Director's Notes
Seedless sheds light on the downside of gender and racial underrepresentation in circles of power and innovation, with particular focus on Silicon Valley’s world of tech entrepreneurship and venture capital funding. This issue, which I’m very personally familiar with, is only now getting some media attention.
According to the Harvard Business Review, a recent comprehensive study of every venture capitalist organization and investor in the US since 1990 shows that only 8% of investors are women; racial minorities are also underrepresented – about 2% are Hispanic, fewer than 1% are black.
The film also brings attention to the global plight of sex trafficking victims, especially those in the United States caught up in the government’s aggressive illegal immigration crackdown.
However, at it’s heart the film expresses sensitivity to the issue of motherhood, exploring how the choice to be or not to be a mother affects women’s personal and professional lives, and how women have to cope in some cases when motherhood is forced upon them.
With this film, I want to further men’s compassion towards women’s issues and encourage more men to join the women empowerment fight.
When I left my Silicon Valley microchip-engineering career to return to graduate school for film, I did so inspired by the birth of my nephew Seyi. I was visiting my pregnant sister over Memorial Day weekend, when I ended up in the hospital with her for the 22 hours of labor.
That front row seat to how a life begins changed me. I learned how much a matter of life and death child birthing could be. I made a vow to embrace a life of purpose, impact and happiness in honor of the mother who labored for my birth and also to inspire Seyi and the next generation to do the same.
With my example, I hope men in society will be inspired and challenged to be more sensitive to women’s life choices. Considering the recent rise in legislature crafted by men in power dictating more intrusive control of women’s bodies, I believe the film’s message is more urgent than ever.