where did the idea for terminator come from
Inspired by director John Carpenter, who had made the slasher film "Halloween" (1978) on a low budget, Cameron used the dream as a "launching pad" to write a slasher-style film.
The Terminator
. Inspired by director John Carpenter, who had made the slasher film "Halloween" (1978) on a low budget, Cameron used the dream as a "launching pad" to write a slasher-style film. 
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The Terminator [SEP] Development
In Rome, Italy, during the release of "", director Cameron fell ill and had a dream about a metallic torso holding kitchen knives dragging itself from an explosion. Inspired by director John Carpenter, who had made the slasher film "Halloween" (1978) on a low budget, Cameron used the dream as a "launching pad" to write a slasher-style film. 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. Cameron returned to Pomona, California and stayed at the home of science fiction writer Randall Frakes, where he wrote the draft for "The Terminator".