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Filmmaker J.J. Abrams achieved peak Geekdom when he directed both theStar Trekreboot and theStar Warssequels. The filmmaker was known for his showsLostandFringe, as well as for helming the action filmMission Impossible III. The director has also dabbled in multiple other franchises, including writing a Superman script in the early 2000s.
Abrams has confessed that he was a geek in his childhood and that while other kids would indulge in sports, he would film explosions and examine how electronic parts worked. He mentioned that he had sent a letter to makeup and prosthetics legend Dick Smith, who sent him back a prop tongue fromThe Exorcist.
J.J. Abrams Received A Crazy Prop FromThe Exorcist’sMakeup Artist
J.J. Abramsreportedly had extensive access to the industry as his father was a TV producer. The filmmaker mentioned in an interview withThe Guardianthat his father initially forbade him from entering the industry despite working in it as he felt that he would be paying for Abrams his whole life.
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The filmmaker revealed that he was not a sporty kid and spent his childhood learning how to make films and working with the camera. He mentioned that while other kids his age were playing, he would film explosions and work on prosthetics for his films.
J.J. Abrams also mentioned that he would constantly be in correspondence with noted industry legends such as makeup artist Dick Smith, who won the Academy Award forAmadeusand had provided his skills forThe Exorcist. Abrams reportedly received a prop from Smith from the acclaimed horror film as a gift. He said to The Guardian,
Dick Smith sent me a little cardboard box with a tongue inside. It was one of the fake tongue extensions from The Exorcist, with a note saying, ‘Just stick a dab of peanut butter on the end and put it on. ‘I was like, ‘Holy s*it!’
The filmmaker reportedly also sent a finger-puppet contraption to Steven Spielberg after watchingJaws. While the legendary director did not respond to him then, they would go on to collaborate on the filmSuper 8.
J.J. Abrams Was Not A Huge Fan OfStar TrekWhen He Directed The Reboot
J.J. Abrams is one of the few directors who has been at the forefront of multiple culturally significant franchises. The filmmaker started out as a screenwriter and showrunner and became known for his showsFringe, Alias,andLostbefore he was tapped by Tom Cruise to helmMission Impossible III.
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However, Abrams’ most high-profile project came with the 2009 reboot ofStar Trek. After the ending of shows such asThe Next Generation, Deep Space Nine,and more, Abrams was tapped to revive interest in the franchise with a reboot of the film. However, the director admitted that he was not the biggest fan of the franchise when he started out.
Star Trek always felt like a silly, campy thing. I remember appreciating it, but feeling like I didn’t get it. I felt it didn’t give me a way in. There was a captain, there was this first officer, they were talking a lot about adventures and not having them as much as I would’ve liked. Maybe I wasn’t smart enough, maybe I wasn’t old enough. But The Twilight Zone I was obsessed with. Loved it.
After helming two films in the franchise, J.J. Abrams would go on to restart the Skywalker saga with the sequel trilogy ofStar Warsfilms.
Star Trek (2009)is available to stream on Paramount+.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
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J.J. Abrams
