J.K. Simmons Thought Damien Chazelle Was a Black Man After Reading ‘Whiplash’ Script. Then They Met: ‘Who’s This Curly-Haired Kid From New Jersey?’

12 comments

1. > “I see a genius script by somebody who clearly understands jazz, the quintessential American musical art form—and a largely African American art form,” Simmons told Vanity Fair. “The guy’s name is Damien Chazelle. I’m picturing Antoine Fuqua. I’m going into this meeting thinking it’s going to be some tall, elegant-looking Black guy with a beret.”

   > “We go to meet at this restaurant, and of course he’s there a few minutes early because he’s a young guy,” he continued. “I get there right on time, as is my wont, and I’m literally looking around the restaurant, which is not very crowded—I’m looking right past or through Damien, who finally stands up and waves at me. I’m like, ‘Who’s this little curly-haired kid from New Jersey?’”

2. Ok this is so weird because I literally just saw what Damien Chazelle looks like about 5 minutes ago and I too thought he was a black dude beforehand

3. JK Simmons best role is in Counterpart. He’s got some of the greatest one liners in the series.

   https://youtu.be/JRuaNHLp6OU?si=3eFptwTVwiy_tI32

4. I really want to watch this again. It’s been close to 10 years since I last watched it. Ready to be messed up again.

5. [“That’s the thing — he’s white”](https://youtu.be/1_xRnc45lV8?t=158&si=X8ebtdZThZ_ikXtb)

6. I thought he was black too, but I think that’s because my dumb ass read it as “Don Cheadle” for some reason

7. Reminds me of [that scene from 30 Rock but in reverse.](https://youtu.be/BcaqPkc3E9g?si=vo7g-YSlLgzK7Z5c&t=267)

8. I missed it when it first came out. Watched the movie on tv and was blown away.

   Cant wait to see it on big screen with the sound surrounding me. And Simmons being scarier than any horror character

9. This happened to me with Treat Williams. Sounds like a Black man’s name.

10. Did he just assume his race AND his pronouns?

11. Ok but this one made me laugh:

    *Chazelle admitted to Vanity Fair that he also had an assumption about Simmons that didn’t pan out to be true, explaining: “When we first started doing ‘Whiplash,’ I mainly thought of [J.K.] as the dad in ‘Juno.’ He had this wholesome, decent, all-American vibe to him in a lovably, gruff, comic way. So my big concern was, Can you get to a place where we don’t just think you’re kidding around all the time, we’re actually genuinely scared of you?”*

    Clearly he missed out on *Oz* then! 😆

12. Who else read that in JK Simmons voice?