With "I want to be one of the greats." as the leading phrase for Whiplash, the level is set and the stakes are high for young Andrew Neyman. Especially when your friendly neighbourhood band instructor gives you pep talks like: "If you sabotage my band, I will cut you like a pig!" Reviews and response on the movie so far are 90% great.

Whiplash was shot in 19 days and edited and submitted into Sundance Film Festival in the seven week after. The film opened in New York and Los Angeles on October 10th, but premiered in-competition in the US Dramatic Category at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 16, 2014, as the opening film of the festival and received the top audience and grand jury awards in the U.S. dramatic competition. Shortly after the film's premiere screening, Sony Pictures Worldwide acquired the international distribution rights.

Whiplash Trailer (2014) - with J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller


Miles Teller on drums with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon


Miles Teller on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy chats with Miles Teller about his dramatic film Whiplash and how he really played drums for the role.


Movie trivia

During the more intense practice scenes, the director wouldn't yell, "cut!" so that Miles Teller would keep drumming until he exhausted himself.

Miles Teller, who has played the drums since he was 15, received blisters on his hands due to the vigorous, unconventional style of jazz drumming. Some of his blood was on the drumsticks and the drum set as a result.

Part of the film is based on director/writer Damien Chazelle's experience as a band student in high school. In a Q&A after screening, Chazelle stated he was intimidated by his band instructor's presence.