5 Questions for LeAnn Erickson – I (HEART)
JACK LALANNE: A CARTOON MEMOIR (PFF31)

Originally Posted Oct. 16, 2023

One of the Co-Directors of FirstGlance Film Festival, Andrea DiFabio, recently realized that Philly Film Site LeAnne should be introduced to Philly Filmmaker and Temple Film Professor LeAnn and vice versa, and so that happened!
And now this LeAnne gets to add another great interview to my T&T 5 Questions for Indie Filmmakers Series

I (heart) Jack Lalanne: A Cartoon Memoir
LeAnn Erickson: Co-Producer, Writer/Director/Animator/Editor
University film professor and independent filmmaker

Her latest film will premiere at the 31st Philadelphia Film Festival.
Two screenings:
Friday, October 21, 9:00 PM, PFS East A
Sunday, October 30, 5:30 PM, PFS East B
Location: PFS East (formerly Ritz East), 125 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tickets: purchased through the festival website

I (heart) Jack Lalanne: A Cartoon Memoir uses animation and a memoir structure to weave a comedic and dramatic coming out story. Employing a playful visual aesthetic and humorous tone, the film tackles serious issues, including coming out as gay in a less tolerant era, the impact of role models on children, and dealing with a late-in-life disability- issues that hold contemporary resonance in America’s current culture wars.

Co-produced with her son Jake Rasmussen, Erickson wrote, directed, animated, and edited the film. Emmy winning composer and Philly native Patrick de Caumette created the original music for the film.

And Here’s LeAnn Erickson’s 5 Questions Interview

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for I (heart) Jack LaLanne: A Cartoon Memoir and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

LeAnn Erickson: I have been making personal documentaries for many years but they were all serious in tone. A grad school friend said to me- LeAnn, you’re a funny person. Why don’t you ever make funny work?  So I decided to make an animated film about my childhood role models and Jack LaLanne was the first to come to my mind. The final film is fun but also bittersweet as it ruminates on getting older, as well as sharing stories from childhood.

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music (Who did you work with? What did you want to convey? Or any other tidbits):

LeAnn: Sound and music are so important in animation. They lend context, add emphasis and set tone. My long time film composer Patrick de Caumette was excited to work with me on the film and I absolutely love the final results

T&T: What was your experience with animation filmmaking before starting this project? And what are some things you learned about the process of animation?

LeAnn: I’ve loved animation since I was a kid watching Rocky and Bullwinkle and the looney tunes. I started doing flip books as a kid and really had fun with stop motion once I got to grad school. In the early 2000s I created a number of great cartoons with my 8 year old son Jake. He is now 30 and helped me co-produce this film! The weirdest thing to happen was Covid- I had been putzing around with this project for a while but when Covid hit and we were locked inside I had no reasons not to get down to serious work and finish this film!

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get your film from an idea to Philadelphia Film Festival.

LeAnn: As mentioned above big thanks to my son Jake Rasmussen who had a hand in so many things – green screen shoots, premiere editing tips, cleaning up some messy moments and he sat in for the sound and music mix. Again, as above, the sound work and composing by Patrick de Caumette was wonderful. He is a sensitive collaborator and I love working with him. Also, shout out to my student workers, particularly Noah Cohen. His talent and sense of humor really helped me shape some crucial scenes. 

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

LeAnn: 

1. The Thin Blue Line Dir. Errol Morris
2. Daughter Rite Dir. Michelle Citron
3. My Life As a Dog Dir. Lasse Hallstrom
4. Eve’s Bayou Dir.Kasi Lemmons
5. ANYTHING by Leighton Pierce 

Writer/Director LeAnn Erickson is a professor of film production in the Department of Film and Media Arts at Temple University (Philadelphia PA) and has been an independent video/filmmaker for over 35 years. Erickson’s film work has screened internationally in festivals, galleries and on streaming services and has been cited in articles, podcasts, and books.
In 2010 she completed “Top Secret Rosies: The Female Computers of WWII”, a feature documentary distributed by PBS, Inc. In 2014 she released “The Computer Wore Heels”, an interactive ebook that shares the Top Secret Rosies story with young adults. Currently she is developing a television series pitch and touring the film “I (heart) Jack Lalanne: A Cartoon Memoir.”

For more information visit:iheartjacklalanne.com

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