By Lisa DiCarlucci, Entertainment Editor
The Chronicle: Can you start off by giving me a short synopsis as to what your new documentary, “Dear Jack” is about?
Andrew McMahon: Basically it’s the period of time starting around the beginning of the new project with Jack’s Mannequin and I was given the camera from the record company to document the beginning of the first album. Soon after, I was diagnosed with cancer and it became something I could do to occupy my time while I was not feeling well. When I was having a really bad day I would use the camera to talk to. It turned into this great collection of footage, interviews, and family videos that just documented the entire time in my life.
TC: What was your original reasoning for making this film?
AM: It was really just the label giving me a camera to document the making of the album but it was never meant to be a full-length documentary. It was more the record company hoping to have footage to make some viral videos of studio footage as an extra to the album or something. It was actually the first time I had ever had a camera. I was 20 years old at the time and it was the first time I had ever been away from my family so I thought it would be something great to have on film and maybe it would turn into internet clips or something. I never had the intention of making a movie. When I got sick I wasn’t really able to do much song writing. It really just became another way that I could express myself. If I was having a hard day or something the camera almost became like a friend. It was a place I could get the bad stuff out. It wasn’t until later on that some friends found out I had been filming myself that I even thought about making it into a documentary.
TC: Who were the friends that reached out to you about making the film?
AM: One of my friends from the band Mae reached out to help form it into a documentary and a few other people. I explained to them that I had shot my life through the last few years and they asked if they could watch it. They had done similar stuff before and had experience. They basically did the first edit and had a few friends step in and finish it out and put the first story together.
TC: What do you hope the audience will get out of this film?
AM: I think originally as we were doing it we wanted people to see that there is a lot of hope to be found in a really scary situation. The real story is of the love of my family and friends helping me in a really dark situation. I wanted people to see a really raw experience from a first hand perspective. I think that there are a lot of other people who have gone through the same thing and it will be good for them to see it.
TC: Does it scare you to have so many people witnessing such personal events in your life?
AM: I go back and forth you know? It’s been a story that, whether or not I like it, has followed me closely. I can’t seem to get away from it even as a recover. I’m hoping that this film is kind of a way for me to close the tracks on this whole thing. It’s a way of closure. People will see something deeply personal, but they are always digging for it. If you really want to know, this is what it really looks like.
TC: In that sense do you feel that this documentary will give your fans a better understanding or context for your songwriting?
AM: Maybe yes and maybe no. It might shed more light on where I come from. It’s about my battle with cancer but also it’s about my family and the people who shaped me. It’s about their will and who they are have made me who I am. I think it won’t shed light on my creativity so much as it will shed light on my drive.
TC: I understand that you are doing a small solo tour currently to promote the documentary. What is it like performing alone as opposed to with the band?
AM: It’s pretty strange. I’ve only done these things a couple of times and it’s pretty terrifying to be by yourself. I knew that I wanted to do something intimate and personal, though, mostly because it was just a challenge. I’m up there alone playing songs I haven’t played in years to crowds of 200 or 300 people. I like that almost a decade into my career I’m having a brand new experience. It’s about as personal as it can get. It’s a cool moment to sort of have a connection that you don’t have when you are playing for crowds of thousands of people.
TC: So the proceeds of this documentary are going towards your charity, The Dear Jack Foundation. Can you tell me a little about what kind of work you do?
AM: The foundation essentially helps fund initiatives and various different partnerships. It’s not a full functioning non-for profit; I don’t have a staff. We raise money and donate to bigger charities. Such as the Lukemia and Lymphoma society and UCLA which saved my life. We collect money and find great places to put it so we can help find a cure for blood cancers.
TC: Is there any possibility of a Something Corporate reunion?
AM: I mean it’s hysterical how these rumors are started. No one ever said that Something Corporate is going to get back together. Me and the guys have discussed getting together for some reunion shows. Nothing is on the books, but it’s something we would all be up for. We still hold the band close to our hearts and we would never want to just let it go. People can expect reunion shows at some point, I just can’t say when.
(Photo Courtesy of www.clevelandleader.com)