Shailene Woodley to star in long-awaited Janis Joplin biopic
Shailene Woodley, known, among other things, for "Big Little Lies," is preparing for the production and lead role in the highly anticipated biographical film about Janis Joplin.
The biography of the 1960s rock legend Janis Joplin, who died in 1970 at the age of 27, has yet to be successfully adapted into a film. Numerous attempts have been made, with discussions of stars like Amy Adams or Pink taking on the role, but nothing has come to fruition. Now, thanks to support from the California Film Commission and a grant of $2 million, the project is gaining new life. Shailene Woodley, apart from being the producer, will also portray Joplin.
The project on the famous singer's biography has been selected for the California Film Commission's Film & Television programme, thereby securing funding for production costs, which will exceed €9 million. Filming will last 30 days, and the movie will be shot in California to ensure the authenticity of the locations associated with Joplin.
Fans and the industry hope that the project will finally succeed in paying tribute to the life and work of the music legend. Shailene Woodley, thanking for the support, expressed her belief that Janis Joplin would be happy seeing her story contributing to the development of her beloved state and city. "I have a feeling Janis would be smiling ear to ear zipping down the PCH in her psychedelic Porsche knowing her story is bringing opportunities and funding to the city and people that held so much significance to her," revealed Woodley.
The story of Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin left an incredible legacy, embedding herself in music history as one of the most distinctive artists of her generation. Her life was full of successes and dramas, which still inspire subsequent generations. Janis Joplin was born on January 19, 1943, in Port Arthur.
Janis was fascinated by African American music, which made her stand out even more in her local community. Her interest in blues and regular visits to clubs where white people rarely ventured were met with misunderstanding and negative reactions from her surroundings.
When she graduated from high school in 1960, Janis moved on to higher education, first at Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont and then at the University of Texas at Austin. There, she began experimenting with alcohol and drugs and actively participated in the local music scene. Her vocal expression was something unprecedented, especially among white vocalists. Inspired by artists like Lead Belly and Bessie Smith, Janis dreamed of creating music that would move the hearts of her listeners.
In 1962, she recorded the song "What Good Can Drinkin’ Do" for the first time, but professional success came a few years later when she moved to San Francisco. There, she joined the hippie community and began performing with the band Big Brother and the Holding Company. These early career days were intense development, but many personal problems accompanied Janis throughout her life.
Joplin experimented with substances. It was known that she took heroin. Janis's addiction began to threaten her life. In the first half of 1969, she spent around £160 per day on her habit. Before her performance at the Woodstock festival on 17 August 1969, Janis got drunk and took a dose of heroin with her lover, Peggy Caserta, resulting in a less-than-stellar performance. A similar situation occurred at Madison Square Garden when she sang a duet with Tina Turner during a Rolling Stones concert. According to witnesses' accounts, Joplin was drunk and high.
In late 1969 and early 1970, Janis's addiction to alcohol and drugs was very strong. Still, she was aware enough of her problem to attempt rehab, travelling to Brazil to recuperate in a warm, exotic country. In late summer and early autumn of 1970, Janis was working on her next album.
The last people to see Janis alive were her keyboardist, Ken Pearson, and the receptionist at the hotel where she stayed during the recording sessions. After work in the studio, she and Pearson went for a drink, then the singer drove her friend back and returned to the Landmark Hotel in Hollywood to room number 105. There, on Sunday, 4 October, at around 1 a.m., she took a dose of the substance bought that same day. She didn't know it was China White heroin - a very pure and strong variant. She overdosed. She had previously done so several times, but someone was always nearby to help her. This time, she was alone. She died 16 days after another great artist who profoundly influenced the world of popular music, Jimi Hendrix. He, too, like Janis, was aged 27.
