Watch: Miles Teller Got Very Familiar with J.K. Simmons’ Wrinkles and More from ‘Whiplash’ TIFF Talks

This week during the Toronto International Film Festival Indiewire is hosting a series of “TIFF Talks” featuring stars and directors of some of the most talked-about films at the fest. Today’s video highlights include the cast and director of “Whiplash,” which began it’s journey at Sundance 2013.

“Whiplash” tells the story of Andrew (Teller), a promising 19-year-old drummer at a cutthroat Manhattan music conservatory. Haunted by his father’s failed writing career and plagued with the fear that mediocrity just might be genetic, Andrew dreams of greatness. Determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps, he practices daily until his hands literally bleed. The pressure of success ratchets into high gear when he is picked to join the school band led by the infamous Terence Fletcher (Simmons), a brutally savage music instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. Check out the four highlights below:

Making a Deal with the Devil
JK Simmons’ character coddles and adores his students? Not so fast. Simmons discusses the lengths we go to when we want to achieve greatness, and what side of the argument on which he falls.

As Teller was getting into his more intense dramatic moments, his and Simmons’ performances got quite physical and Simmons’ face became unforgettable. 

Writer-director Damien Chazelle reveals how “Whiplash” was developed out of the Sundance short film and how it resulted in funding for the feature.