cite news |last= Vespe |first= Eric |url= https://www.aintitcool.com/node/50837 |title= Quint chats with Michael Biehn, Part 1! Aliens, Terminator, Abyss and working with James Cameron! |work= [[Ain't It Cool News]] |date= August 17, 2011 |access-date= 2011-08-19 |archive-date= November 27, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022427/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/50837 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omzt6HVjKY8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Omzt6HVjKY8| archive-date=2021-12-11|title='Back to the Future' star Lea Thompson was almost in 'Terminator' {{!}} Page Six Celebrity News |work=Page Six |date=October 5, 2018 |access-date=July 30, 2021 |url-status=live|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Cameron found a role for Lance Henriksen as Vukovich, as Henriksen had been essential to finding finances for the film.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=46}} For the special effects shots, Cameron wanted [[Dick Smith (make-up artist)|Dick Smith]], who had worked on ''[[The Godfather]]'' and ''Taxi Driver''. Smith did not take Cameron's offer and suggested his friend [[Stan Winston]].{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=50}}

===Filming===
<!-- production or filming: actual filming – dates and places, important artistic decisions, and noteworthy events (delays, reshoots, financial problems, etc.) -->
Filming for ''The Terminator'' was set to begin in early 1983 in [[Toronto]], but was halted when producer [[Dino De Laurentiis]] applied an option in Schwarzenegger's contract that would make him unavailable for nine months while he was filming ''Conan the Destroyer''. During the waiting period, Cameron was contracted to write the script for ''[[Rambo: First Blood Part II]],'' refined the ''Terminator'' script, and met with producers [[David Giler]] and [[Walter Hill (filmmaker)|Walter Hill]] to discuss a sequel to ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]],'' which became ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'', released in 1986.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=46}}{{sfn|Keegan|2009|pp=47–49}}

There was limited interference from Orion Pictures. Two suggestions Orion put forward included the addition of a canine android for Reese, which Cameron refused, and to strengthen the love interest between Sarah and Reese, which Cameron accepted.{{sfn|French|1996|p=23}} To create the Terminator's look, Winston and Cameron passed sketches back and forth, eventually deciding on a design nearly identical to Cameron's original drawing in Rome.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=50}}{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=51}} Winston had a team of seven artists work for six months to create a Terminator puppet; it was first molded in clay, then plaster reinforced with steel ribbing. These pieces were then sanded, painted and then chrome-plated. Winston sculpted reproductions of Schwarzenegger's face in several poses out of silicone, clay and plaster.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=51}}

The sequences set in 2029 and the [[Stop motion|stop-motion]] scenes were developed by Fantasy II, a special effects company headed by [[Gene Warren Jr.]]{{sfn|French|1996|p=24}} A stop-motion model is used in several scenes in the film involving the Terminator's endoskeleton. Cameron wanted to convince the audience that the model of the structure was capable of doing what they saw Schwarzenegger doing. To allow this, a scene was filmed of Schwarzenegger injured and limping away; this limp made it easier for the model to imitate Schwarzenegger.{{sfn|French|1996|pp=25–26}}

One of the guns seen in the film and on the film's poster was an [[AMT Hardballer|AMT Longslide]] pistol modified by Ed Reynolds from [[SureFire]] to include a [[laser sight (firearms)|laser sight]]. Both non-functioning and functioning versions of the prop were created. At the time the movie was made, [[Laser diode|diode lasers]] were not available; because of the high power requirement, the [[helium–neon laser]] in the sight used an external power supply that Schwarzenegger had to activate manually. Reynolds states that his only compensation for the project was promotional material for the film.<ref name="ars">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/03/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting/ |title=True story: the making of the Terminator's laser-sighted .45 pistol |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=March 10, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |archive-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312112821/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/03/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting.ars |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 1984, the film began production in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=51}}<ref name="OV-Wisher">{{cite AV media |people= Wisher, William (screenwriter) |date= 2001 |title= Other Voices documentary |work=The Terminator [Special Edition]|medium=DVD|publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Cameron felt that with Schwarzenegger on the set, the style of the film changed, explaining that "the movie took on a larger-than-life sheen. I just found myself on the set doing things I didn't think I would do&nbsp;– scenes that were just purely horrific that just couldn't be, because now they were too flamboyant."{{sfn|French|1996|pp=30–31}} Most of ''The Terminator''{{'}}s action scenes were filmed at night, which led to tight filming schedules before sunrise. A week before filming started, Linda Hamilton sprained her ankle, leading to a production change whereby the scenes in which Hamilton needed to run occurred as late as the filming schedule allowed. Hamilton's ankle was taped every day and she spent most of the film production in pain.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=52}}

Schwarzenegger tried to have the iconic line "[[I'll be back]]" changed as he had difficulty pronouncing the word ''I'll''. Cameron refused to change the line to "I will be back", so Schwarzenegger worked to say the line as written the best he could. He would later say the line in numerous films throughout his career.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/arnold-schwarzenegger-ill-be-back-video_n_1930644.html "Arnold Schwarzenegger: 'I'll Be Back' Quote Was Almost Ruined"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309115627/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/arnold-schwarzenegger-ill-be-back-video_n_1930644.html |date=March 9, 2017 }}. ''[[The Huffington Post]]''. October 1, 2012.</ref>

After production finished on ''The Terminator'', some [[Pick-up (filmmaking)|post-production shots]] were needed.<ref name="OV-Goldblat">{{cite AV media|title=Other Voices documentary|date=2001|people=Goldblatt, Mark (editor)|work=The Terminator [Special Edition]|medium=DVD|publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> These included scenes showing the Terminator outside Sarah Connor's apartment, Reese being zipped into a body bag, and the Terminator's head being crushed in a press.<ref name="OV-Hurd" /><ref name="OV-Wisher" /><ref name="OV-Goldblat" /> The final scene where Sarah is driving down a highway was filmed without a permit. Cameron and Hurd convinced an officer who confronted them that they were making a [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]] student film.<ref>{{cite magazine| title = 'The Terminator' at 30: An oral history| url = https://ew.com/article/2014/07/17/the-terminator-oral-history/| magazine = Entertainment Weekly| first = Joe| last = McGovern| date = July 17, 2014| access-date = November 29, 2018| archive-date = November 30, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071837/https://ew.com/article/2014/07/17/the-terminator-oral-history/| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Music===
{{Further|The Terminator (soundtrack)}}
The ''Terminator'' soundtrack was composed and performed on [[synthesizer]] by [[Brad Fiedel]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Bret|title=The Terminator: Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r131972|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=September 19, 2010|work=AllMusic}}</ref> Fiedel was with the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, where a new agent, Beth Donahue, found that Cameron was working on ''The Terminator'' and sent him a cassette of Fiedel's music.<ref name="cos">{{cite magazine|last=Roffman|first=Michael|date=April 5, 2016|title=Stream + Interview: Brad Fiedel's The Terminator Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/04/stream-interview-brad-fiedel-the-terminator/|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=April 18, 2016|archive-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417135018/http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/04/stream-interview-brad-fiedel-the-terminator/|url-status=live}}</ref> Fiedel was invited to a screening of the film with Cameron and Hurd.<ref name="cos" /> Hurd was not certain about having Fiedel compose the score, as he had only worked in television, not theatrical films.<ref name="cos" /> Fiedel convinced the two by showing them an experimental piece he had worked on, thinking that "You know, I'm going to play this for him because it's really dark and I think it's interesting for him." The song convinced Hurd and Cameron to hire him.<ref name="cos" />

Fiedel said his score reflected "a mechanical man and his heartbeat".<ref name="OV-Fiedel">{{cite AV media|title=Other Voices documentary|date=2001|people=Fiedel, Brad (composer)|work=The Terminator [Special Edition]|medium=DVD|publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Almost all the music was performed live.{{sfn|Keegan|2009|p=36}}<ref name="OV-Fiedel" /> ''The Terminator'' theme is used in the opening credits and appears in various points, such as a slowed version when Reese dies, and a piano version during the love scene.{{sfn|Hayward|2004|p=168}} It has been described as "haunting", with a "deceptively simple" melody<ref name="allmusic-review">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-terminator-mr0000843460|title=The Terminator – Brad Fiedel|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 24, 2014|author=Adams, Brett|archive-date=May 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517110650/http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-terminator-mr0000843460|url-status=live}}</ref> recorded on a [[Prophet-10]] synthesizer.<ref name=":0" /> It is in the unusual [[time signature]] of {{music|time|13|16}}, which arose when Fiedel experimented with rhythms and accidentally created an incomplete loop on his [[Music sequencer|sequencer]]; Fiedel liked the "herky-jerky" "propulsiveness".<ref name=":0">Seth Stevenson, "[http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2014/02/the_time_signature_of_the_terminator_score_is_a_mystery_for_the_ages.single.html What Is the time signature of the ominous electronic score of ''The Terminator''?]" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226224247/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2014/02/the_time_signature_of_the_terminator_score_is_a_mystery_for_the_ages.single.html|date=February 26, 2014}}, ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', Published 26 February 2014, Accessed 27 February 2014.</ref> Fiedel created music for when Reese and Connor escape from the police station that would be appropriate for a "heroic moment". Cameron turned down this theme, as he believed it would lose the audience's excitement.<ref name="OV-Fiedel" />