Alex Kurtzman (born September 7, 1973) is an American film and television screenwriter and producer. Kurtzman was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where he met his high school friend and long time collaborator Roberto Orci. He attended Wesleyan University. In 2011, Forbes magazine described Orci and Kurtzman as "Hollywood's Secret Weapons" who together "are the quiet force behind $3 billion in box office." He and Orci frequently work with J. J. Abrams and Michael Bay on projects. Amongst other work, Kurtzman is the creator with Abrams and Orci of the FOX hit TV show Fringe.