“In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck and a head full of questions, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview.” This was what humbly began as a 38-year-long project they named I Met the Walrus. Revolving around Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “bed-in” peace protest, this short was produced by Levitan and written, directed and animated by Josh Raskin in such startling brilliance and captivating wit that it literally floored me and my friends at the local animation festival last year.

(Bios from their site)

JOSH RASKIN || Writer/Director/Animator
Josh Raskin has been making sounds and pictures for as long as he can remember. After a four year romance with the new media program at Ryerson University in Toronto, Josh appears unwavering in his tendency to keep doing so. With a small number of short films and a growing arsenal of misguided musical forays under his belt, his affinity for appropriating old things, mucking with them, and reupholstering them in terrifying new ways remains persistent throughout his work.

JERRY LEVITAN || Producer
Jerry Levitan is a Toronto musician, actor, writer and lawyer who has recorded two acclaimed children’s records under the guise of Sir Jerry. He has been a sought after media expert on the Beatles having given countless interviews around the world on the subject and in particular on John Lennon. His story has recently been the focus of massive interest in the United States where he has appeared on CBS, Fox, ABC and the highest rated syndicated radio shows. England’s pre-eminent pop magazine, Mojo, heralded Jerry Levitan’s personal story as “the best…” and a “…fascinating study of pop’s political ambitions”.

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Check out more about this critically acclaimed project at: www.imetthewalrus.com

via Sylvia Adams, 13 August 2008 10:24pm | |