{{Infobox Crew
=J.J. Abrams
=Jja.jpg
={{birth date and age}}
=New York, New York, U.S.
=Creator Executive producer
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'''Jeffrey Jacob Abrams''' (born June 27, 1966), more commonly known as '''J.J. Abrams''', is one of the CategoryCreators and executive producers of ''Lost''. He is also credited with being the driving force behind the show, along with CategoryWriters and CategoryDirectors the episodes {{ep}} and {{ep}}.
==Background==
The son of Gerald W. Abrams, J.J. Abrams is occasionally credited as Jeffrey Abrams. While attending Sarah Lawrence College, he used the Alvin Sargent screenplay ''Ordinary People'' as a guide for writing his own scripts. His first feature film project written at Sarah Lawrence became the film ''Taking Care of Business'', which he produced. His next productions were ''Regarding Henry'' and ''Forever Young''. He also worked with Michael Bay on ''Armageddon''. Abrams was named as one of ''Fade In'' magazine's "100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know" in 2005. He claims that he acquired the director's job on ''Mission Impossible III'' after Tom Cruise watched early episodes of ''Alias'' on DVD and loved them. The two started hanging out together and subsequently, Cruise offered him the ''MIIII'' job. While {{it}} was still in production, Abrams gave actress Jennifer Garner a pink bicycle for her Cast member birthdays. She would often greet the production crew by ringing the bells on the bike's handlebars.
Abrams directed the 2009 film ''Star Trek''. ''Lost'' producers Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, as well as composer Michael Giacchino, also collaborated on the project.
In April 2009 it was announced that Abrams would produce the sequel to ''Star Trek'', which will be co-written by Damon Lindelof.
==Contributions to ''Lost''==
{{I=P1_1_bg.jpg=200=right=Abrams and Damon Lindelof}}
Abrams' involvement in the creation of ''Lost'' was revealed in full detail in the special feature ''The Genesis of Lost'' on the Lost The Complete First Season (DVD), ABC group chairman Lloyd Braun had pitched an idea to for a concept he described as ''wikipediaCast Away The Series''. Jeffrey Lieber was hired to develop a working concept out of the pitch. Lieber eventually ended up writing a pilot, which he was asked to rewrite until he was fired by Braun.http//www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2007/Cast-Away/index.php?cparticle=2&siarticle=1
Braun then turned to J.J. Abrams to overhaul the concept. Abrams decided to take the concept into more of a science-fiction/fantasy direction, adding a "mystery" element and making the Island a "character" unto itself. However, since Abrams was busy with producing ''Alias'' and a new show named ''The Catch'', Damon Lindelof was added to the project. Together, Abrams and Lindelof fleshed out the initial setting of the show. Abrams is credited for co-creating ''Lost'' and co-writing the two-part pilot episode, {{ep}} and {{ep}}, together with Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber, directing the two-part pilot episode, and as an executive producer of the show. He also had the idea for the opening theme and the title card. http//www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-01-04-abrams_x.htm
Early in Season 1, Abrams was busy with producing and directing ''wikipediaMission Impossible III''. When Damon Lindelof was considering quitting ''Lost'' due to the sudden burden, Carlton Cuse talked him out of leaving and joined the show's staff as an executive producer.http//www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-09-28-lost-boys_x.htm From this point on, Abrams stopped being directly involved with the show.http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1R8jpEmpd0 Abrams briefly considered returning to the show and getting "more involved" with Season 3. Even though he intended directing an episode and "writing some"http//www.tvguide.com/news/lost-boss-tackles-37613.aspx, he ultimately only ended up co-writing the Season 3 premiere, {{ep}}, together with Damon Lindelof. (The Lost Missing Pieces mobisode {{ep}}, which was officially released over a year later, also has an Abrams/Lindelof writing credit, but is actually a deleted scene from {{ep}}).
In an appearance on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' in early May 2008, Damon Lindelof denied rumors of not having heard from Abrams in years, and confirmed still being in contact with him. At the 2009 Hawaii International Film Festival, Lindelof stated that Abrams watches ''Lost'' as a fan, seeing the episodes for the first time as they air, and has "expressed an interest and curiosity in how the show is going to end."http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0yrtICuwQ Abrams is still credited as an executive producer of the show as of Season 5. Abrams will not be involved with Season 6, as he thinks that Damon and Carlton themselves should finish what they have been doing with the show. {{crossref& Damon Lindelof}} He also rejected the idea of directing the series finale, since he thinks Jack Bender has earned himself that right.http//www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1896721,00.html
==Later career==
Abrams is a co-creator and Executive Producer for the science fiction drama ''Fringe'', which premiered in 2008 while ''Lost'' was still airing.
Abrams was a co-creator and Executive Producer for the drama ''Undercovers'' in 2010. The show was canceled after one season.
Abrams was an Executive Producer for the thriller series ''Person of Interest'', which premiered fall 2011. The show stars Michael Emerson, who also starred in ''Lost''.
Abrams was an Executive Producer for the drama ''Alcatraz'' in 2012. The project reunited him with ''Lost'' Executive Producers Elizabeth Sarnoff and Jack Bender. It starred Jorge Garcia who also starred in ''Lost''. The show was canceled after completing its initial thirteen episode order.
He is an Executive Producer for the series ''Revolution'' which premiered in fall 2012. The show stars Elizabeth Mitchell, who also starred in ''Lost''.
==Awards==
* Emmy Awards
** Won for Outstanding Drama Series, for ''Lost'' (2005)
** Nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, with Damon Lindelof (teleplay by/story by) and Jeffrey Lieber (story by), for {{ep}} and {{ep}} (2005)
==Trivia==
* Even though Abrams' last known direct contribution to ''Lost'' was the script to the season 3 premiere, {{ep}} (which he co-wrote with Damon Lindelof), and he had stopped being the main driving force behind the direction of the show as early as season 1, instead leaving Lindelof and Carlton Cuse as the showrunners, a considerable part of the (casual) audience still considers Abrams to be ''the'' man in charge of the show. This is mostly due to his high profile name, thanks to his past work on shows such as ''Alias'', and movies such as ''Mission Impossible III'' and ''Cloverfield''. The misconception is not helped by media often falling into the same trappings On the one hand, specialized media offerings such as ''Entertainment Weekly'' or ''TV Guide'' have staff closely following the show and with close contacts to the cast and crew, therefore being quite aware of what Damon, Carlton etc. do. On the other hand, however, local newspapers, international media and even foreign TV stations that air ''Lost'' abroad often don't have such an in-depth insight into the specific responsibilities of the production team, and therefore often tend to consider the most high-profile name—in this case, Abrams—as the main driving force behind the show.
{{I=AbramsMysteryBox.jpg=200=right=J.J. Abrams and his "magic mystery box" at
TED}}
*In March 2007, Abrams gave a talk at TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in which he explained his love of the unseen mystery, using the metaphor of a mystery box. Abrams views the box as representative of imagination, similar in nature to that of the magic box by which Ben explains one the mysteries of the Island to Locke in {{ep}}. Abrams himself bought a "magic mystery box" as a kid, which he has never opened. http//www.ted.com/talks/view/id/205 View talk - "J.J. Abrams The mystery box"
* Abrams' film ''Cloverfield'', which he produced, was released in January 2008. (January 2008 = 1/08, or 108)
** There is also a DHARMA logo in the beginning frames of the movie.
* Abrams' first feature film as director was ''Mission Impossible III''. The movie contains multiple ''Lost'' Easter eggs, such as the Paik logo visible on a building in Shanghai and the inclusion of the Hanso Foundation in the end credits.
* Abrams' show ''Alias'' shared many connections with ''Lost''. ''See main article Overlaps between Alias and Lost.''
*In 2008, Abrams was listed in the Time Magazine "2008 Top 100 Most Influential People." http//www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1725112_1723512_1724560,00.html Time Top 100
*Appeared in the May 6, 2005 ''20/20'' "Lost Special" (S26 E1396)
*Appeared on January 13, 2007 at the conventions& Sciences& Sciences' "An Evening with Lost"
*Often uses the name ''Kelvin'' in his projects as a reference to his grandfather, Henry Kelvin.
{{brclear}}
== Filmography ==
===Screenwriter===
{{I=On Screen.jpg=200=right=The end credits of ''Mission Impossible 3''}}
'''1990''' - ''Taking Care of Business
'''1991''' - ''Regarding Henry
'''1992''' - ''Forever Young
'''1997''' - ''Gone Fishin'
'''1998''' - ''Armageddon
'''2001''' - ''Joy Ride'' (known as ''Road Kill'' in the UK)
'''2006''' - ''Mission Impossible III''
At the end of the movie, The "Special Thanks" credits include the Hanso Foundation.
'''2009''' - ''Star Trek'' (alongside Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, both cowriters on ''Mission Impossible III'')
===Creator===
'''1998''' - ''Felicity (TV)''
'''2001''' - {{it}} (TV)
'''2004''' - {{it}} (TV)
'''2008''' - ''Fringe (TV)''
'''2010''' - ''Undercovers (TV)''
===Producer===
{{I=Cloverfield_-_Dharma_Logo.jpg=200=right=The opening sequence of ''Cloverfield'' containing DHARMA logo.}}
'''2001''' - ''Joy Ride''
'''2005''' - ''What about Brian (TV)''
'''2006''' - ''Six Degrees (TV)''
'''2008''' - ''Cloverfield'' (written by Drew Goddard and co-produced by Bryan Burk)
'''2009''' - ''Star Trek''
===Director===
'''1998''' - ''Felicity (TV)''
*Todd Mulcahy Part 1 (1999)
*Todd Mulcahy Part 2 (1999)
'''2001''' - ''Alias (TV)''
*Truth Be Told (2001)
{{I=Abrams.jpg=200=right=Abrams directing Star Trek}}
*Almost Thirty Years (2002)
*The Telling (2003)
*Authorized Personnel Only Part 1 (2005) TV episode (minor segments) (uncredited)
*Authorized Personnel Only Part 2 (2005) TV episode (minor segments) (uncredited)
'''2004''' - ''Lost (TV)''
*Pilot, Part 1 (2004)
*Pilot, Part 2 (2004)
'''2005''' - ''The Office''
*Cocktails (2007)
'''2006''' Jimmy Kimmel Live!
*Episode dated 31 May 2006
'''2006''' - ''Mission Impossible III''
'''2008''' - ''Anatomy of Hope (TV)''
'''2009''' - ''Star Trek''
'''2011''' - ''Super 8''
'''2013''' - ''Star Trek Into Darkness''
'''2015''' - ''Star Wars Episode VII - The Force Awakens''
{{Wikipedia-ref. J. Abrams}}
==External links==
*http//www.abcmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=001648&type=producers ABC Medianet biography
*WCalcatrazJ.J. Abrams.J. Abrams at Alcatrazpedia, the ''Alcatraz'' wiki
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