“The Mystery Box” by JJ Abrams (lecture from TED.com 1/14/2008)
I just watched a profound lecture given by JJ Abrams (from TED.com) regarding the “Mystery Box” (Abrams 2008) in which he spoke of in fond remembrance of his grandfather. His passion came out when he spoke of his grandfather and the "Mystery Box" that he bequeathed him. You can like him or hate him, but JJ Abrams has a hell of a track record of films and TV shows under his belt (Lost, Alias, Star Trek [2010 version], Cloverfield, just to name a few…) and that what got me excited about hearing this lecture is the idea of the "Mystery Box." He pointed out to a blank sheet of paper and stated “that the blank sheet of paper is a mystery box” just for the fact alone is that the sheet of paper is the writer’s canvas upon which to work on. Myself being a writer and director, I never looked at the sheet of paper as a “mystery box” it was more of a canvas to me than anything. But now, after seeing JJ’s lecture, I see that you have to look past certain key tools to understand and go in depth for the meaning and also create it.
To the average person, a blank sheet of paper is just simply…a blank sheet. However to the artist (depending on your passion), that sheet of paper is more than that. For the musician, it is a means to put lyrics and music notes on page, potentially creating a masterpiece. For the screenwriter, the blank sheet is a means to put together a story that the director can then bring to life on screen. I mean the possibilities are endless. All just because the fact that a sheet of paper is considered a “mystery box”. The “mystery box” can also be interpreted as what is not seen, but shown in a different context.
After viewing many films in my lifetime (and I’ve seen quite a few) and also shooting my own projects, I'm starting to look at things a little differently upon watching JJ’s lecture. Abrams also stated that the mystery box can also be handled in such a way where when shooting a film, you don’t give everything away on the screen. He mentioned about the first Alien film in which Ridley Scott craftily avoided revealing the whole monster until the very end of the film, heightening the suspense and mood of the film. After reviewing it again, and thinking about the many times that I’ve seen it, I realized that he was right. Basically, the motto that adds to JJ’s "mystery box" is the art of “showing it, without showing it.”
The mystery box can be opened by the average viewer if they look past the surface of the story on film. Not everything has to be given away on the screen. If the story is written, directed, or produced properly, then the “mystery box” can be a great asset. Mastering the “mystery box” to get the story across is the key, and therein lies the journey of not only for the creator, but the viewer who witnesses the story that plays out on the screen and goes along the journey with the creator.
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