There should be no question that J.J. Abrams<\/a> is now one of the most influential filmmakers in the industry today<\/strong>. Visual storytelling is a complex art form to master, and it takes many years for a filmmaker to really reach the upper echelon where the Spielbergs<\/a>, Capras<\/a>, Fords<\/a>\u00a0and Scorseses<\/a>\u00a0reside. Abrams<\/strong> has been rapidly making that ascent for the better part of the last decade.<\/p>\n Let’s\u00a0take a detailed look at the evolving career of J.J. Abrams<\/strong>. From his start as a dramatic screenwriter, to his domination\u00a0of television, and finally to his role as the man who revived two of the most beloved film franchises in history.<\/p>\n Abrams<\/strong>\u00a0was introduced to the business of moviemaking very early in life, as his father Gerald Abrams<\/a> was (and currently is) a prolific television producer. Because of his father’s connections in Hollywood, Abrams\u00a0was able to land his first job restoring films for\u00a0Steven Spielberg, though he never actually met the legendary director.<\/p>\n Through this job for Spielberg, a deep passion for Star Wars<\/a>,<\/em> and a love of mystery as well as film, Abrams<\/strong>\u00a0knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life.<\/p>\n By the time Abrams<\/strong>\u00a0made it to Sarah Lawrence Liberal Arts College<\/a> in the late 1980s he, along with fellow writer\u00a0Jill Mazursky<\/a>, wrote a screenplay that would eventually become the 1990 comedy Taking Care of Business<\/em><\/a>. Mazursky and Abrams<\/strong> also wrote another script that wouldn’t be developed for nearly eight years \u2014 the 1997\u00a0buddy comedy\u00a0Gone Fishin’<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>starring Joe Pesci<\/a> and Danny Glover<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n With\u00a0his foot firmly in the door, Abrams<\/strong> penned his first solo script \u2014 the 1991 dramatic feature Regarding Henry<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>which starred Harrison Ford<\/a>. The very next year he hit it big again by writing the script for the dramatic fantasy film\u00a0Forever Young<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>starring Mel Gibson<\/a> and a young Elijah Wood<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGetting His Foot in the Door<\/h3>\n
![\"J.J.](\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Regarding-Henry-1990.jpg\" "\\"J.J.")
Harrison Ford in\u00a0Regarding Henry via Paramount Pictures<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"J.J.](\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Forever-Young-1992.jpg\" "\\"J.J.")
Elijah Wood and Mel Gibson in Forever Young via Warner Bros.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n