No, the movie "Whiplash" is not based on a true story. It is a fictional story penned by writer and director Damien Chazelle. The inspiration for the film came from Chazelle's personal experiences as a high school jazz drummer.
According to Chazelle, the idea for Andrew, the main character, and his tempestuous relationship with his music teacher, Fletcher, stemmed from his time as a member of the Princeton High School Studio Band in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was a drummer. Chazelle's harsh experiences during the fiercely competitive orchestra rehearsals motivated him to create a film about musical obsession and the pursuit of perfection.
However, while some of the incidents and the intense competitive environment depicted in "Whiplash" are inspired by real-life experiences, they aren't biographical. Figures such as Andrew and Fletcher are fictional and do not represent any specific real-world individuals.
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