Interview with Ariel Leon Azeus and Naama Dashevski, Directors of « Genesis: Seed 913 »

Welcome to this special WFF Cannes interview. I’m Isabelle, and it’s a pleasure to e-meet you both, Ariel Leon Azeus and Naama Dashevski! Congratulations on ranking Genesis: Seed 913 as a nominee for Best Artificial Intelligence Film category. The visuals in your film are stunning. Let’s dive into your inspiration and creative journey.

Inspiration & Theme:

How did the story of Genesis inspire you, and how do you find its theme in the context of today’s world?

Genesis: Seed 913 begins as a modern take on the iconic biblical story, visually illustrating what the act of creation would have looked like if generated by the prompt of artificial intelligence. The film remains faithful to the original Genesis story until the creation of man. From there, the narrative takes a bold turn, exploring contemporary themes and moving beyond the traditional tale, offering fresh insight.

In today’s world, we find the theme of Genesis as an ongoing process of creation—a daily phenomenon. It unfolds in the natural cycles of day and night, the blossoming and fading of flora, and the perpetual rhythms of life, death, and rebirth. 

These processes capture the essence of existence, present in every breath from our first to our last. This perspective encourages us to consider how we fit into these cycles, highlighting that creation is not just about beginnings but also about constant change and renewal. The film thus serves as both a reflection on the past and a commentary on our role in shaping the future, inviting us to see our own lives as ongoing acts of creation.

Use of Artificial Intelligence:

The juxtaposition of A.I programming screens and the sprawling visual results is striking. Why did you choose to use A.I in your filmmaking? Can you explain the rationale and what attracted you to this medium?

In Genesis: Seed 913, we explore the narrative of creation through symbolic elements that combine ancient wisdom with modern science. These elements—fire, water, air, and earth, among others—are rooted in traditional Jewish concepts and reinterpreted using physics and technology. This fusion underscores themes such as transformation, connectivity, existence, and spirit, illustrating how timeless ideas can evolve and be reimagined through contemporary methodologies.

A.I became the ideal medium for this exploration because it mirrors nature’s balance between precision and unpredictability. Just as moss grows in intricate, spontaneous patterns, A.I evolves organically, producing both unique and interconnected results. This reflects how, in nature, perfection often arises from imperfection. By using A.I, we replicate this natural process of growth and adaptation, allowing us to explore complex themes of creation in our film.

The creative process:

Werner Herzog once said, “I think it’s a very old and deep wish for human beings to find ways to represent themselves.” Would you say the initial process of creation through A.I is similar to traditional creative processes?

Humans have always used technology to extend their capabilities, from ancient tools to modern systems. Marshall McLuhan’s famous notion that “the medium is the message” highlights how these tools not only enhance our abilities but also shape the way we communicate and perceive reality.

Many people worry that A.I threatens roles in creative fields, leading to avoidance or criticism. However, much like how television (a visual medium) complemented radio (an auditory medium), we believe A.I is an additional tool that enhances, rather than replaces, traditional methods. In fact, A.I represents a major leap forward, amplifying our capabilities in memory, processing, and problem-solving, while also broadening our sensory experiences and deepening our understanding of the world.

We see A.I as the garden where our ideas, like seeds, take root and bloom. It nurtures and refines our creativity, helping us push boundaries and cultivate beautiful results that reflect the care we put into the process, beyond what we could achieve alone.

Animal symbolism:

Can you explain the significance behind the appearance order of the animals in your animation film?

The order of animal appearances in our film is symbolic, following the divine creation narrative from the original Genesis. Using morphing techniques, we transition between life forms, following sacred shapes that connect life in a unified creation.

The journey begins with simple organisms like mushrooms and bacteria, representing Earth’s earliest vegetation, energized by celestial forces. It then progresses from celestial symbols to aquatic life, then to creatures like worms and insects, and eventually to mythical figures such as the Jerusalemite frog and Solomon’s peacock, who embody wisdom and spiritual heritage. The creation process culminates with symbols of innocence like the goat, sheep, and gazelle, leading to the Lion of Judah, representing the apex of creation and power. 

Finally, the film transitions to Adam and Eve, tracing the development of human society and encapsulating the unity of human and divine elements in creation.

Allegory of war:

The scene with smoke billowing in two opposite directions—does this serve as an allegory of war or conflict? Could you elaborate?

Our film explores the concept of existence through the Jewish idea of Chai Ve-Kayam (“Lives and Exists”), presenting life and death as interconnected forces. The symbol of smoke represents transformation, suggesting that energy, much like in Einstein’s E = mc², doesn’t vanish but continually changes form.

Set in Jerusalem, the film uses the city’s history of conflict, war, and renewal to reflect the cycles of creation and destruction. Through imagery like smoke and ashes that later become flourishing forests again, the film emphasizes that destruction is necessary for growth. 

By weaving these themes together, the film presents a meditation on life’s cyclical nature, urging us to understand our role in the endless process of life, death, and change. It invites viewers to see themselves as interconnected universes, constantly evolving and transforming.

Liquid as a metaphor:

Why does the film end on a ‘liquid screen’? Is this meant to symbolize humanity’s constant state of flux and the potential for repeating past mistakes?

As ancient stories and scientific truths both reveal, the world was once covered in water, a primordial force from which life emerged. These waters were separated, forming the protective atmosphere above and the deep, mysterious oceans below. 

Water, one of the most essential and abstract elements, flows through every aspect of life—it exists within us, surrounds us, and connects all living things. Its ever-shifting forms—waves, particles, clouds—symbolize the constant transformation inherent in existence. 

As Heraclitus said, “Panta Rhei“—everything flows. Just as we can never step into the same river twice, every encounter with life, emotions, and even this film, will offer a new experience and reveal new insights each time, much like life itself.

The film’s final ‘liquid screen’ reflects this state of flux and primacy, serves to remind us that nothing is static. Creation itself—like water—flows, transforms, and endlessly renews, always becoming something more than it was.

Film Budget & Funding:

If you don’t mind sharing, what was the budget for Genesis: Seed 913, and how did you go about raising the necessary funds?

The total budget for Genesis: Seed 913 was approximately $1,500. We relied on open-source tools such as ComfyUI, incorporating large language models (LLMs) and image diffusion models, along with licensed services like ChatGPT.

For the soundtrack, we collaborated with a professional sound designer and composer, Eden Nikolas Hovav, leveraging Stable Audio under a licensed agreement.

In terms of post-production, we invested in editing software like Adobe Creative Cloud, DaVinci Resolve, and Topaz Labs, while rendering the film offline on our own personal high-end CPUs and GPUs. 

Fortunately, we already owned much of the necessary software and licenses, which helped significantly reduce costs.

Our supporter throughout the process was the Jerusalem Film & TV Fund, providing invaluable mentorship, guidance, and access to A.I and filmmaking courses and masterclasses. Their support allowed us to dive deeper into this experimental project, ultimately bringing it to life.

Conclusion:

Thank you, Ariel and Naama, for sharing your insights and the story behind Genesis: Seed 913. We’re excited to see what’s next for both of you and wish you continued success in your cinematic journey!

©2024 Isabelle Rouault-Röhlich