‘I Knew I Was the Right Guy’

Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash has widely been regarded as a modern masterpiece, and it’s thanks in large part to J.K. Simmons‘ performance as the dictatorial music teacher Fletcher. Fletcher is the conductor of the Schaffer Conservatory jazz band in New York City. When Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) earns a spot in the band, he becomes obsessed with proving himself to his abusively demanding instructor. Simmons’ performance is as electrifying as it is terrifying, earning the actor his first Oscar.

J.K. Simmons sat down with GQ to reflect on his most iconic roles throughout his career. While on the subject of Chazelle’s Whiplash, Simmons worryingly revealed that when he first read the script, he knew it was the part for him because he saw himself in every one of Fletcher’s lines. He explained:

“It was one of the most genius pieces of writing. It was one of those things that I read and just… I mean, I don’t know if I was literally shaking, but I could 100% see myself as Fletcher in every sentence, every frame of the movie. I understood who this guy was, what he wanted, what he needed, and I knew that I was the right guy.”

In order to portray Fletcher, J.K. Simmons had to learn how to conduct a jazz band. Director and writer Damien Chazelle didn’t pressure him into learning. In fact, Chazelle said he could hire a body double to perform all the conducting to put Simmons at ease and focus on Fletcher’s psychology. However, J.K. Simmons refused and revealed to the director that he already had music-based experience. Simmons said:

“I’m staring at him like, ‘Dude, I’m a classically trained musician. I wanted to be Leonard Bernstein. I’m a conductor. So I’m not just gonna be some actor up there waving his arms. I will learn these scores.'”

J.K. Simmons Recommends You Watch the Whiplash Short Film

Before Damien Chazelle directed Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons in Whiplash, he had never directed a big-budget studio movie. So how did Chazelle land the dream job of directing a movie filled with A-list actors that he had written? Well, he directed the hell out of a short film. Before Simmons played Fletcher on the big screen in Whiplash, he’d already had a trial run playing the character in Chazelle’s short film of the same name. The short film (clocking in at 18 minutes long) is set around a single intense scene from the feature-length movie, in which Fletcher apprehends Neiman, asking him if he’s “rushing or dragging.”

Related

20 Movies About Music That Aren’t Biopics or Musicals

I love rock and roll, but I don’t wanna watch a mu-si-cal. Or a biopic.

During the interview, Simmons reflected on his time on the short film and praised Chazelle for making such an engaging short with “no money.” The actor then admitted that he was worried that Damien Chazelle had bitten off more than he could chew in the director’s chair but said the director’s self-confidence carried him through production. Simmons said:

“People should watch that short film. It’s really great, and it was made for no money. There was such a clear path into this character from what Damien had put on paper. When we were making the short film, I was concerned that this kid was in over his head as a director. I mean, Damien is getting to make a movie in Hollywood. His dream project with professional actors. The self-confidence that he had by the time we got to the set with Miles and me was remarkable.”