A RECYCLED LIFE-An Interview with Documentary Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks

Oscar season is in full swing, so FilmRadar would like to shine the spotlight on the short filmmakers who are nominated this year.  First up in the series is Leslie Iwerks whose film A RECYCLED LIFE is up for the Best Short Documentary Academy Award.  A RECYCLED LIFE is a moving and heartbreaking look into the lives of impoverished South Americans who live, work and exist soley by means of the garbage in a landfill.  Ms. Iwerks comes from a legendary Hollywood family as her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, was the original designer and co-creator of Mickey Mouse and an Academy Award winning motion picture pioneer.  She is a third generation filmmaker and has a diverse slate of credits under her belt.  She was gracious in taking the time to speak with FilmRadar about A RECYCLED LIFE.

How did you first come to learn about this dump/landfill?

Mike and I were shooting a project on the Maya and traveling all throughout the country of Guatemala with a small crew. When we drove into the Antigua dump to unload some trash, I noticed two children, a brother and a sister living in a large cardboard box inside the dump. This was their home, and they didn’t have parents. I couldn’t believe people lived like this. Some time later, in the Antigua bookstore, I found a book called ‘Out of the Dump’ by Nancy McGirr. This book chronicled the lives of children living in the Guatemala City dump. I told Mike I thought this would make an amazing short film, so the next trip he went to the landfill, called me on his cell, and told me I was not going to believe what he was seeing. I hopped on a plane shortly thereafter and he took me there. The people, the place, the potential stories jumped out at us, and we knew this was an environment we had to explore.

What were the obstacles you faced during filming?

The wretched smell of the dump, first of all, was often unbearable. It got worse the deeper into you went in, and for better or worse, that is where we did most of our filming, at the lower and middle platforms. The overall environment was heavy duty, just seeing so many people making their livelihood from trash, and so happy to find a bagel, or discarded chicken, a day old McDonald’s Happy Meal, or a browned banana from the refuse. It was heartbreaking to see kids knowing no other life than this, and not going to school or gaining a better future through education and proper adult attention. I saw vultures eating dead dogs several feet away from children sifting through the trash, I saw children jumping rope and playing on mounds of dirty cardboard. Many people at first questioned why we were there, and several times tried to throw trash at us. Over time we gained their trust, and can only hope this film will benefit them in various ways. I hope the Guatemalan government, and other more wealthier NGO’s, etc., will do something to offer them a better solution.

What was the most difficult thing about the shoot?

For me it was just shooting in this place, it was the harshest environment I’ve ever experienced. But the people, the energy, the surreal images I’d encounter every day kept me going in such a creative frenzy. Mike and I became deeper and deeper committed to the people, their lives, their hopes and dreams with every interview and story we captured. It was very difficult to see the way people lived, and as Hanley Denning put it, the way the line was blurred between the trash dump and their homes, as trash bags filled their ‘living rooms/bedrooms.’

Was it hard to gain access or to get people to speak to you?

Most often it was not difficult to get people to speak with us, but we did have to tell them up front we weren’t typical journalists out to exploit their situation, as most have. Mike took photos of many of the guajeros, and brought them back as gifts on return trips. They loved them and appreciated so much that we gave back. We soon gained many friends in the dump, and appreciate so much their openness to tell their stories and confide in us.

Was it difficult emotionally to see people in these circumstances?

Very difficult. We compare the dump to a Hieronymus Bosch painting. It was hard to be an objective filmmaker without getting emotionally caught up. Often times behind the camera I would have tears streaming down my face because of what I was looking at through the lens. No one should have to live this way in the world, and around the world.
Did making this film and being in the landfill change you in any way?

The generosity and spirit of so many people living in the most extreme poverty touched me beyond words. So many people in the dump are more generous and giving with what little they have to offer than most people who make more in one day than they do in a year. Getting to know and understand many guajero’s basic worries, concerns, hopes and desires, it is truer than ever that we are all one and the same, with or without wealth, and I believe no one has the right to judge others less fortunate or less lucky than themselves. I live with greater gratitude and appreciation for life in general because of this film.

You come from a family tradition of filmmaking.  When did you first realize that you would follow in the family footsteps?

From an early age I studied my grandfather’s animated films, both for Disney and his own Iwerks Studios, and became very inspired by his talent and technical achievements, especially his design of Mickey Mouse. My father (also an Oscar recipient for Lifetime Achievement in Technical Contributions to the industry) and my two brother’s are also amazing artists. Being surrounded by creativity in my family always pushed and inspired me, and I knew that art and film would be in my future one way or another. A childhood friend’s mother recently reminded me that when I was 13 and watching the Oscar Ceremony at their house, I said ‘Someday I’ll be up on that stage, just watch.’ I had forgotten I told them that, but it has always been an internal dream and a goal of mine to make films high enough in quality and substance worthy enough for such an honor.

What documentaries have influenced your work and your overall style?

One film that touched me greatly was Frieda Lee Mock’s ‘Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision.’ The opening of that film was so beautifully crafted, and the character so well developed, the music so touching, I knew that was the quality of filmmaking I needed to shoot for. I am also a Michael Apted fan, for his amazing talent in crafting both extraordinary documentaries and feature live action films. I am pursuing the same career approach and broadening my scope of storytelling capabilities.
What are you working on next?

I’m developing a live action feature, an animated short, as well as some other feature docs.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.

Don’t miss your chance to see the Academy Award Nominated short films this year.  The Short Documentaries will screen on February 9th at the Aero Theatre and stay tuned to FilmRadar for more screenings coming soon.  To find out more about A RECYCLED LIFE, log on to http://www.recycledlifedoc.com/

20 Comments:

1. Thank you and bless you for this wonderful film featuring the work of Hanley Denning.  You both have contibuted much to make the world a better place.

   Posted by Art Sanders on 02/18 at 11:57 AM

2. I just saw a short clip on the Academy Awards and immediately found this site. I cannot wait to see your film. The clip grabbed my attention, and I hope it will do so with others.  God Bless. 

   Posted by Yolanda Orozco on 02/25 at 09:08 PM

3. Hanely Denning was an angel.  Her unfortunate death January 18, 2007 will leave many children sad.  I hope your film will help Safe Passage continue.  I feel blest to have met her.

   Posted by Rita Biddle on 02/25 at 09:24 PM

4. I saw the Pixar Story at last year’s San Diego. It is a must, obviously, for any fan of Pixar, presenting where they come from, and what it’s like to work there these days.
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5. Wow! This film was incredible it really did touch me emotionally. I live in the united states and I don’t see the sufferings of other people and I assume everyone is okay since I am okay. It made me realize how spoiled and selfish I am. May God Bless You.

   Posted by Clarabell Aaimee on 04/15 at 05:57 PM

6. nice interview, !

   Posted by Moni Balmer on 04/30 at 07:57 AM

7. Nice article.  Good interview, I will make an effort to try and see this documentary. It’s good to see directors pushing the boundaries. Agreed that it does make you feel spoiled living in developed countries.

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8. Thank you for the post.

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9. very nice post thanks! i really like it

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10. volunteered at Safe Passage in the summer of 2003, its a memory that I will treasure forever, I cant believe that she’s gone, Im in shock, long live her memory and long live Safe Passage.

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14. A voice recorded interview would be great.
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    Posted by John on 12/18 at 12:08 PM

16. I saw the Pixar Story at last year’s San Diego. It is a must, obviously, for any fan of Pixar, presenting where they come from, and what it’s like to work there these days.
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    Posted by karie on 02/01 at 12:58 PM

17. I saw the Pixar Story at last year’s San Diego. It is a must see for any fan of Pixar, presenting where they come from, and what it’s like to work there these days.
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    Posted by karie on 02/01 at 01:07 PM

18. This film was incredible it really did touch me emotionally. Thank you and bless you for this wonderful film featuring the work of Hanley Denning
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19. It was a great movie. I enjoyed reading the interview.
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20. I got interested with this short film of her. Hope to find it online.. It’s really not easy to live in a landfill. This must really be a good movie.
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