Is Whiplash Based On A True Story? Damien Chazelle’s Real Inspirations Explained

Whiplash tells the story of a young music student who aspires to be a professional jazz drummer and his cruel teacher who consistently pushes him (and the other students) to the edge. Given the film’s intensity, many viewers were left wondering if it was based on true events or if it was a fictional tale. Damien Chazelle, the mind behind multiple critically acclaimed movies, including La La Land, First Man, and Babylon, directed and wrote Whiplash, and he answered the above pressing question by opening up about his inspiration for the story.