J. J. Abrams
| J. J. Abrams | |
|---|---|
 Abrams at the Time 100 Gala in Manhattan, May 4, 2010 |
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| Born | Jeffrey Jacob Abrams June 27, 1966 New York City, United States |
| Residence | Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film and television producer, director, writer, actor and composer. |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Influenced by | Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron |
| Spouse(s) | Katie McGrath (1996–present) |
| Children | 3 |
Jeffrey Jacob "J. J." Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American film and television producer, screenwriter, director, actor and composer. He is well known for his work in the genres of action, drama and science-fiction.
Abrams wrote and produced feature films before co-creating the television series Felicity (1998–2002). He also created Alias (2001–2006) and co-created Lost (2004–2010), Fringe (2008–2013), Undercovers (2010) and produced the television series Person of Interest (2011–present), Alcatraz (2012) and Revolution (2012–present), among others.
His directorial film work includes two Star Trek films, Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), along with Mission: Impossible III (2006) and Super 8 (2011). He will also direct Star Wars Episode VII (2015), the first film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.[1] Abrams produced the films Cloverfield (2008), Morning Glory (2010), and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011).
Many of the films he has directed or produced are distributed by Paramount Pictures, while his television series were co-produced by either Warner Bros. Television or Touchstone Television. Abrams' frequent creative collaborators include writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, composer Michael Giacchino, cinematographer Daniel Mindel, and editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey.
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Early life [edit]
Abrams was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, where he attended Palisades High School. He is the son of television producer Gerald W. Abrams and executive producer Carol Ann Abrams.[2] His sister is screenwriter Tracy Rosen.[2] Abrams is Jewish[3] and attended Sarah Lawrence College.[4]
Career [edit]
Abrams' first job in the movie business started when he was 16 when he wrote music for Don Dohler's film Nightbeast. During his senior year at college, he teamed with Jill Mazursky to write a feature film treatment. Purchased by Touchstone Pictures, the treatment was the basis for Taking Care of Business, Abrams' first produced film, which starred Charles Grodin and James Belushi. He followed that up with Regarding Henry, starring Harrison Ford, and Forever Young, starring Mel Gibson. He also co-wrote with Mazursky the script for the comedy Gone Fishin' starring Joe Pesci and Danny Glover.
Abrams collaborated with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay on the 1998 film Armageddon. That same year, he made his first foray into television with Felicity, which ran for four seasons on The WB Network, serving as the show's co-creator (with Matt Reeves) and executive producer. He also composed its opening theme music.
Under his production company Bad Robot, which he founded with Bryan Burk in 2001,[5] Abrams created and executive-produced ABC's Alias and is co-creator (along with Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber) and executive producer of Lost. He later co-wrote the teleplay for Lost's third season premiere "A Tale of Two Cities." As with Felicity, Abrams also composed the opening theme music for Alias and Lost.
In 2001, Abrams co-wrote and produced the thriller Joy Ride, and wrote an unproduced screenplay for a fifth Superman film in 2002.
In 2006, he served as executive producer of What About Brian and Six Degrees, also on ABC. Abrams directed and wrote the two-part pilot for Lost and remained active producer for the first half of the season. That same year, he made his feature directorial debut in 2006 with Mission: Impossible III, starring Tom Cruise.
Abrams spoke at the TED conference in 2007.[6]
In 2008, Abrams produced the monster movie Cloverfield.[7] In 2009, he directed the science fiction film Star Trek,[8] which he produced with Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof. While it was speculated that they would be writing and producing an adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels, they publicly stated in November 2009 that they were no longer looking to take on that project.[9]
In 2008, he co-created, executive produced, and co-wrote (along with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) the FOX science fiction series Fringe, for which he composed the theme music as well.
Abrams was featured in the 2009 MTV Movie Awards 1980s-style digital short "Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions", with Andy Samberg and Will Ferrell, in which he plays a keyboard solo.
NBC picked up Abrams' Undercovers as its first new drama series for the 2010–11 season.[10] However, it was subsequently cancelled by NBC in November 2010.
He wrote and directed the Paramount supernatural movie Super 8, while co-producing with Steven Spielberg and Bryan Burk; it was released on June 10, 2011.[11]
Abrams directed the sequel to Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, released in May 2013.[12]
Under development (due in 2013[13]) is Abrams' film with Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot Productions, Mystery on Fifth Avenue. It is based on the New York Times article "Mystery on Fifth Avenue" about the renovation of an 8.5 million dollar co-op, a division of property originally owned by E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Merriweather Post. In 2008, it was widely reported Abrams purchased the rights to the Times article for six figures,[14] and enlisted comedy writers Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky to write the adaptation. According to the article, a wealthy couple Steven B. Klinsky and Maureen Sherry purchased the apartment in 2003 and live there with their four children. Soon after purchasing the apartment, they hired young architectural designer Eric Clough, who devised an elaborately clever "scavenger hunt" built into the apartment that involved dozens of historical figures, a fictional book and a soundtrack, woven throughout the apartment in puzzles, riddles, secret panels, compartments, and hidden codes, without the couple's knowledge. The family didn't discover the embedded mystery until months after moving into the apartment.[15][16] After Abrams purchased the article, Clough left him an encrypted message in the wall tiles of a Christian Louboutin shoe store he designed in West Hollywood.[17]
Abrams will produce, under Bad Robot and with Bryan Burk, Earthquake for Universal Pictures. The film is being scripted by Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black, and while it shares a title and event with Universal's 1974 feature starring Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner, it will not be a remake.[18]
On January 25, 2013, The Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm officially announced Abrams as director and producer of Star Wars: Episode VII, the latest entry in the Star Wars film saga. Disney/Lucasfilm also announced that Bryan Burk and Bad Robot Productions would be producing the feature.[19]
Following the news that he would indeed direct Star Wars: Episode VII, speculation arose as to Abrams' future with Paramount Pictures, with whom he has released all of his previously directed feature work and which has a first-look deal with his Bad Robot Productions. Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore stated that Abrams will continue to have a hand in the highly successful Star Trek and Mission: Impossible franchises going forward.[20]
Abrams announced at the 2013 D.I.C.E. Conference that Bad Robot has made a deal with Valve Corporation to produce films based off the titles Portal and Half-Life.[21]
Personal life [edit]
Abrams is married to public relations executive Katie McGrath and has three children: sons August and Henry and daughter Gracie.[4][22] He resides in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.[23][24]
Campaigns he has contributed to include those of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Sestak, Bill Bradley, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Bob Casey, Jr., Mark Udall, Harry Reid, Russ Feingold, Patrick J. Kennedy and Tim Kaine. However, he has also donated $2,000 to the Republican Robert Vasquez.[25]
Filmography [edit]
Feature credits [edit]
| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Taking Care of Business | Yes | |||
| 1991 | Regarding Henry | Yes | also co-producer | ||
| 1992 | Forever Young | Yes | also executive producer | ||
| 1996 | The Pallbearer | Yes | |||
| 1997 | Gone Fishin' | Yes | |||
| 1998 | Armageddon | Yes | |||
| The Suburbans | Yes | ||||
| 2001 | Joy Ride | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2006 | Mission: Impossible III | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2008 | Cloverfield | Yes | |||
| 2009 | Star Trek | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2010 | Morning Glory | Yes | |||
| 2011 | Super 8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol | Yes | ||||
| 2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2015 | Star Wars: Episode VII | Yes | Yes | pre-production |
Television credits [edit]
| Year | Program | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2002 | Felicity | co-creator, writer, executive producer, director, co-composer of theme music | |
| 2001–2006 | Alias | creator, writer, executive producer, director, theme music composer | |
| 2005 | The Catch | creator, executive producer | |
| 2004–2010 | Lost | co-creator, executive producer, writer, theme music composer, director | |
| 2007 | The Office | guest director | Season 3, Episode 18 |
| 2006–2007 | What About Brian | executive producer | |
| Six Degrees | executive producer | ||
| 2006 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | guest director | |
| 2008–2013 | Fringe | co-creator, executive producer, theme music composer, writer | |
| 2009 | Anatomy of Hope | executive producer, writer, director | pilot |
| 2010 | Undercovers | co-creator, executive producer, writer, director, theme music composer | |
| 2011–present | Person of Interest | executive producer, theme music composer | |
| 2012 | Alcatraz | executive producer, theme music composer | |
| Shelter | executive producer | pilot[26] | |
| Family Guy | guest star | episode: Ratings Guy | |
| 2012–present | Revolution | executive producer | |
| 2013 | Almost Human | co-creator, executive producer | pilot[27] |
| Believe | producer | pilot[28] |
Awards and nominations [edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Razzie Award | Worst Screenplay | Armageddon | Nominated |
| 2002 | Emmy Award[29] | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Alias | Nominated |
| 2004 | PGA Award | Best Drama | Alias | Nominated |
| 2005 | ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Top TV Series | Lost | Won |
| Directors Guild of America | Best Director | Lost | Nominated | |
| Emmy Award[29] | Best Director | Lost | Won | |
| Outstanding Drama Series[29] | Lost | Won | ||
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series[29] | Lost | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Top TV Series | Lost | Won |
| PGA Award | Best Drama | Lost | Won | |
| Writers Guild of America[30] | Dramatic Series | Lost | Won | |
| 2007 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | Best Director | Mission: Impossible III | Nominated |
| BAFTA Award | Best International | Lost | Nominated | |
| PGA Award | Best Drama | Lost | Nominated | |
| Writers Guild of America | Dramatic Series | Lost | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | Lost | Nominated |
| 2009 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | Lost | Nominated |
| Writers Guild of America | Long Form | Fringe | Nominated | |
| New Series | Fringe | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | Best Director | Star Trek | Nominated |
| Emmy Award[29] | Outstanding Drama Series | Lost | Nominated | |
| Empire Awards | Best Director | Star Trek | Nominated | |
| PGA Award | Theatrical Motion Picture | Star Trek | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | Best Director | Super 8 | Won |
| Best Writing | Super 8 | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | PGA Award | Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television | Won |
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "It's official: Abrams to direct new 'Star Wars' film". CNN. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Carol Ann Abrams dies, Producer, author was mother of J.J. Abrams". Variety Magazine. 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ Berrin, Danielle (2009-05-06). "Now It's J.J. Abrams' Turn to 'Trek'". JewishJournal.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
- ^ a b J.J Abrams Biography Archived 15 February 2011 at WebCite
- ^ Warner, Tyrone (May 11, 2010). "J.J. Abrams not worried about writers block on 'Fringe'". CTV. Retrieved June 29, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "J.J. Abrams' mystery box". TED. March 24, 2011. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ J.J. Abrams Talks Cloverfield Sequel Archived 15 February 2011 at WebCite
- ^ J.J. Abrams on 'Cloverfield' Sequel, "We're Working on Something" Archived 15 February 2011 at WebCite
- ^ "J. J. Abrams on Star Trek and Cloverfield 2". Comingsoon.net. February 23, 2008. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ^ "NBC Picks Up New J.J. Abrams Drama Series". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-15.
- ^ Pamela McClintock (May 6, 2010). "Abrams, Spielberg confirmed for 'Super 8'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ "J.J. Abrams Will Direct STAR TREK 2". NextNewMovies. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
- ^ "Mystery on Fifth Avenue". IMDB.
- ^ Seigel, Tatiana (2008-06-17). "Paramount, Abrams keep house". Variety. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ Reagan, Gillian. "J.J. Abrams to Produce NYT’s Fifth Avenue Mystery". New York Observer. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
- ^ Green, Penelope (2008-06-12). "Mystery on Fifth Avenue". The New York Times.
- ^ Schwartz, John (2010-12-06). "Monumentally Mystifying: Power of Secrets Inspires Public Art". New York Times.
- ^ Fleming, Mike. "Universal, JJ Abrams Set ‘Milk’ Scribe Dustin Lance Black For ‘Earthquake’". Deadline.com.
- ^ "Star Wars Is Being Kick-Started with Dynamite J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII". StarWars.com. January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "J.J. Abrams directing ‘Star Wars’: What happens to ‘Star Trek’?". The Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ Graser, Marc (6 February 2013). "J.J. Abrams will develop 'Half-Life,' 'Portal' games into films". Variety. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ "EW Gets the Stories Behind Those Goofy TV Production-Company Logos", Entertainment Weekly, December 07, 2001: "The title came to creator J.J. Abrams during a writers' meeting, and he recorded his children, Henry and Gracie (ages 2 and 3), saying the words into his Powerbook's microphone. 'That day in the office while editing,' says Abrams, 'I put together sound effects on my computer, burned a QuickTime movie on a CD, gave it to postproduction, and three days later it was on national television.'"
- ^ Jj Abrams - JJ Abrams, Katie McGrath 4th Annual Pink Party to... - Picture 2072721
- ^ Director J.J. Abrams and wife, actress Katie - Media (3 of 46) Movie Premieres: 'Star Trek,' 'Angels, "Director J.J. Abrams and wife, actress Katie McGrath, parade on the red carpet as they arrives at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for the premiere of the movie 'Star Trek' in Los Angeles on April 30, 2009.
- ^ J.J. Abrams' Federal Campaign Contribution Report
- ^ CW Picks Up 3 More Drama Pilots Including JJ Abrams & Mark Schwahn’s Shelter. Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- ^ Hibberd, James (January 25, 2013). "J.J. Abrams' robot cops show gets pilot order". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (January 25, 2013). "NBC Orders J.J. Abrams Drama, Bill Lawrence Comedy to Pilot". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences". Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ^ "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2010-01-18. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: J. J. Abrams |
- J. J. Abrams at the Internet Movie Database
- J. J. Abrams at the TCM Movie Database
- J. J. Abrams at AllRovi
- J. J. Abrams at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
- J. J. Abrams on Lostpedia, an external wiki
- J. J. Abrams at TED
- J. J. Abrams on Charlie Rose
- Works by or about J. J. Abrams in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- J. J. Abrams collected news and commentary at The New York Times
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- 1966 births
- American film directors
- American film producers
- American Jews
- Jewish American writers
- American screenwriters
- American television directors
- American television producers
- American television writers
- American television composers
- Film directors from New York City
- Living people
- Sarah Lawrence College alumni
- Writers Guild of America Award winners
