Joplin's Biopic Does It Right

After 12 agonizing years, producer Peter Newman is finally able to take his Janis Joplin biopic off the backburner as production of Joplin will begin early next year.

Unlike the upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic, All Is By My Side, Newman waited to ensure he would be able to utilize 21 of Joplin’s most endearing songs, including “Piece of My Heart,” for his indie film. Hendrix’s is relying on the Beatles’ catalog, a factor that will surely affect the biopic’s monetary success. The rights to her song, and virtually her life, coast a whopping $2.5 million. But surely, in the end, the high price will pay for itself.

Newman not only scored the rights to Joplin’s music, but to “Love, Janis,” a collection of letters from the singer published by her sister, Laura Joplin, and to Piece of My Heart, a book written by ex-Rolling Stone reporter David Dalton, who travelled with Joplin the last six months of her life.

It appears that is what the film is largely documenting, her last six months, though we will also see a few snippets from her early career. Janis was a wild rocker at the time, but soon suffered from her own demise when she overdosed on heroin in October 1970.

Newman and director Sean Durbin searched endlessly for the perfect leading woman—literally endlessly. They considered everyone from Zoey Deschanel to Pink, but eventually settled for Tony winner Nina Arianda.

“I’ve never in my life seen an actress walk on stage and convey the duality of vulnerability with overheated sexuality, which is what Janis was all about,” said Newman of Arianda. And rightly so. She was formerly the leading role in the off-Broadway hit, Venus in Furs, a sensual and rather seductive production.

Joplin was recently posthumously awarded a Walk of Fame star; you can see that post here.

Check out this live clip of Janis on the Dick Cavett show. I can’t wait to see this on the silver screen!

If you want to skip right to the interview, jump to 9 minutes 25 seconds