Once in a while viewers get to observe a film that not solely offers leisure but additionally tells them a few pivotal second in human historical past. Earlier this yr, ELSA, the quick movie helmed by Rebecca King, made viewers study how ladies sacrificed their lives throughout World Battle II. In that course of, she got here ahead with a narrative that was true and never identified by many. Months later, filmmaker WY Geng did one thing comparable together with her quick movie ‘The Seed of Fact’. The movie tells a real story concerning the time when Stalin was the supreme chief of the Soviet Union. He named Trofim Lysenko the Director of the Institute of Genetics of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and gave him a free hand to do what he wished. Lysenko used his political affect to suppress dissenting opinions and rejected Genetics. Whoever opposed him, that individual was both executed or given a life sentence. Geng makes use of this as a premise to inform a narrative to lift consciousness about science and the way tough it might get if governments proceed to denounce science.
On this thought-provoking movie, we see a scientist getting in hassle for opposing Lysenko’s theories and getting an unfair punishment. I not too long ago acquired an opportunity to speak to the director, producer, and author WY Geng, and focus on a number of elements of the movie. The filmmaker opened up about her journey within the leisure business and famous what she wished to inform via ‘The Seed of Fact’.
Aayush Sharma: Congratulations on the movie ‘The Seed of Fact,’ however earlier than we discuss concerning the movie I might like to know the way your journey has been within the leisure business.
WY Geng: Initially, I studied theater at Rice College, and my main was referred to as visible and dramatic arts. So I might take courses in movie, theater, high-quality artwork, and structure historical past. So I took a complete vary of artwork and humanity courses. Whereas finding out theater, I actually acquired all in favour of efficiency artwork and likewise, like, literary textual content, like dramatic checks. So originally, I wished to be a playwright, and since I noticed that filmmaking was a bit removed from me, it was like that. I took another jobs, random jobs. After I graduated, I decided that I actually wished to pursue movie and theater as a profession. I thought of making use of for playwriting, really, however that I stumbled on, like, within the USC movie faculty. Then I believed, I ought to give it a strive. So I utilized, after which that’s type of the official begin of my pursuit of movie.
Aayush Sharma: Are you able to elaborate on the importance of the title ‘The Seed of Fact’? What does it characterize throughout the context of the movie?
WY Geng: The Soviet Union has a historical past of persecuting biologists, significantly geneticists, below Stalin’s regime. One of many key causes for this was Stalin’s endorsement of a pseudo-scientist named Trofim Lysenko. Lysenko’s concepts aligned with the state’s ideology, so regardless of his flawed theories, Stalin supported him. Lysenko denied the existence of genes and even DNA, claiming that they weren’t actual, whereas the scientific group, together with many courageous geneticists, stood up in opposition to him. One of the vital distinguished scientists who opposed Lysenko was Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov was a geneticist who devoted his life to finding out seeds from all over the world, establishing a world seed financial institution. His objective was to stop famine and meals shortages, an extremely noble trigger. Nevertheless, regardless of his efforts to feed the world, Vavilov was persecuted for his opposition to Lysenko’s views. He was arrested, despatched to a Soviet Gulag, and tragically, he starved to dying there.
What strikes me most about Vavilov’s story is the irony of his life. He spent his years attempting to stop starvation, but he died of hunger in a merciless, unjust system. His dedication to fact and life sciences is inspiring, as he labored with seeds—one thing that symbolizes development and life. This concept of life resonates on a deeper stage, not simply when it comes to biology, however within the common human expertise. Seeds develop into vegetation, which give life to all residing issues. Equally, those that stood up for the reality, like Vavilov, proceed to dwell on in our reminiscences, like seeds that develop and blossom over time. By way of this story, I need the viewers to attach with this concept: that the seeds of fact, as soon as planted, can develop in our minds and hearts. I hope that this common theme of life, development, and the resilience of the human spirit resonates with everybody who experiences this story.
Aayush Sharma: How did you method the problem of visually contrasting the 1952 Soviet Union with the 2016 Trump Administration whereas sustaining thematic coherence?
WY Geng: One of many key parts we targeted on was the usage of colour. We selected three predominant colours: crimson, gold, and inexperienced, every with its personal symbolic that means. Purple represents the Soviet Union and fervour. When individuals consider the Soviet Union, particularly in Western portrayals like in TV exhibits corresponding to Chernobyl—which I actually loved watching—it’s usually proven with chilly, harsh tones. Nevertheless, from my perspective, crimson captures the essence of the Soviet Union as a result of it’s a heat colour, symbolizing ardour. Many considered the Soviet figures as heroes, and crimson conveys that fervor and depth. On the identical time, crimson additionally represents dying and violence, as seen in Western work the place the colour is usually used to depict these darker themes. The colour gold, then again, symbolizes fact and is related to the daddy determine, Konstantin. Our inspiration for this got here from Renaissance work, the place gold continuously symbolizes divinity and purity. Gold additionally represents the solar, which performs a major position within the movie. We use heat, golden daylight in key scenes, corresponding to when the protagonist opens the letter, to visually characterize the daddy and the reality. It’s as if the sunshine shines on her, illuminating each her and the reality she’s discovering.
Lastly, we used inexperienced to represent life and nature, which connects to the younger protagonist, Elena. Inexperienced is the colour of development and vitality, and it represents her journey and connection to the pure world. So, crimson, gold, and inexperienced are the three main colours we used to create a visible distinction all through the movie, every carrying its personal weight and that means.
Aayush Sharma: What position does the theme of sacrifice play within the narrative, significantly in regards to the protagonist’s choice to inform the reality?
WY Geng: I feel the daddy confronted a really tough choice as a result of he was pressured to signal and confess that he dedicated treason. However he didn’t commit treason. You recognize, all he wished to do was save the individuals and save the nation. However the factor is, if he doesn’t signal, they’ll signal his household to Gulag. So it was fascinating. He lied about himself when he signed the confessions, principally saying that he dedicated one thing that he didn’t to save lots of his household, save his daughter. I might say sacrifice is one factor. To sacrificed for what he believed as a scientist, that’s, to face up for scientific information and to cease the manipulation of politicization of science. And likewise he sacrificed himself for his household. The concept of the story is you sacrifice for what you like, and what you consider in.
Aayush Sharma: What sort of analysis went into precisely recreating the 1952 Soviet Union, particularly when it comes to set design, costumes, and expertise?
WY Geng: I actually recognize your query. Each visually and audibly, we aimed to authentically reconstruct the Soviet Union. One of many largest challenges we confronted was recreating the Soviet Union whereas filming in LA, as we had been required to shoot there. Our manufacturing design group, who’re from Russia, performed an important position in overcoming this. They’d a deep understanding of what Soviet structure and interiors regarded like, they usually carried out in depth historic analysis to make sure every little thing was correct. They knew the precise particulars of Communist-era buildings and punctiliously chosen the furnishings to replicate that interval. They’d even ship me footage of genuine Soviet meals, which helped in seize the essence of the time. One factor that actually impressed me was the eye to element, even in smaller issues like deciding which Soviet gun to make use of in an execution scene. The group made positive every little thing was traditionally correct.
By way of audio, our sound designer constructed an immersive sound panorama. He had entry to a library of genuine sounds, and it was vital to us that every little thing—from the ticking of a clock to the ring of a phone—felt proper. He would search via the library and discover the precise sounds that matched the visuals and the interval. The costume design was equally thorough. Our costume designer did in depth analysis, discovering historic references and pictures of what individuals within the Soviet Union wore. We even visited vintage rental shops to search out genuine clothes from the period. Altogether, the dedication to historic accuracy in each manufacturing design and sound actually helped us create a plausible Soviet Union surroundings, regardless of filming in LA.
Aayush Sharma: What was the casting course of like for the quick movie?
WY Geng: The casting course of was extremely tense, as we finalized the solid simply two weeks earlier than capturing. I began by writing detailed character breakdowns to outline what we had been on the lookout for in every position. Then, I posted these breakdowns on numerous casting companies and waited for submissions. I spent hours watching audition tapes and reaching out to the actors I believed is likely to be an excellent match. After narrowing down the alternatives, we held an in-person casting session to additional consider the actors, and from there, we locked in our predominant solid. For the lead roles, it was virtually immediate—I knew straight away after I noticed their first audition tapes that they had been the proper match. I reached out to them instantly, they usually got here in for a second spherical of in-person auditions, the place they continued to impress. They had been implausible at taking route, which made the choice course of a lot simpler. From there, we shortly booked the actors and moved ahead with the manufacturing.
Aayush Sharma: The film explores how hope can blossom even within the cruelest instances, corresponding to throughout battle. Given the present world challenges, how do you guys discover the motivation to hold on when the world appears to be dealing with such tough instances?
WY Geng: What I actually wished to concentrate on was the essence of humanity and our feelings—what we care about as human beings. On the finish of the day, all of us dwell and die as people. Irrespective of how a lot inhumanity, abuse of energy, or tyranny we face, what defines us is our humanity. That’s the core message I hoped to convey. I additionally need the viewers to stroll away with the understanding that there’s at all times hope. Optimism persists, regardless of the circumstances. That’s why the story concludes with the reunion of the daddy and daughter, symbolizing the cycle of life. The seed grows right into a tree, representing continuity and resilience. I actually consider that the goodness, power, and optimism of humanity will at all times endure, even within the face of oppression or adversity. It’s that perception that retains us transferring ahead, it doesn’t matter what challenges we face.
Aayush Sharma: The movie premiered on the HollyShorts Movie Pageant and acquired rave opinions. So what are your aspirations for this movie?
WY Geng: We’ve two upcoming screenings, one on the North Hollywood Movie Pageant and one other on the Catalina Movie Pageant. Moreover, our movie was chosen by the Uncooked Science Movie Pageant, which is supported by the Nationwide Academy of Sciences. At the moment, the movie is being distributed on Kanopy, an academic platform, which is one thing we’re pleased with. We even have assist from scientists in Singapore, a few of whom are our sponsors. After the competition screenings, they’re desperate to display the movie internationally, in locations like Singapore, all through Asia, and past. It’s vital to us that this movie reaches a broad viewers as a result of the historical past it tells is basically unknown, but it holds an important lesson, particularly for the scientific group. We actually need this story to resonate with as many individuals as doable, because it highlights an vital chapter within the historical past of science.
‘The Seed of Fact’ premiered at this yr’s HollyShorts Movie Pageant.
