Every now and then, audiences get to see a film that not only provides entertainment but also speaks to a significant moment in human history. ElsaRebecca King’s short film taught audiences how women sacrificed their lives during World War II. In the process, she revealed a true, yet largely unknown, story. A few months later, filmmaker WY Geng did the same with his short film. “Seed of Truth”The film tells the true story of the time when Stalin was the supreme leader of the Soviet Union. He appointed Trofim Lysenko as the director of the Institute of Genetics of the USSR Academy of Sciences and gave him free reign to do what he wanted. Lysenko used his political influence to suppress dissent and denounce genetics. Anyone who spoke out against him was executed or given life imprisonment. Geng uses this premise to tell the story and raise awareness about science and how difficult it will be if the government continues to denounce it.
This thought-provoking film depicts the scientists who raise issues and are unfairly punished for speaking out against Lysenko’s theories. I recently had the opportunity to speak with the director, producers, and screenwriter. WY Genand discussed various aspects of the film. The director spoke about his journey in the entertainment industry and what he hopes to convey through the film. “Seed of Truth”.
Aayush Sharma: Congratulations on the release of your film The Seeds of Truth. But before we talk about the film, I would like to know what your journey has been like in the entertainment industry.
WY Gen: I first studied theater at Rice University, majoring in visual theater arts. I took classes in film, theater, art, and architecture history. I took a wide variety of classes in arts and humanities. While studying theater, I got interested in performance art, literary texts, theater tests, and things like that. I wanted to be a screenwriter at first, but filmmaking felt a little far away for me, so that’s how it was. I did a few other jobs, random jobs. After graduating, I decided that I wanted to pursue film and theater as a career. I actually thought about applying to be a screenwriter, but then I found a job in the film department at USC. So I thought I’d give it a try. So I applied. That’s when my pursuit of film officially began.
Aayush Sharma: Can you elaborate on the meaning of the title, “Seed of Truth”? What does it represent in the context of the film?
WY Gen: The Soviet Union has a history of persecuting biologists, especially geneticists, under the Stalin regime, one of the main reasons being Stalin’s support for pseudoscientists. Trofim LysenkoLysenko’s ideas were in line with the state’s ideology, so Stalin supported him, despite the flaws in his theories. Lysenko denied the existence of genes and even DNA, claiming that they were not real, but the scientific community, including many brave geneticists, opposed him. One of the most prominent scientists who opposed Lysenko was Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov was a geneticist who dedicated his life to studying seeds from around the world and setting up a global seed bank. His goal was to prevent hunger and food shortages, a very noble cause. However, despite his efforts to feed the world, Vavilov was persecuted for opposing Lysenko’s views. He was arrested and sent to a Soviet concentration camp, where he tragically died of starvation.
What moved me most about Vavilov’s story is the irony of his life. He tried for years to prevent starvation, but starved to death in a cruel and unjust system. His dedication to truth and the science of life, with a seed that symbolizes growth and life, is inspiring. This concept of life resonates on a deeper level, not just in biology, but in the universal human experience. A seed grows into a plant and gives life to all living things. Similarly, people who stand up for truth, like Vavilov, live on in our memories, like a seed that grows and blossoms over time. Through this story, I want audiences to understand the idea that a seed of truth, once planted, can grow in our hearts. I hope this universal theme of life, growth, and the resilience of the human spirit resonates in the hearts of all who experience this story.
Aayush Sharma: How did you approach the challenge of visually contrasting the Soviet Union in 1952 with the Trump administration in 2016 while still maintaining thematic consistency?
WY Gen: One of the key elements we focused on was the use of color. We chose three main colors, red, gold, and green, each with a symbolic meaning. Red represents the Soviet Union and passion. When people think of the Soviet Union, especially in Western depictions like TV shows, Chernobyl– I really enjoyed watching it – The Soviet Union is often depicted in cold, harsh tones, but from my perspective, red captures the essence of the Soviet Union because it is a warm color that symbolizes passion. The Soviet characters are seen as heroes, and red conveys their passion and intensity. At the same time, red also represents death and violence, and is often used in Western paintings to depict darker themes. Gold, on the other hand, symbolizes truth and is associated with Constantine, a father figure. This is inspired by Renaissance paintings, where gold frequently symbolizes divinity and purity. Gold also represents the sun, and the sun plays an important role in the film. In key scenes, such as the scene where the main character opens the letter, we use warm, golden sunlight to visually represent her father and the truth. It is as if the light is shining on her, illuminating both her and the truth she is discovering.
Finally, we used the color green, which symbolizes life and nature, which connects with our young protagonist Elena. Green is the color of growth and vitality, representing Elena’s journey and connection to the natural world. So, red, gold and green are the three primary colors we used to create visual contrast throughout the film, each with their own weight and meaning.
Aayush Sharma: What role does the theme of sacrifice play in the story, especially with regards to the protagonist’s decision to tell the truth?
WY Gen: I think the father had to make a very difficult decision because he was pressured to sign and confess that he committed treason. But he didn’t commit treason. You know, all he wanted was to save his people and his country. But if he didn’t sign, his family would be sent to a concentration camp. It’s an interesting story. He lied about himself when he signed the confession, that is, he said he committed a crime that he didn’t commit in order to save his family and his daughter. I think sacrifice is a different matter. Sacrificing for what you believe in as a scientist, which is to defend scientific facts and to stop the manipulation of science through politicization. And he also sacrificed himself for his family. The concept of the story is about making sacrifices for what you love and believe in.
Aayush Sharma: What research did you undertake to accurately recreate the Soviet Union of 1952, especially in terms of set design, costumes and technology?
WY Gen: Thank you for your question. Visually and aurally, we aimed to faithfully recreate the Soviet Union. One of the biggest challenges we faced was recreating the Soviet Union there, since we had to shoot in Los Angeles. Our production design team, originally from Russia, played a key role in overcoming this challenge. They have a deep understanding of what Soviet architecture and interiors were like, and they conducted extensive historical research to make sure everything was accurate. They knew the specific details of Communist-era buildings and carefully selected furniture that reflected the era. They even sent us photos of authentic Soviet dishes, which helped us capture the essence of the era. What really impressed me was the attention to detail, even in small things like deciding which Soviet gun to use in the execution scene. The team made sure everything was historically accurate.
For audio, our sound designer built an immersive sound landscape. He had access to a library of authentic sounds, and it was important that everything felt right, from the ticking of a clock to the ringing of a phone. He searched the library to find accurate sounds that fit the footage and the era. The costume design was similarly thorough. The costume designer did extensive research, finding historical references and images of what people in the Soviet Union wore. We even went to antique rental stores to find authentic costumes from the era. Overall, our focus on historical accuracy in both production design and sound allowed us to realistically recreate the Soviet environment, despite shooting in Los Angeles.
Aayush Sharma: What was the casting process like for the short film?
WY Gen: The casting process was incredibly stressful, as the cast was only finalized two weeks before shooting. I first wrote detailed character breakdowns to define what I was looking for in each role. I then posted these breakdowns to various casting services and waited for submissions. I spent hours watching audition tapes and contacting actors who I thought might be a good fit. After narrowing down my choices, I held in-person casting sessions to further evaluate the actors, and from there, finalized the main cast. For the lead roles, it was an almost instant decision. When I saw their first audition tapes, I immediately knew they were a great fit. I reached out to them immediately, and they attended a second in-person audition where they continued to impress. They were great to follow directions and made the decision process much easier. From there, we quickly booked the actors and moved production forward.
Aayush Sharma: The film depicts how hope can emerge even during the cruellest times like during war. Given the current global challenges, how do you all find the motivation to carry on when the world seems to be facing such difficult times?
WY Gen: What I really wanted to focus on is the essence of humanity and emotion – what we value as human beings. At the end of the day, we all live and die as human beings. No matter how much inhumanity, abuse of power and tyranny we face, it is our humanity that defines us. That is the core message I wanted to convey. I also want the audience to understand that there is always hope. Optimism persists regardless of the circumstances. That is why the story ends with a reunion between father and daughter, symbolizing the cycle of life. The seed grows into a tree, representing continuity and resilience. I believe that the goodness, strength and optimism of humanity will always persist, even in the face of oppression and adversity. It is this belief that allows us to keep moving forward no matter what difficulties we face.
Aayush Sharma: The film premiered at the Hollyshorts Film Festival and received rave reviews. What are your ambitions for the film?
WY Gen: We have two upcoming screenings, one at the North Hollywood Film Festival and the other at the Cut at Lena Film Festival. Additionally, our film has been selected for the Raw Science Film Festival, which is supported by the National Academy of Sciences. Currently, the film is being distributed on the educational platform Kanopy, which we are very proud of. We are also supported by our sponsor, Singaporean scientists. After screening at the festival, they are eager to screen the film internationally in Singapore, across Asia, and beyond. It is important to us that this film reaches a wide audience because the history it tells is little known, but contains important lessons, especially for the scientific community. This story highlights an important chapter in scientific history, and we sincerely hope that this story resonates with as many people as possible.
“Seed of Truth” It premiered at this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival.
