Damien Chazelle
Damien Chazelle
Damien Sayre Chazelleis an American film director and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut with the musical Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. In 2014, he wrote and directed his second feature film Whiplash, based on his award-winning short film Whiplash. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival and went on receiving 5 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Chazelle received an individual nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScreenwriter
Date of Birth19 January 1985
CityProvidence, RI
CountryUnited States of America
As a kid, I was just writing scripts and taking whatever film classes I could in college.
As delicate as 'Guy and Madeline' was, it was important that 'Whiplash' come off as more of a fever dream.
At the upper echelon of musicians in general, I guess performers in general, you have to have this kind of live-or-die, cutthroat mentality.
Before 'Whiplash,' I'd had a string of failed scripts. I'd pour my blood, sweat and tears into them, and no one would like them.
By the end of high school, I had this fork-in-the-road moment where part of me considered going to vocational music school to really pursue it.
I actually grew up wanting to be a filmmaker. I wanted to make movies, and music was a detour, almost.
I didn't feel the kind of joy every day playing drums that I thought you were supposed to feel.