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
