This is not a role in a movie. This is a religion for people. It changes things on a level that is inconceivable. – J. J. Abrams To Daisy Ridley on her getting part in Star Wars movie.
One of my favorite things about ‘Star Trek’ wasn’t just the overt banter but the humor in that show about the relationships between the main characters and their reactions to the situations they would face; there was a lot of comedy in that show without ever breaking its reality. – J. J. Abrams
When you work on something that combines both the spectacular and the relatable, the hyperreal and the real, it suddenly can become supernatural. The hypothetical and the theoretical can become literal. – J. J. Abrams
‘Star Trek’ was always a little bit closed emotionally. I never connected to the characters. – J. J. Abrams
I have no style. There are certain people who just have a visual sense that defines their work. You could probably watch 30 seconds of anything they do and you’ll know exactly who directed it. I don’t have that skill. – J. J. Abrams
When there’s an authentic mystery, as opposed to just a question being asked, that’s what makes you lean forward. – J. J. Abrams
I try to push ideas away, and the ones that will not leave me alone are the ones that ultimately end up happening. – J. J. Abrams
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. – J. J. Abrams
We’re living at a time where if you do a Google search for a ‘show, review and network,’ you’ll get ‘The New York Times’ and Pete Billingsley from a town you’ve never heard of on the same results page. It’s kind of democratizing the process so that everyone has access to a distribution system to express themselves. – J. J. Abrams
As a director/writer/producer, all you ever want is to work with actors who make you look better, who make the work you do seem as good as it can be and even better than it is. – J. J. Abrams
All I know is that I’ve made some big screw-ups, and I’ve done some things that have done all right. I just keep trying to learn from the mistakes I’ve made. – J. J. Abrams
All the times I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of a show that’s actually gotten on the air, it’s always that same mixture of excitement and utter fear. – J. J. Abrams
The ability of a television series to make adjustments is something you’ve got to take advantage of. – J. J. Abrams
When I was a kid, among the other embarrassing things I would do, and there’s a list of stupid things, but I would make these dumb comedy tapes. I would often make prank phone calls, but I would also do it with friends. – J. J. Abrams
I believe in anything that will engage the audience and make the story more effective. – J. J. Abrams
When I was a kid, it was a huge insult to be a geek. Now it’s a point of pride in a weird way. – J. J. Abrams
What I’m still grappling with and learning how to do is to be looking and thinking cinematically, having come from television. – J. J. Abrams
Ratings have changed, viewer habits have changed and the options for the audience have grown enormously, but I don’t think how you tell a story is fundamentally different. – J. J. Abrams
You never want to have that ticking clock and know that you had all this time and didn’t use it. – J. J. Abrams
I think that even if you’re wondering if two characters are ever going to kiss, drawing out the inevitability is part of the fun. Whatever the genre happens to be. – J. J. Abrams
