The Career of J.J. Abrams: from Lost to Super 8
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
This Hollywood mastermind is able to juggle several different tasks, while also weaving captivating plotlines into his film and television projects. Born on June 27th, 1966 in New York City, his parents were television producers who helped him become interested in the film industry by the time he was only 8 years old. To accomplish this, he was taken to Universal Studios and was given his very own Super 8mm film camera. He eventually entered the industry and has gone on to great success, forming his own production company called Bad Robot, and creating such popular television and film projects as Alias, Lost, Fringe and 2009's reboot of Star Trek. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take a look at the career of J.J. Abrams.
Biography: Lost and Super 8 Director J.J. Abrams
This Hollywood mastermind is able to juggle several different tasks, while also weaving captivating plotlines into his film and television projects. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re taking a look at the career of director, producer, screenwriter and composer J. J. Abrams.
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born on June 27th, 1966 in New York City. Since both his parents were television producers who raised him in L.A., he became interested in the film industry by the time he was only 8-years-old. To nurture this newfound hobby, young Abrams was taken to Universal Studios and was given his very own Super 8 mm film camera.
He eventually entered a number of his amateur films in various contests. Abrams worked on these projects with his childhood friend Greg Grunberg, and in later years Abrams cast his friend in his work. Abrams became increasingly intrigued with the use of special effects, and so he began writing to experts who worked on various Hollywood films. One notable example was the man responsible for the tongue effect in “The Exorcist.”
Abrams was intensely passionate and versatile, and his first industry job came when he was 16-years-old. He wrote the musical score for the low budget horror film “Nightbeast.”
While he was still a student at Sarah Lawrence College, he co-wrote and sold his first film treatment. This became the basis for the 1990 picture “Taking Care of Business.” The movie starred Jim Belushi, and Abrams himself undertook producing duties.
He followed that up by writing the screenplays and producing both 1991’s “Regarding Henry,” starring Harrison Ford, and 1992’s “Forever Young,” starring Mel Gibson.
Abrams then collaborated with Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay by penning 1998’s summer blockbuster “Armageddon.” It was at this time he made his first foray into television when he wrote, co-created, executive produced, and composed the musical score for the coming-of-age drama “Felicity.”
He then formed his own production company called “Bad Robot,” and went on to craft the incredibly popular spy series “Alias.”
A few years later, he managed to outdo himself with the hit TV show “Lost.” This series merged the concepts of the reality show “Survivor” with those in the film “Cast Away.” Due to its overwhelming success, this thrilling character drama brought him widespread Hollywood recognition and several awards, including an Emmy for outstanding directing.
Because of his successes, Abrams was called upon to make his directorial debut with 2006’s “Mission Impossible III.” The film starred Tom Cruise, and in fact it was Cruise who led to Abrams’ appointment as director. Cruise decided he must work with him after discovering and binge-watching multiple season of “Alias.”
Now firmly planted in the big chair, Abrams produced the gritty documentary-style monster movie “Cloverfield,” co-created the paranormal investigation series “Fringe,” and directed 2009’s stunning and overwhelmingly successful franchise reboot of “Star Trek.”
In 2011, Abrams once again explored his childhood passion and fascination with amateur filmmaking. This time, he did so with his sci-fi film project “Super 8.” The story centered on a group of friends that witnesses a catastrophic train accident and inexplicable events while making a super 8 movie.
Abrams was set to follow up those efforts with the sequels to “Mission Impossible,” and “Star Trek,” while also helping to forge ahead with the long-awaited film finale of “Samurai Jack.”
With major successes in both film and television, he has been hailed by Paramount Pictures as “the next Steven Spielberg.” And, there is no denying that J. J. Abrams has become one of the most highly demanded creative forces in Hollywood.
This Hollywood mastermind is able to juggle several different tasks, while also weaving captivating plotlines into his film and television projects. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re taking a look at the career of director, producer, screenwriter and composer J. J. Abrams.
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born on June 27th, 1966 in New York City. Since both his parents were television producers who raised him in L.A., he became interested in the film industry by the time he was only 8-years-old. To nurture this newfound hobby, young Abrams was taken to Universal Studios and was given his very own Super 8 mm film camera.
He eventually entered a number of his amateur films in various contests. Abrams worked on these projects with his childhood friend Greg Grunberg, and in later years Abrams cast his friend in his work. Abrams became increasingly intrigued with the use of special effects, and so he began writing to experts who worked on various Hollywood films. One notable example was the man responsible for the tongue effect in “The Exorcist.”
Abrams was intensely passionate and versatile, and his first industry job came when he was 16-years-old. He wrote the musical score for the low budget horror film “Nightbeast.”
While he was still a student at Sarah Lawrence College, he co-wrote and sold his first film treatment. This became the basis for the 1990 picture “Taking Care of Business.” The movie starred Jim Belushi, and Abrams himself undertook producing duties.
He followed that up by writing the screenplays and producing both 1991’s “Regarding Henry,” starring Harrison Ford, and 1992’s “Forever Young,” starring Mel Gibson.
Abrams then collaborated with Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay by penning 1998’s summer blockbuster “Armageddon.” It was at this time he made his first foray into television when he wrote, co-created, executive produced, and composed the musical score for the coming-of-age drama “Felicity.”
He then formed his own production company called “Bad Robot,” and went on to craft the incredibly popular spy series “Alias.”
A few years later, he managed to outdo himself with the hit TV show “Lost.” This series merged the concepts of the reality show “Survivor” with those in the film “Cast Away.” Due to its overwhelming success, this thrilling character drama brought him widespread Hollywood recognition and several awards, including an Emmy for outstanding directing.
Because of his successes, Abrams was called upon to make his directorial debut with 2006’s “Mission Impossible III.” The film starred Tom Cruise, and in fact it was Cruise who led to Abrams’ appointment as director. Cruise decided he must work with him after discovering and binge-watching multiple season of “Alias.”
Now firmly planted in the big chair, Abrams produced the gritty documentary-style monster movie “Cloverfield,” co-created the paranormal investigation series “Fringe,” and directed 2009’s stunning and overwhelmingly successful franchise reboot of “Star Trek.”
In 2011, Abrams once again explored his childhood passion and fascination with amateur filmmaking. This time, he did so with his sci-fi film project “Super 8.” The story centered on a group of friends that witnesses a catastrophic train accident and inexplicable events while making a super 8 movie.
Abrams was set to follow up those efforts with the sequels to “Mission Impossible,” and “Star Trek,” while also helping to forge ahead with the long-awaited film finale of “Samurai Jack.”
With major successes in both film and television, he has been hailed by Paramount Pictures as “the next Steven Spielberg.” And, there is no denying that J. J. Abrams has become one of the most highly demanded creative forces in Hollywood.
