Whiplash 10 Years Later: Damien Chazelle & J.K. Simmons on Making Their Masterpiece in Only 20 Days

On the final day of the Toronto Film Festival 2024, audiences celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning feature debut, Whiplash, with a special screening. Our own Steve Weintraub had the opportunity to sit down with Chazelle and J.K. Simmons, who played the formidable jazz instructor Terence Fletcher opposite Miles Teller’s fiercely driven Andrew Neimann, for an extended conversation about their whirlwind 20-day production. Ironically, Whiplash is a tense study of the sacrifice and dedication necessary for greatness. Not that Chazelle’s rapid-fire shoot didn’t require sacrifice and dedication — that’s apparent in Simmons’ Oscar-winning performance — but to hear the two of them think back on the set, their experience was quite unlike the abusive relationship between Fletcher and Neimann. In fact, their five Oscar nominations and three wins were born of mutual respect and admiration, one first-time filmmaker’s unwavering vision in a “pressure cooker atmosphere,“ Tom Cross’ percussive edit, and a very talented cast. During this interview, the writer-director and co-star dig into their tight schedule, recalling their first-ever meeting (“I’m picturing Antoine Fuqua.“) and the “uphill climb“ it took to get a “drama in a music conservatory“ pitch-perfect. We find out what happens when you slap Miles Teller one too many times, how they pulled Whiplash off on a low budget, how terrified Chazelle was on set, what’s coming up next for the two of them, and more. #Whiplash #DamienChazelle #JKSimmons For interviews, movie reviews, and more visit FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL