JJ Abrams Talks Trek and More

While participating in the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour to promote Revolution, JJ Abrams spoke with Collider about his other projects including Star Trek Into Darkness. In regards to the film he spoke about fan response to the preview, Benedict Cumberbatch, and keeping secrets. The full interview is here, Trek related segments below.

What can you say about the experience of showing the Star Trek sequel to the dying fan (Daniel Craft)?
ABRAMS: I’d rather not comment on that, if that’s okay. But, it was an honor to be asked. I’d rather not talk about it because it feels insensitive, but for that to have been a request was unbelievably touching.

How did you feel about the response to the preview of the Star Trek sequel that was shown in theaters? Did it hit the way you expected or wanted it to?
ABRAMS: I got some anecdotal response about it. It wasn’t like there was a target that I was aiming at and I wanted to hit a certain mark. I don’t know how I could quantify what the reaction was. It’s hard. There’s no focus group or ratings or box office for what the response was to either the trailer or the preview. But, I will say that I’m very happy about how that sequence works in the movie. I can only hope that people enjoyed what they saw.

Fans originally thought Benedict Cumberbatch would be playing Khan. Now that we know he’s playing John Harrison, were you thinking at the time, “Don’t worry, guys, I’ve got this. We’re not going to do what you think.”?
ABRAMS: I just can’t wait for people to see the movie. Benedict is unbelievable. It’s a tall order, coming into that movie, because the crew of the Enterprise – that cast – is so damn good and they’re wonderful to work with and they’re all good hearts. So, to come into that group, as he did, as Alice Eve did and as Peter Weller did, and be one of the family was something that I was doubtful could happen. And he completely did it. I not only love him in the movie, but I love him, as a human being. He’s an amazing guy. I can’t wait for people to see the movie and experience what he’s done.

You’ve done such a great job at maintaining the mystery and secrecy of the storylines for the projects you work on. Is that fun for you?
ABRAMS: No. It’s only fun to keep things quiet when it finally comes out as scheduled. Then, you feel like, “Oh, I didn’t just spend six months ruining the movie for people. It’s not fun during the experience of withholding because then you sound like a coy bastard and you’re being a jerk. But, what it really is about is making sure that, when you go to the movies or watch the show when it airs, you didn’t read the synopsis that came out of my fat mouth because I was answering a question that I was grateful anyone would even ask. I’d rather people experience it and learn what happens than be told what happens, and see it and have it confirmed.

With so much technology now, how do you even ensure that secrecy?
ABRAMS: Honestly, for the people who are at Bad Robot and the people who we work with, I will sit in a meeting before a movie with 80-some people, who are head of departments, and literally say, “All I ask is that, in all the work that we are doing, we preserve the experience for the viewer.” Every choice we make, every costume fitting, every pad of make-up that’s put on, every set that’s built all becomes less magical, if it is discussed and revealed, and if pictures are posted online. I just want to make sure that, when someone sees something in the movie, they didn’t just watch the 60-minute behind-the-scenes that came out two months before the movie came out. Why do I want to see how they did something I don’t even understand yet? Let me experience it, so at least I know what the movie is and can have the opportunity to get sucked into the experience and feel like, “Oh, my god, that world is real, that ship is real, that battle is real.” If I’m watching it, and I’ve just seen how ILM, or whatever visual effects company made that thing look real, you’re ruining it before it even exists. And everyone seems to respect that and respond to that. It’s not like there are threats. It’s not like we’re begging them, every day. We just say up front, “All the work we’re doing is really about making this a special experience for the viewer. Let’s preserve that, as long as we can.”

Did the 3D dictate how you wanted to handle lens flares or anything with the style for Star Trek, this time around?
ABRAMS: It’s a far bigger movie. What I’m still grappling with and learning how to do is to be looking and thinking cinematically, having come from television. A lot of that is about keeping all that stuff in frame and understanding composition. There were things I wish I had done on the first movie, that I got a chance to do this time. There were shots I wished I’d gotten, that I never got a chance to get, so it was fun to get that chance this time. But, there are no gimmicky things that I’m aware of, that I’m imposing or forcing down an audience’s throat.