I Met the Walrus

July 6, 2008 2:31 PM

I Met the WalrusIn 1969, 14-year-old Jerry Levitan snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. This is the whimsically animated film that Jerry has produced about the interview.
posted by milestogo (26 comments total)

Heh, um...

"It's about UK..."
("UK" appears over a map of the UK)

"It's about USSR..."
("USSR" appears over a map of the USSR)

"It's about nothing..."
("NOTHING" appears over a map of Canada)

"It's about USA..."
("USA" appears over a map of the USA)
posted by rlk at 2:45 PM on July 6, 2008

yes, it's unclear why "NOTHING" means Canada. Perhaps the (Canadian?) producer wanted it included?
posted by milestogo at 2:53 PM on July 6, 2008

goo goo ga joob.
posted by jonmc at 3:00 PM on July 6, 2008

It's not whimscal at all, eh!

*finishes beer, goes outside, gets other hosers, decides that it's too much effort to drive the car all that fucking way in through provinces and provinces of noth...*

wait what.
posted by jimmythefish at 3:38 PM on July 6, 2008

Included in the Special Thanks to is Biggie Smalls. Wonder why. Thanks for this post.
posted by waraw at 3:47 PM on July 6, 2008

Yeah, thanks, milestogo. Lennon was a genius.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 4:20 PM on July 6, 2008

This is neat.
posted by roll truck roll at 5:06 PM on July 6, 2008

From Jerry's Wikipedia Page:

Jerry Levitan produced and starred in the animated short "I Met the Walrus" about his meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono during their "bed-in" in Toronto, Canada. Though a 14 year old teenager, Levitan got a 40 minute interview with them about peace, The Beatles, and their music.

The film was nominated for an Oscar Award in 2008 for best short. It also won Best Animated at the Manhattan Short Film Festival.

Jerry Levitan graduated with a B.A. from York University in Toronto and a LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto, Canada in 1979. He is currently a partner at the law firm of Levitan Lawyers in Toronto and is certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
posted by beagle at 5:44 PM on July 6, 2008

Yeah, that's some cool animation, very fitting.
posted by not_on_display at 6:19 PM on July 6, 2008

Cool post -- thanx!
posted by dancestoblue at 6:24 PM on July 6, 2008

Nice one!
posted by rmmcclay at 6:38 PM on July 6, 2008

That was fantastic.

I've always said I most wanted to have met John Lennon out of all the people who are now gone that I could have met. This confirms that hypothesis.
posted by yhbc at 7:09 PM on July 6, 2008

The walrus was Paul.
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:28 PM on July 6, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

No, IDIOT, the walrus was John. He only said it was Paul as a joke.

Fuck. Clearly I have a ways to go before I am enlightened. Good thing for me, then, that John did, too.
posted by yhbc at 7:33 PM on July 6, 2008

What a trip.
posted by nola at 7:35 PM on July 6, 2008

Damn. Beat me to it.
posted by Space Kitty at 10:38 PM on July 6, 2008

Namdaed, no em nrut.


!sknahT
posted by mazola at 10:55 PM on July 6, 2008

Here's the back story.
posted by Optamystic at 7:06 AM on July 7, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

wow! his story is incredible. Go Jerry!
posted by milestogo at 7:31 AM on July 7, 2008

I can't look at the video at school, but I recall reading an article in a random oregon/washington state newspaper while travelling about a 16 year old girl who also snuck into this same bed-in with another girl and ended up staying with John and Yoko for serveral days, going home at night and coming back, even having Lennon explain to her mother on the phone where she was.

If I remember correctly she was selling the handwritten lyrics to a song that was produced during the bed-in, hence the article.
posted by Suparnova at 8:29 AM on July 7, 2008

Amazing back story, Optamystic. Thank you.
posted by rooftop secrets at 9:33 AM on July 7, 2008

In 1969 I was 12, and so square, you would likely cut yourself if you brushed against my edges. Fortunately, things got rounded out over the years. I have learned a fascination and respect for Lennon. But still, when I see those old photos, I feel the same reactions I did back then. But on careful analysis, I conclude that I am detecting the PR-bullshit nature of them, and am seeing John's PR-bullshit face, reflecting his equal knowledge that it is just bullshit.

Then he talked to that kid, Jerry. It took a moment, but then the bullshit faded, and then there was a man talking to a youth. Instead of giving the bullshit, John was pointing it out, on a level easily accessible to a young teenager.

It's been a long time since I have relived the deep resentment of having been merely 12, in 1969. Thank you, Milestogo.
posted by Goofyy at 10:21 AM on July 7, 2008

This is what I was talking about.

As you can see in the article, she also snuck in, also interviewed him (for radio) and in addition, got the original copy for the lyrics of "Give Peace a Chance," which is expected to sell in three days for 400,000 - 600,000 dollars.
posted by Suparnova at 12:23 PM on July 7, 2008

yep, but it looks like that one was in Montreal. This was was Toronto. Good stuff, though.
posted by milestogo at 12:34 PM on July 7, 2008

Josh Raskin and James Braithwaite are friends of mine (and finer lads you'll never meet). Many games of ping-pong went into the creation of this short. I'm glad to see this posted.
posted by Felicity Rilke at 12:40 PM on July 8, 2008

Nice piece. I rember hearing the interview a while ago, maybe posted here?… Well I thought I'd hate an animated treatment, but that was really well done. Lots of surprises.
posted by JBennett at 7:26 AM on July 9, 2008