Line #42 Creator/JJAbrams


1	%%
2	%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
3	%%
4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jj-abrams1_7690.jpg]]
5	->''"What's a bigger mystery box than a movie theater? You go to the theater, you're just so excited to see anything -- the moment the lights go down is often the best part."''
6
7	Jeffrey Jacob "J.J." Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American director, producer, writer, and composer.
8
9	He's known for his work on ''Series/{{Felicity}}'', ''Series/{{Alias}}'', ''Series/{{Lost}}'', ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', ''Film/{{Cloverfield}}'', ''Film/Armageddon1998'', ''Film/MissionImpossibleIII'', ''Film/StarTrek2009'', its sequel ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'', and the ''Franchise/StarWars'' sequel trilogy (directing, co-writing, and co-producing its [[Film/TheForceAwakens first]] and [[Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker third]] films in addition to being an executive producer on its [[Film/TheLastJedi second]]). He has won several [[MediaNotes/EmmyAward Emmys]] and [[MediaNotes/GoldenGlobeAward Golden Globes]] during his career.
10
11	Along with Creator/JossWhedon and Creator/ChristopherNolan, he is considered one of the most prolific modern "genre" TV/film creators since Creator/StevenSpielberg, including by Spielberg himself, who produced Abrams' tribute to '70s/80s Spielberg sci-fi films, ''Film/Super8''.
12
13	He likes red balls and playing with the perception of time, in addition to having a [[MemeticMutation well-]][[NeverLiveItDown documented]] thing for {{Lens Flare}}s. He also hates airplanes (both ''Series/{{Lost}}'' and ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' have had more than one airline-related disaster--and the other stuff on the list of credits also have had aviation-related incidents).
14
15	Contrary to popular belief, Abrams' involvement in ''Series/{{Lost}}'' was marginal; Abrams and eventually Creator/DamonLindelof were asked to help flesh out a concept for the show when Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany chairman Lloyd Braun rejected Jeffrey Lieber's treatment, but by the time the first season started to take off, Abrams had already left to direct ''Film/MissionImpossibleIII''. Lindelof, suddenly left alone with the burden of being {{showrunner}}, considered quitting as well, but was convinced by former co-writer Carlton Cuse to stay. Cuse then joined the show as a second showrunner. Abrams remained an executive producer, and later briefly returned to write the season 3 premiere together with Lindelof, but as [[WordOfGod he and others stated in numerous interviews]] Lindelof and Cuse ran the show entirely without him.
16
17	He has a similar "shepherding" role to most TV series he is involved in, including ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' and ''Series/PersonOfInterest'', with his most hands-on projects being his movies. He also developed the concept for the novel ''[[Literature/SDorst S]]'', which was written by Doug Dorst.
18
19	Abrams has the notable distinction of being the only director (so far) tapped to helm ''both'' a ''Franchise/StarTrek'' and a ''Franchise/StarWars'' movie -- with his involvement in the former series happening because the latter series had, at that time, ended. As of 2019, he's gotten to direct two of each.
20	----
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Works Abrams has creative credits in:]]
24	[[index]]
25	* ''Taking Care of Business'' (writer) (1990)
26	* ''Regarding Henry'' (writer) (1991)
27	* ''Film/ForeverYoung'' (writer) (1992)
28	* ''Film/GoneFishin'' (writer) (1997)
29	* ''Film/Armageddon1998'' (writer) (the first time he's credited ''as'' J.J. Abrams)
30	* ''Series/{{Felicity}}'' (executive producer, co-creator) (1998-2002)
31	* ''Film/JoyRide'' (writer, producer) (2001) the first project from his company Bad Robot Productions.
32	* ''Series/{{Alias}}'' (2001-2006)
33	* ''Series/{{Lost}}'' (producer, writer, director) (2004–10)
34	* ''Series/WhatAboutBrian'' (2006–07)
35	* ''Film/MissionImpossibleIII'' (director) (2006)
36	* ''Series/JimmyKimmelLive'' (guest director, one episode) (2006)
37	* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' (executive producer and writer) (2008-2013)
38	* ''Star Trek''
39	** ''Film/StarTrek2009'' (director)
40	** ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' (director) (2013)
41	** ''Film/StarTrekBeyond'' (Writer and Producer) (2016)
42	* ''Film/{{Super 8}}'' (director, writer) (2011)
43	* ''Star Wars''
44	** ''Episode VII: Film/TheForceAwakens'' (director, co-writer with Creator/LawrenceKasdan) (2013)
45	** ''Episode IX: Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' (director, co-writer with Creator/ChrisTerrio) (2019)
46	* ''ComicBook/SpiderManBloodline'' (co-writer, with son Henry Abrams)
47	* Untitled fourth ''Cloverfield'' sequel (writer, producer)
48	[[/index]]
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Other works Abrams has credits in:]]
52	* ''The Pallbearer'' (1996)
53	* ''The Suburbans'' (1999)
54	* ''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries''
55	** ''Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol'' (producer) (2011)
56	** ''Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation'' (producer) (2015)
57	** ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'' (producer) (2018)
58	** ''Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning'' (producer) (2023)
59	* ''Six Degrees'' (2006-2007)
60	* ''Series/TheOfficeUS'' (2007)
61	* ''Cloverfield'' (creator, producer)
62	** ''Film/{{Cloverfield}}'' (producer) (2008)
63	** ''Film/TenCloverfieldLane'' (producer) (2016)
64	** ''Film/TheCloverfieldParadox'' (producer) (2018)
65	* ''Series/{{Undercovers}}'' (2010)
66	* ''Film/MorningGlory'' (producer) (2010)
67	* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' (producer) (2011–16)
68	* ''Series/{{Alcatraz}}'' (executive producer) (2012)
69	* ''Series/{{Revolution}}'' (2012–14)
70	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' (guest voice, one episode) (2012)
71	* ''[[Literature/SDorst S.]]'' (Conceived by Abrams, written by Doug Dorst) (2013)
72	* ''Series/{{Westworld}}'' (producer) (2016–2022)
73	* ''Star Wars Episode VIII: Film/TheLastJedi'' (executive producer) (2017)
74	* ''Series/CastleRock'' (producer) (2018–19)
75	* ''Film/Overlord2018'' (producer)
76	* ''Series/LovecraftCountry'' (as producer) (2020)
77	* Untitled ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark'' series (producer)
78	* ''Duster'' (producer)
79	* ''The Heavy'' (producer)
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	!!His works frequently contain examples of:
83	* ActionGirl: Occurs quite frequently. ''Alias'' and ''Fringe'' both star iconic women in action roles, Sydney Bristow, Olivia Dunham, [[Film/TenCloverfieldlane Michelle]] and [[Film/TheForceAwakens Rey]] respectively.
84	* AuthorAppeal: In addition to the aforementioned ActionGirl, lens flares. Both ''Star Trek'' films and ''Super 8'' made extensive use of it and his usage of it is a prime source of parody.
85	** He also seems to love depicting scenes where the protagonists explore the [[SceneryGorn massive metallic wreckage of giant vehicles]], which usually dwarfs the characters in scale. The train crash in ''Super 8'', the debris field of destroyed Starfleet vessels after a battle with Nero in ''Star Trek'', and the wreckage of Imperial war machines scattered in ''The Force Awakens'' and ''The Rise of Skywalker'' are only a few examples of this.
86	** Several of his movies also feature scenes where the characters get attacked by large, nasty, frequently multi-limbed alien creatures with varying degrees of relevance to the plot. The entire plot of ''Cloverfield'', the rathtars in ''The Force Awakens'', the alien in ''Super 8'', the giant red squid-shark monster that attacks Kirk on Delta Vega in ''Star Trek'', etc...
87	** [[ParentalIssues Daddy Issues]]. Whether it's ''Alias'' with the lead's dad's FaceHeelRevolvingDoor, killing off [[Film/StarTrek2009 James T Kirk's]] biological dad to introduce an abusive stepfather to his backstory, to Rey and Finn's antagonistic parental surrogates in ''Franchise/StarWars:'' ''Film/TheForceAwakens''.
88	* CreatorThumbprint: His films and shows feature the name "Kelvin", in honor of his grandfather.
89	* EarthShatteringKaboom: Another common occurrence in his science fiction movies. ''Film/StarTrek2009'', ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', and ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' all depict at least one planet being blown up by the BigBad.
90	* JigsawPuzzlePlot: His "Mystery Box" concept is built around keeping secrets and raising questions so that an audience will keep guessing. This approach has garnered some criticism. The problem is that according to critics, he always [[AntiClimax forgets to put something interesting, satisfying or impactful in said box]] or [[TheUnreveal anything at all]], essentially leading audiences like donkeys with a carrot on a stick. That is not counting the possibility of TheChrisCarterEffect happening, or his tendency to [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants make it up as he goes along]] and insist that ''any'' solution to a mystery is always a letdown so there's no point trying to make a good one anyway.
91	* KillAndReplace: Tends to happen at least once per show with regards to a prominent side character, notable in the second seasons of both ''Alias'' and ''Fringe''.
92	* LensFlare: A stylistic trope more prevalent in his movies than his TV shows, with ''Film/StarTrek2009'' being the biggest offender thus far.
93	* MagicRealism: ''Alias'', ''Felicity'', and ''Lost'' all have elements of this. ''Lost'' is probably the best example.
94	* MoodWhiplash: His works have elements of quirky comedy and lots of quips. But they can also get into very dark territory, with intimidating villains who carry out cruel and brutal acts.
95	* ParentalAbandonment: Common for his protagonists.
96	** In ''{{Series/Alias}}'', Sydney grew up with a dead mother and a distant father. She repaired her relationship with her father during their CIA work, though not without some hiccups along the way. Her mother is actually still alive [[spoiler: and is a major villain, having deliberately abandoned Sydney as part of her mission.]]
97	** The PointOfDivergence for Abrams's ''Star Trek'' timeline is the untimely death of George Kirk at the hands of the Romulan Nero. James Kirk grows up with a mean stepfather, leading him to be an angrier and more rebellious man than in the original timeline.
98	** Both of Abrams's ''Star Wars'' films focus on Rey's parentage. In ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', Rey is introduced as a slave of Unkar Plutt after her parents left her on Jakku, and the major unresolved mystery in the film is who her parents are. ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' then reveals that she is [[spoiler: Palpatine's granddaughter]] and that her parents abandoned her to keep her safe from [[spoiler: his plot to steal her body.]]
99	* ProductionPosse: He's worked on a number of projects with writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, cinematographer Dan Mindel, and composer Creator/MichaelGiacchino. When he can, he will always try to fit Greg Grunberg[[note]]whom he considers a "good luck charm"[[/note]] or Simon Pegg in either a cameo or supporting role, while ''Series/{{Felicity}}'' star Creator/KeriRussell also appeared in ''Film/MissionImpossibleIII'' and ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker''.
100	* PromotedFanboy:
101	** ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' is one of Abrams' favorite films of all time and he later directed ''[[Film/TheForceAwakens Episode VII]]'' and ''[[Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker Episode IX]]''.
102	** ''Super 8'' was essentially his ode to Creator/StevenSpielberg's early work (specifically, ''[[Film/ETTheExtraterrestrial E.T.]]'' and ''[[Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind Close Encounters]]'').
103	* TheReveal[=/=]TeasingCreator: His frequent use of the JigsawPuzzlePlot in his works involves keeping one element of a project under wraps during marketing to keep audiences guessing. After ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' took this approach with [[spoiler:Khan]], a backlash started to emerge against it.
104	* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: His forays into space opera have shown that he has little concern about the scale of interplanetary and and interstellar distances, preferring to decide his visuals via RuleOfCool.
105	%%* TooHappyToLive

Context Creator / JJAbrams