Every once in a while, viewers get to see a film that not only entertains them but also tells a story about a pivotal moment in human history. Earlier this year, ElsaA short film directed by Rebecca King made viewers aware of the sacrifices women made during World War II. In the process, she brought to light a story that many people do not know. A few months later, filmmaker WY Geng did something similar with her short film. ‘Seed of Truth’. The film is based on a true story about the time when Stalin was the top leader of the Soviet Union. He appointed Trofim Lysenko as the head of the Institute of Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and allowed him to do whatever he wanted. Lysenko used his political influence to suppress dissent and rejected genetics. Those who opposed him were executed or sentenced to life imprisonment. The Gang uses this as a premise to raise awareness about science and tell a story about how science can be difficult if the government continues to criticize it.
In this thought-provoking film, we see a scientist who is in trouble and unfairly punished for opposing Lysenko’s theories. I recently had the opportunity to talk to the director, producer, and writer. Whyy gangAnd discusses various aspects of the film. The filmmaker talks about her journey in the entertainment industry and what she wanted to say. ‘Seed of Truth’.
Ayush Sharma: Congratulations on your film Seeds of Truth. But before we talk about the film, I would like to know about your journey in the entertainment industry.
Why Gang: I originally studied theater at Rice University, and my major was visual and theater arts. So I took classes in film, theater, art, and architectural history. So I took a lot of arts and humanities classes. While studying theater, I became really interested in performing arts and literary texts, theater exams. So I initially wanted to be a playwright, and I knew that filmmaking was a little bit out of my league, so that’s what I ended up doing. I worked a few different jobs, random jobs. After I graduated, I decided that I wanted to pursue film and theater as a career. I actually thought about applying to playwriting, but then I stumbled upon USC’s film school. And then I thought, I’ll give it a try. So I applied, and that was the official beginning of my pursuit of film.
Aayush Sharma: Could you elaborate on the meaning of the title ‘Seeds of Truth’? What does it symbolize in the context of the film?
Why Gang: The Soviet Union had a history of persecuting biologists, especially geneticists, under Stalin. One of the main reasons for this was Stalin’s support of a pseudoscientist named Trofim Lysenko. Lysenko’s ideas were consistent with the ideology of the state, so Stalin supported him even though his theories were flawed. Lysenko denied the existence of genes and DNA, claiming that they did not exist, but the scientific community, including many courageous geneticists, opposed him. One of the most prominent scientists who opposed Lysenko was Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov was a geneticist who devoted his life to studying seeds from around the world and establishing a global seed bank. His goal was to prevent famine and food shortages, which was 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 gulag, where he unfortunately starved to death.
What I find most moving about Vavilov’s story is the irony of his life. He spent years trying to prevent starvation, only to starve to death in a cruel and unjust system. His commitment to truth and life science is inspiring because he dealt with seeds. Seeds symbolize growth and life. This concept of life resonates not only in biology but also on a deeper level as a universal human experience. Seeds grow into plants and give life to all living things. Likewise, those who stand up for truth, like Vavilov, live on in our memories as seeds that grow and bloom over time. Through this story, I hope the audience will connect with the idea that seeds of truth, when planted, can grow in our hearts and minds. I hope that the universal themes of life, growth, and the resilience of the human spirit will resonate with everyone who experiences this story.
Ayush Sharma: How did you approach the challenge of visually contrasting the Soviet Union in 1952 with the Trump administration in 2016 while maintaining thematic consistency?
Why Gang: One of the key elements we focused on was the use of color. We chose three main colors: red, gold and green, each with its own symbolic meaning. Red represents the Soviet Union and passion. When people think of the Soviet Union, especially in Western depictions such as TV shows, Chernobyl—I really enjoyed this film—often expressed in a cold and harsh tone. But from my perspective, red captures the essence of the Soviet Union. It’s a warm color and it symbolizes passion. Many people saw Soviet figures as heroes, and red conveys that passion and intensity. At the same time, red also symbolizes death and violence, as we see in Western painting, where it’s often used to depict dark subjects. Gold, on the other hand, symbolizes truth and is associated with her father, Constantine. The inspiration for this came from Renaissance painting, where gold often symbolized sacredness and purity. Gold also represents the sun, which plays an important role in the film. In key scenes, such as the scene where the protagonist opens the letter, the warm, golden sunlight is used to visually represent her father and the truth. It’s as if the light is shining on her, illuminating her and the truth she’s discovering.
Finally, we used green to symbolize life and nature, which is connected to our young protagonist, Elena. Green is the color of growth and vitality, and represents her journey and connection to the natural world. So red, gold, and green are the three primary colors used to create visual contrast throughout the film, each with its own weight and meaning.
Ayush Sharma: What role does the theme of sacrifice play in the story, particularly in relation to the protagonist’s decision to tell the truth?
Why Gang: I think my father was faced with a very difficult decision because he was pressured to confess and sign that he had committed treason. But he did not commit treason. You know, what he wanted to do was save his people and his country. But the problem was that if he didn’t sign, they would put his family in the gulag. So it was interesting. When he signed the confession, he lied about himself. He basically said that he did something he didn’t do to save his family, to save his daughter. I would say that sacrifice is one thing. As a scientist, you sacrifice for what you believe in, which is to stand up for scientific facts and to stop the politicization and manipulation of science. And he also sacrificed himself for his family. The idea of ​​this story is about making sacrifices for what you love and what you believe in.
Ayush Sharma: What kind of research was done to accurately recreate the Soviet Union in 1952, especially in terms of set design, costumes and technology?
Why Gang: Thank you so much for your question. Visually and aurally, we aimed to recreate the Soviet Union authentically. One of the biggest challenges we faced was recreating the Soviet Union, since we had to film in LA. Our production design team, who are from Russia, were instrumental in overcoming this. They had a deep understanding of what Soviet architecture and interiors looked like, and they did extensive historical research to make sure everything was accurate. They knew the specific details of communist-era buildings and carefully selected furniture that reflected that era. They even sent us photos of authentic Soviet food, which helped us capture the essence of the time. One thing that 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.
On the audio side, the sound designer created an immersive soundscape. He had access to a library of real sounds, and it was important that everything from the ticking of clocks to the ringing of phones felt right. He searched the library to find the exact sounds that matched the visuals and the era. The costume design was equally thorough. The costume designer did extensive research to find historical references and images of what Soviet people wore. We even visited antique shops to find authentic clothing from the era. Overall, the dedication to historical accuracy in both production design and sound went a long way toward creating a believable Soviet environment, even though we were filming in LA.
Ayush Sharma: What was the casting process like for the short film?
Why Gang: The casting process was incredibly stressful, as we finalized the cast two weeks before filming. I started by writing detailed character analyses to define what I was looking for in each role. I then posted those analyses to various casting services and waited for submissions. I spent hours reviewing audition tapes and contacting actors who seemed like a good fit. After narrowing down my choices, I held in-person casting sessions to further evaluate the actors and finalize the main cast from there. The lead roles were decided almost immediately. The moment I saw the first audition tape, I knew it was a perfect fit. I contacted them immediately, and they came in for a second in-person audition and continued to impress. They were fantastic at taking direction, which made the decision process much easier. From there, we quickly booked the actors and got production underway.
Ayush Sharma: The film explores how hope can flourish even in the most brutal of times, such as war. Given the current global challenges, how do you find the motivation to keep going when the world seems to be facing such difficult times?
Why Gang: What I really wanted to focus on was the essence of humanity and our emotions, what we value as human beings. Ultimately, we all live and die as human beings. No matter how much inhumanity, abuse of power, or 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 walk away understanding that there is always hope. Optimism persists regardless of circumstances. That is why the story ends with the reunion of father and daughter, which symbolizes the cycle of life. The seed grows into a tree, representing continuity and resilience. I truly believe that human goodness, strength, and optimism will always persist in the face of oppression or adversity. It is that belief that keeps us moving forward, no matter what challenges we face.
Aayush Sharma: The film premiered at the HollyShorts Film Festival and received rave reviews. So what are your aspirations for the film?
Why Gang: We have two screenings coming up, one at the North Hollywood Film Festival and one at the Cut at Lena Film Festival. Our film has also been selected for the Raw Science Film Festival, which is supported by the National Academy of Sciences. The film is currently being distributed by Kanopy, an educational platform, which we are very proud of. We are also receiving support from scientists in Singapore, some of whom are our sponsors. After the festival screening, they are eager to screen the film internationally, in places like Singapore, across Asia, and beyond. It is important to us that this film reaches a wide audience because it tells a story that is little known, but contains important lessons, especially for the scientific community. We sincerely hope that this story resonates with as many people as possible, as it highlights an important chapter in the history of science.
‘Seed of Truth’ It premiered at this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival.
