(Cover) - EN Showbiz - James Cameron will "stand by" his longtime friend Arnold Schwarzenegger in the midst of the actor's personal crisis.

James directed the original The Terminator movie in which Arnold played the legendary leading role. The two have remained close friends since the 1984 movie was filmed.

Arnold's recent split from wife Maria Shriver and his subsequent public disclosure about an affair with his former housemaid which resulted in the birth of his son has not affected his relationship with the Avatar director.

At the Covenant House California 2011 Gala and Awards Dinner held this week in Los Angeles, James expressed his loyalty to Arnold.

"[Arnold] and I have spoken a lot," James told the American edition of OK! magazine. "I mean, you have to stand by your friends and he and I have talked and I told him, Look man, I'll stand by you.'"

The director extends his support but is highly reluctant to offer Arnold any advice on the matter. He would prefer to lend an ear, but nothing more.

"He doesn't need my advice," James explained. "He knows how to manage his image and to say what he needs to say and he is going to say it on his own terms when he is ready. It's that simple." (C) Cover Media