J.J.

ABRAMS:
THE MYSTERY BOX
___​
http://www.ted.com/talks/j_j_abrams_mystery_box

Questions

Pre-watch:

1. What do you think the ‘kind rep from TED’ advised J.J. Abrams to talk about?

Some questions and figures to look out for:

1. Abrams says he is obsessed with a number of things ​

throughout​
the talk. What
obsessions can you name?
2. What type of camera did his grandfather buy him?
3. How much magic does 15 dollars buy you?
4. What four things does the box represent?
5. How much time did they have to prep ​
Lost​
?
6. After showing the scene from ​
Lost​
, what does Abrams say they would have had to do
ten years previously?
7. According to Abrams, what is the film E
​.T.​
really about?
8. J.J. says that, “... it's a great movie, you're along for the ride because …”.
9. J.J. says that, “No community is best served when …”.
10. What was the solution to Tom Cruise’s hand dilemma when filming ​
Mission
Impossible III​
?

Further discussion:

1. What did you think of his talk? Did you find it interesting, boring, inspirational…etc?
2. Is there anything from his presentation you do not agree with or you think does not
make sense? Why?
3. Are you inspired by any family member - or friend - like Abrams? If so, who and why?
What impact has this person had on your hopes and dreams?
4. J.J. Abrams mentioned one of his favourite scenes ever (from ​
Jaws​
). Can you think of
one of your favourite movie scenes ever? Why do you remember it?
5. Abrams states that, “mystery is the catalyst for imagination.” Do you agree with him?
Some vocabulary:

1. Score [sth]​
(verb) =

2. Humour [sb]​
(verb) =

3. Be drawn to [sth]​
(verb) =

4. Stretch the paradigm​

(verb) =

5. Rip off [sth]​

(phrasal verb) =

6. Quote, unquote​
(phrase) =