The Rise of J. J. Abrams
Real Life Skill
Understanding the Use of Italics
Italics are used to distinguish certain words in a text from the others. We commonly use italics to emphasize or stress a word or phrase (I am not going), to set apart a word from others (What does station mean?), and to identify titles of books, newspapers, magazines, and movies.
A Why are italics used in each example below? Write a, b, or c.
a. to set apart a word from others
b. to emphasize or stress a word
c. to identify a title
1. J. J. Abrams has been nominated many times for an Emmy Award, but he has only won once.
2. The Twilight Zone was a very popular science fiction television show.
3. Words like first, second, then, next, later, and finally indicate a sequence of events.
B Why are italics used in the movie review below? Explain your answers to a partner.
Sample Answers
- "Big Screen" is italicized because it's the name of a magazine (title).
- "The Spirits" is italicized because it's the title of a movie.
- "The Haunting of Powell Manor" is italicized because it's the title of a book.
- "invitation" is italicized to emphasize or stress the word.
C Write sentences of your own to show the three different uses of italics. Circle the words that should be in italics.
Sample Answers
1. Title: I just finished reading The Great Gatsby.
2. Emphasis: I do want to go to the movies tonight.
3. Set apart: The word literally is often misused.
What Do You Think?
- J. J. Abrams was inspired by a Super 8 camera. Do you have anything that inspires you?
- What makes a movie timeless? Which movies will people still enjoy 20 years from now? Why do you think so?
- If you could create your own "mystery box," what would you put inside it? Why?
Sample Answers
1. My grandfather's old watch inspires me because it reminds me of his stories and the passage of time.
2. A timeless movie has a universal theme, great characters, and an engaging story. Movies like "The Godfather" and "Star Wars" will still be enjoyed because they are classics.
3. I would put photos of my family, a letter to my future self, and a small object that represents my dreams.
The Rise of J. J. Abrams
J. J. Abrams was born in New York City in 1966. Growing
up, Abrams loved mysteries and magic tricks-anything
that was unexpected. His favorite movies and television
programs were science fiction ones like The Twilight Zone.
When he was 11 or 12, Abrams' grandfather gave him a movie camera called a Super 8. He used the camera to make short movies with his sister and their friends. From then on, Abrams' ambition was to work in Hollywood and make movies and TV shows. He soon got his first opportunity at 16 years old, when he wrote music for a movie called Nightbeast.
In college, Abrams co-wrote and sold a screenplay to a Hollywood production company. He started gaining popularity for his work, and his next two dramas—Regarding Henry and Forever Young—were hit movies. Abrams continued to write and produce screenplays throughout his 20s, the biggest being Armageddon.
But Abrams never lost his passion for the mysterious and wanted to create shows like the ones he enjoyed as a child. His next move was into television in 1998, when he helped create the popular TV series Felicity. Some of his shows became huge hits, like the spy drama Alias and the Emmy-winning mystery thriller Lost. Abrams made his movie directing debut almost a decade later in 2006, with Mission: Impossible III. He then went on to direct science fiction movie Star Trek in 2009. His movie success caught the attention of top filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Together, they created the monster movie Super 8, named for the camera both men experimented with when they were young.
The Super 8 camera has proved to be very influential in Abrams' life, but there is another special gift that has helped Abrams become who he is today. Not long after the camera, Abrams' grandfather gave him a box of magic tricks. Abrams calls it a 'mystery box,' because he never opened it. He says he wants to preserve the mystery, and remind himself to create unexpected stories. To him, the box "represents infinite possibility. It represents hope. It represents potential."
Abrams has even used the box metaphor to describe movie theaters. "What's a bigger mystery box than a movie theater? You go to the theater, you're just so excited to see anything... mystery boxes are everywhere in what I do." The box remains a source of inspiration for Abrams, and he keeps it on a shelf in his office.
At a dinner party in 1994, Abrams met a woman named Katie McGrath and they got married soon after. Today, the couple and their three children live near Los Angeles, California, where Abrams runs his own production company called Bad Robot. He keeps busy, usually working on many projects at once, and is always looking to create more and more mystery boxes.
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