From time to time viewers get to look at a film that not solely supplies leisure but in addition tells them a couple of pivotal second in human historical past. Earlier this 12 months, ELSA, the quick movie helmed by Rebecca King, made viewers find out about how girls 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 related along 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 needed. 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 boost consciousness about science and the way troublesome it might get if governments proceed to denounce science.
On this thought-provoking movie, we see a scientist getting in bother for opposing Lysenko’s theories and getting an unfair punishment. I just lately received an opportunity to speak to the director, producer, and author WY Geng, and focus on a number of features of the movie. The filmmaker opened up about her journey within the leisure trade and famous what she needed to inform by way of ‘The Seed of Fact’.
Aayush Sharma: Congratulations on the movie ‘The Seed of Fact,’ however earlier than we speak concerning the movie I might like to understand how your journey has been within the leisure trade.
WY Geng: Originally, 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, advantageous artwork, and structure historical past. So I took an entire vary of artwork and humanity courses. Whereas learning theater, I actually received concerned with efficiency artwork and likewise, like, literary textual content, like dramatic exams. So initially, I needed 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 needed 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 college. Then I believed, I ought to give it a attempt. So I utilized, after which that’s sort 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 inside the context of the movie?
WY Geng: The Soviet Union has a historical past of persecuting biologists, significantly geneticists, beneath 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 neighborhood, together with many courageous geneticists, stood up in opposition to him. Some of the outstanding scientists who opposed Lysenko was Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov was a geneticist who devoted his life to learning seeds from all over the world, establishing a world seed financial institution. His aim 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 loss of life there.
What strikes me most about Vavilov’s story is the irony of his life. He spent his years making an attempt to stop starvation, but he died of hunger in a merciless, unjust system. His dedication to reality and life sciences is inspiring, as he labored with seeds—one thing that symbolizes progress 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 dwelling issues. Equally, those that stood up for the reality, like Vavilov, proceed to stay on in our recollections, like seeds that develop and blossom over time. Via this story, I need the viewers to attach with this concept: that the seeds of reality, as soon as planted, can develop in our minds and hearts. I hope that this common theme of life, progress, 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 coloration. We selected three foremost colours: purple, gold, and inexperienced, every with its personal symbolic that means. Purple represents the Soviet Union and keenness. When folks consider the Soviet Union, particularly in Western portrayals like in TV exhibits equivalent to Chernobyl—which I actually loved watching—it’s usually proven with chilly, harsh tones. Nevertheless, from my perspective, purple captures the essence of the Soviet Union as a result of it’s a heat coloration, symbolizing ardour. Many considered the Soviet figures as heroes, and purple conveys that fervor and depth. On the identical time, purple additionally represents loss of life and violence, as seen in Western work the place the colour is commonly used to depict these darker themes. The colour gold, then again, symbolizes reality and is related to the daddy determine, Konstantin. Our inspiration for this got here from Renaissance work, the place gold often 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, equivalent 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 progress and vitality, and it represents her journey and connection to the pure world. So, purple, gold, and inexperienced are the three major 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 regarding the protagonist’s choice to inform the reality?
WY Geng: I believe the daddy confronted a really troublesome choice as a result of he was pressured to signal and confess that he dedicated treason. However he didn’t commit treason. , all he needed to do was save the folks and save the nation. However the factor is, if he doesn’t signal, they will signal his household to Gulag. So it was fascinating. He lied about himself when he signed the confessions, mainly 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 in addition he sacrificed himself for his household. The concept of the story is you sacrifice for what you’re keen on, and what you imagine in.
Aayush Sharma: What sort of analysis went into precisely recreating the 1952 Soviet Union, particularly when it comes to set design, costumes, and know-how?
WY Geng: I actually admire 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 have been required to shoot there. Our manufacturing design group, who’re from Russia, performed a vital position in overcoming this. They’d a deep understanding of what Soviet structure and interiors appeared like, and so they carried out in depth historic analysis to make sure all the things was correct. They knew the precise particulars of Communist-era buildings and thoroughly 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 basically 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 certain all the things 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 necessary to us that all the things—from the ticking of a clock to the ring of a phone—felt proper. He would search by way of 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 folks 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 worrying, as we finalized the solid simply two weeks earlier than capturing. I began by writing detailed character breakdowns to outline what we have been on the lookout for in every position. Then, I posted these breakdowns on varied casting companies and waited for submissions. I spent hours watching audition tapes and reaching out to the actors I believed is perhaps a great 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 foremost solid. For the lead roles, it was nearly on the spot—I knew instantly once I noticed their first audition tapes that they have been the proper match. I reached out to them instantly, and so they got here in for a second spherical of in-person auditions, the place they continued to impress. They have been implausible at taking course, 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 occasions, equivalent to throughout conflict. Given the present international challenges, how do you guys discover the motivation to hold on when the world appears to be dealing with such troublesome occasions?
WY Geng: What I actually needed 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 stay and die as people. Regardless 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 all the time hope. Optimism persists, irrespective 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 imagine that the goodness, energy, and optimism of humanity will all the time 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 Competition and acquired rave opinions. So what are your aspirations for this movie?
WY Geng: We now have two upcoming screenings, one on the North Hollywood Movie Competition and one other on the Catalina Movie Competition. Moreover, our movie was chosen by the Uncooked Science Movie Competition, which is supported by the Nationwide Academy of Sciences. At present, the movie is being distributed on Kanopy, an academic platform, which is one thing we’re happy with. We even have assist from scientists in Singapore, a few of whom are our sponsors. After the pageant screenings, they’re desirous to display the movie internationally, in locations like Singapore, all through Asia, and past. It’s necessary to us that this movie reaches a broad viewers as a result of the historical past it tells is essentially unknown, but it holds a significant lesson, particularly for the scientific neighborhood. We really need this story to resonate with as many individuals as doable, because it highlights an necessary chapter within the historical past of science.
‘The Seed of Fact’ premiered at this 12 months’s HollyShorts Movie Competition.
