JJ Abrams was born in 1966 in New York City but was raised in Los Angeles, California. His father was a TV producer and his mother was an executive producer. Abrams wrote music for the film "Night Beast" at age 16 and directed his first film "Taking Care of Business" in college. He has won Emmy and ASCAP awards for his work on shows like "Lost" and directed blockbuster films such as "Star Trek" and "Super 8." Abrams is known for his intense action scenes, use of music, and lens flares in shots. He was influenced by films like "Jaws," "Close Encounters," and "E.T."