Filmmaker brings 'Waste Land' home to IU Cinema

Angus Aynsley spent nearly three years in the largest landfill on the planet.

Now he’s staying at Collins Living-Learning Center.

IU alumnus Aynsley is the Oscar-nominated producer behind the 2010 documentary “Waste Land” and is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. Friday at the IU Cinema, prior to a screening of his film at 6:30 p.m.

This appearance is one small step in the ongoing journey of the story behind the movie.

“Waste Land” profiles artist Vik Muniz, who traveled to the world’s largest landfill in Rio de Janeiro, only to find a thriving, happy and environmentally crucial community of
garbage pickers.

The piece began as a short film, but Aynsley said he had no idea what to
expect.

As soon as he and his crew arrived at the landfill, everything changed.

“Once seeing the garbage dump ­— which was so visually powerful — we saw this amazing backdrop for a film,” Aynsley said. “In the first months of filming ... we didn’t know what it was going to be.”

The real shift in the film’s focus came from the warm humanity Aynsley, Muniz and director Lucy Walker saw in the scavengers, or in Portuguese, the catadores, who made their living in the landfill.

“We had no idea the scavengers were going to be the people they turned out being,” Aynsley said. “We arrived with the same prejudice as others, thinking that these people were going to be drug addicts and real down and out. We had no idea they were going to be so incredible, so heartwarming, so erudite and so human.”

Aynsley’s achievement was his persistence to tell the story amidst changing directors and monetary issues.

“There was just no stopping. This was something. This was beautiful,” Aynsley said.
“As a producer, it was just about holding on to that and keeping guard and keeping the cameras running so we could watch this story transpire in front of us.”

Making “Waste Land” jostled Aynsley’s perspective of life, and he said he feels the process had a similar effect on those from the garbage dump.

“As a filmmaker, it’s a very, very powerful experience having day-to-day contact with these people,” Aynsley said. “Suddenly working at something completely different and viewing their lives differently — I think that, in a way, is a bigger trip. You think about life, you think about what you’re doing and where you’re at. Some people go to a spa — they went to Vik.”

But after such a long and ongoing journey, one that will take Aynsley back to Brazil for another two weeks, Aynsley said he is happy to return to his alma mater.

“When you’re my age, it’s a pretty crazy experience,” Aynsley said of staying in Collins LLC, his former dorm. “IU was a really key point in me becoming who I am and ending up where I’m at. IU is a really special place for me.”

IU Cinema director Jon Vickers said the campus is happy to have him.

“This was a good opportunity to bring an alum back to campus,” Vickers said. “I think it’s just important to honor IU alum when we can.”

Vickers explained that Aynsley’s lecture will take the form of an informal discussion on his expertise as a producer and the process behind making
a film.

Aynsley offered a small taste of all he has to offer aspiring documentarians.

“Find a story, pick up a camera and go,” Aynsley said. “You’re going to work your butt off, you’re going to sacrifice a lot and you’re going to have a really crazy journey. It’s not going to be easy, but you can get there. You can make a film. There’s no excuse.”