Editing The Terminator (section)

===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>